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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Everyone,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Just wanted to give a final report for those who
have been following this issue. The construction of the peir for the Coast
Guard base has begun. There is a small work barge which has been "grounded"
in the shallow water area of the site, and they are currently using cranes to
fill the area of the peir with material from the surrounding waters.
A silt net has been placed between the work area and the harbour side of the
project, but the other side remains unprotected. There doesn't seem to be
too much silt in the surrounding reef area at the moment. I guess all we
can do is watch and see how the project progresses.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My appologies for not yet answering those who wrote
in to the lists regarding suggestions for monitoring. In October of last
year, the site was used as a test area for a monitoring protocol that will
hopefully become part of consistent monitoring in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. With some help from volunteers, two monitoring sites were set
up in the planned area of the Coast Guard base, one in the shallow seagrass
area, the other on the nearby reef. Data collected included basic benthic
coverage, counts of several common fish, water chemistry, temp. and
salinity. Also, UW video footage of the actual Coast Guard site and
surrounding reef was taken, and a very general current assessment using a
current buoy. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The purpose of this effort was not to establish
conclusive evidence of the damage that may result from the Coast Guard
project. However, it was ment to give indications of issues that should be
explored further to ensure the safety of the marine area, and to provide at
least a basic record of what was there before the work started.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have always believed that the key to saving the
natural beauty of this place was establishing a way to collect environmental
information. Once we could show what was being destroyed, and measure
ongoing threats over time, even in a very basic way, then the cost
of "development" would at least be known, and maybe that would have an
effect on the decisions being made. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But, I guess the hard lesson I take from this
experience is this: No matter how much information we have, and studies we
do, the resulting information is only as strong as the body or organisation that
is there to use it. In this case, it was not the lack of information that
was the problem, it was not the lack of local expertise to make proper
decisions. The problem was that the internal forces within Government were
not strong enough to use the available information to make a difference, and
there was no external local organization strong enough to question the
project. From what I can see, I think this is the major problem we
face. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We need to move quickly to collect and continually
update monitoring data. There are already some good efforts in this
regard. I am specifically focusing on the field collection of
data to help the process along (including a repeat effort at the Coast Guard
site once the project is finished). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>However, just as important as the montiroing
is</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2> the need for some external organization that
can truely represent the people of the country, and be strong enough to make the
Gov't take notice when it presents evidence regarding an issue.
</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>I know, tall order. Our national trust is
currently inactive. We will need to either reactivate it and strengthen
its force, or create an entirely new heritage foundation whose mandate will be
the protection of the heritage for the young people of the country. It
won't be easy, but without this, I truely believe that the other efforts will be
wasted. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yet again, many thanks to all who have followed the
story, contributed info, and actively assisted. Specifically to
coral-listers, I know this is supposed to be a research based list. I
greately appreciate the willingness of list members to include this issue among
its discussions. I think the ability to reach all the coral people out
there through the list has been a great help in this situation, and to the
overall movement to protect coral reefs. I hope it continues to grow in the
future. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>All the best,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Kurt</FONT></DIV>
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