[Coral-List] CORAL GARDENING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION, INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSE, FIJI

[Austin Bowden-Kerby]

CORAL GARDENING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION,  INTERNATIONAL TRAINING
COURSE, FIJI

In Partnership with Plantation Island Resort and Reef Explorer Fiji

A SPECIALIZED TRAINING DESIGNED FOR CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS

The goal of the program is to offer affordable on-site training to build
skills and a deeper understanding among coral reef professionals in coral
reef restoration ecology and diverse restoration methods, which will in
turn enable them to more effectively restore bleaching resistant corals to
coral reefs in their areas of operation. The curriculum of instruction has
been developed over several decades from lessons learned in both the
Caribbean and Pacific oceans. The course is designed to help elevate “Coral
Gardening” into a recognized and certified profession.

The courses will run 2-3 times a year, dependent on finding at least 10
trainees for each session.

Session One- 1st-14th September 2019 (fixed dates)

Session Two- 2nd-15th February, 2020 (tentative dates)

Two weeks total, including eleven days of field and classroom study at
Plantation Island Resort, Mamanuca Islands, followed by three days of field
work and instruction on Fiji’s Coral Coast with Reef Explorer Fiji, while
staying at Teitei Homestay and Permaculture Farm. All field work will be
done snorkeling with no SCUBA diving used thus lowering costs, allowing
active discussion on site, and opening the work to greater participation.

Training Sites

Plantation Island Resort, Mamanuca Islands, Fiji

This site has a range of reef environments due to its rare double barrier
reef and nearshore fringing reef. The nearshore reefs are heat and silt
stressed, and have associated seagrass and mangrove environments. The
middle barrier reef is a cooler and cleaner environment with moderate wave
and current energy, while the outer barrier reef is dominated by cool
oceanic waters, stronger currents, and breaking waves. The reefs are among
the most intact coral ecosystems remaining on the planet, suffering only
moderate levels of bleaching and local causes of reef decline. On site is
one of the largest coral nurseries yet developed in the Pacific, forming a
gene bank collection of over a thousand bleaching-resistant corals with
dozens of species and coral genotypes.

Korolevu-i-wai district, Coral Coast, Fiji

The Coral Coast is dominated by high-energy, wide fringing reefs with
shallow backreef lagoons that provide a challenging thermal environment for
corals. A locally managed marine area was established at the site in 2002
and provides an ideal opportunity for understanding the bigger picture of
how coral restoration can be integrated into the wider coral reef
management strategy. The coral restoration work at this site is in an
advanced stage with cost-effective methods modified to suit the high-energy
environment. Reef Explorer Fiji maintains five coral nurseries at the site
generating ~7000 corals a year for use in restoration efforts. In addition
to the coral restoration and monitoring methods, trainees will be exposed
to the process of community involvement and collective decision making to
address overfishing, coral predators, and land-based threats to the coral
reef.

Plantation Island Resort Site Costs in Fijian Dollars:

$1,800. USD subtotal per person, for private non-shared room

$964. USD subtotal per person, if sharing 3 to a room

Coral Coast Site Costs in Fiji Dollars

$360. USD per person for four days, shared accommodation.

TOTAL COST, ALL INCLUSIVE FOR 14 DAYS:

$2,160. USD (private accommodation)

$1,324. USD (shared accommodation)

Reduced rates and scholarships may be available to qualified Pacific Island
students, on approval.

To register for the course, write Austin Bowden-Kerby at
abowdenkerby at gmail.com

Trainees must make their own travel arrangements and must have a passport
valid for at least six months beyond your stay in Fiji. You are also
expected to bring their own mask, snorkel, and fins. As the water is cool
in September, a wetsuit is recommended.


Vinaka vakalevu


Austin Bowden-Kerby, PhD
Corals for Conservation
P.O. Box 4649 Samabula, Fiji Islands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PRLJ8zDm0U
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/emergency-response-to-massive-coral-bleaching/
<https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/emergency-response-to-massive-coral-bleaching/>

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/happy-chickens-for-food-security-and-environment-1/