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All too often, coral reefs and other fragile environments are only, in
the end, represented by community-based efforts, yet all too often, the
great funding opportunities go to the national and international levels
of government or non-profits, which rarely solve these sorts of issues
and, as in this case, are often involved in the problem to begin with.
Regards, DeeVon Quirolo, Ex. Dir. Reef Relief
<p>Kurt Cordice wrote:
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<font face="Arial"><font size=-1>Hello
Everyone,</font></font> <font face="Arial"><font size=-1>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></font> <font face="Arial"><font size=-1>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></font> <font face="Arial"><font size=-1>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></font> <font face="Arial"><font size=-1>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></font> <font face="Arial"><font size=-1>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></font> <font face="Arial"><font size=-1>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></font> <font face="Arial"><font size=-1>However,
just as important as the montiroing is 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.
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></font> <font face="Arial"><font size=-1>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></font> <font face="Arial"><font size=-1>All
the best,</font></font> <font face="Arial"><font size=-1>Kurt</font></font> </blockquote>
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