In this issue: Earth Day crowdfunding kickoff • Annual report • In solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka • Video projects tour • Join us in Fiji
You can fight global warming — Help Dominican communities
protect mangrove forests!For nearly 50 years, Earth Day has brought together communities around the world to protect our planet and raise awareness about what threatens it. This year, you can mark the occasion by directly supporting projects that protect mangroves — key players in the fight against rising CO2 levels — in the Dominican Republic. We want to raise $10,000 to expand three projects in the Caribbean island nation. Each of them involves coastal communities and local NGOs protecting important
mangrove habitats around the country by developing mangrove ecotourism. This both protects the threatened mangrove forests and gives local youth a way to make a living without overfishing, logging, or working on unsustainable coastal development. Each project has already made great progress; this additional support will let them make an even bigger impact. - At Samaná Bay, Seacology funded a boardwalk through a mangrove forest for birdwatching and other ecotourism activities. The crowdfunding campaign will let us fund a visitors’ center and a bridge, for better access
during the wet season.
- At Montecristi Province, Seacology is supporting a nascent kayak tourism operation staffed by local teenagers, who receive environmental education, guide training, and sustainable employment. The additional money we raise will buy more life vests and a trailer for transporting the kayaks.
- At Oviedo Lagoon, part of Jaragua National Park, our project helped upgrade boats used for ecotourism and strengthened enforcement of environmental
regulations. Additional funds will go toward buying life vests and producing waterproof wildlife-identification materials, to help the guides educate guests about the many birds and other animals in the area.
Last year, supporters of our first crowdfunding campaign provided the funds needed for our project to save parrotfish on Providencia Island in Colombia. We’ve decided to make an Earth Day fundraiser a tradition, giving our supporters a chance to contribute directly to our projects. We look forward to updating you on the progress of these three important Dominican Republic projects, and hope you’ll consider being a part of the community of supporters behind them. You can learn more, watch our short video about the campaign, and contribute at seacology.org/ecotourism. Thanks!
2018 annual report:
a big year for islandsLast year was huge for Seacology and for the whole island conservation movement around the world. We won a prestigious award from the United Nations and took part in the world’s preeminent climate conference (COP24, in Poland) for the first time. We launched our 300th project. We both began working in new countries and started new projects with old partners. And we launched nearly 20 new projects, protecting thousands of acres of irreplaceable island habitat. Our 2018 annual report summarizes project highlights, Seacology’s nationwide mangrove conservation efforts in Sri Lanka, our careful stewardship of donors’ contributions, and more. We hope you’ll flip through this year’s report and take in the array of stunning photos of our work in action — all made possible by the generosity of supporters like you.
In solidarity with Sri LankaHere at Seacology, our hearts are heavy with the devastating news from Sri Lanka. The senseless attacks as worshipers gathered for Easter services, as well as at hotels where families and friends gathered to share a meal, have befallen a nation that has seen far too much tragedy in the past several decades. As the nation is home to Seacology's largest-ever project, the Sri Lanka Mangrove Conservation Program (SLMCP), we immediately reached out to staff of our project partner, Sudeesa. We are incredibly relieved to report that Sudeesa staff members are all safe. We are still awaiting information regarding
whether any of our Community Beneficiary Organization members (the women and youth who are engaged in the program's livelihood and mangrove conservation activities, and who number in the thousands around the country) were affected. Seacology's deep connection to Sri Lanka's people and beautiful ecosystems remains stronger than ever. As we continue in our final year of the SLMCP, we continue to work closely with Sudeesa to protect the country's mangrove ecosystems, and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities around the island. As our hearts ache for those affected, we stand strong with the people of Sri Lanka.
Take a quick video tour of
Seacology projectsIf you can’t make it to South America, Asia, or the Caribbean in person, go there by video! Sustainable beekeeping in Uruguay. Clean drinking water in Indonesia. Protected turtle habitat in Grenada. Our latest update video whisks you to eight countries around the world for an exclusive look at how our projects are protecting important habitats while helping island communities meet their basic needs. Watch on Vimeo or YouTube.
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Join us this September in Fiji In partnership with New York-based The Native Society, Seacology invites you to join our first expedition to the beautiful South Pacific nation of Fiji in five years. We’ll visit Seacology project sites on the island of Vanua Levu. Our guests will see up-close how our investments in Fijian schools are helping local children while strengthening environmental protections. We will stay at the luxurious Koro Sun Resort, which offers spectacular accommodations and great diving and snorkeling opportunities. Seacology trips are unique and exciting opportunities to see parts of the world not easily accessible for tourists, and this one will be no exception. Learn more here, and contact Mike Hoppe of Reef & Rainforest Dive & Adventure Travel if you’re interested in a Fijian adventure.
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