Expanding our marine conservation impact into the Comoros

Late September 2018 will see the start of an exciting project funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) into the Comoros Archipelago. The Comoros coral reefs are an unrivalled marine paradise, with the highest concentration of coral marine species within a small area, in the world. Comoros offers one of the world’s largest coral atolls which parades hundreds of fish species, shells, and corals.

The research team aims to study the marine biodiversity and fish abundance in the deeper (benthic) ecosystems in the Comoros. Research will be led by chief scientist Melita Samoilys, Director of Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO), a well-known Kenyan NGO, specialising in generating knowledge to find solutions that benefit marine ecosystems and people.

The deeper habitats that this project will focus on are unexplored and unknown and need protection. “We will be exploring the unknown areas to understand where the sensitive areas are and where the protection should be. We look forward to working with the University of Comoros and the Fisheries Directorate scientists and their students in the Comoros Archipelago, looking at their deeper habitats, deeper than 40 metres. This study will be important for sustaining inshore fisheries, as well as climate refuges,” said Dr Jean Harris, Executive Director of WILDOCEANS, a programme of the WILDTRUST.

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation. CEPF through WILDOCEANS, will work to empower the Comoros Archipelago science fraternity to understand the nature and distribution of benthic ecosystems and the coral reefs, and how to protect them. “Biodiversity is an essential part of a planet that supports more than 7 billion people,” said Olivier Langrand, Executive Director of CEPF.  “The efforts of the WILDOCEANS project partnership to better understand and ultimately protect biodiverse ecosystems such as the coral reefs of the Comoros are of the utmost importance. The vital services such ecosystems provide, for example as a refuge for fish species, make this type of research an investment in a healthier future for oceans, for the people of Comoros, and for everyone. We also value the fact that this project is implemented by experts from the region in a spirit of cooperation.” To date, CEPF has contributed substantially to the protection of areas around the world.

Local scientists and students, primarily from the University of Comoros, will contribute to gaining insights into conducting fish community surveys around the island on board the WILDOCEANS’ oceanic research vessel, the RV Angra Pequena. The project seeks to achieve impact in four areas, namely, biodiversity knowledge improvement, enhancement of civil society capacity, improved human well-being and creation of enabling conditions for conservation. The research expedition will work to empower the Comoros science fraternity to achieve these four areas. When asked about the exciting opportunity that awaits these students at the University of Comoros, Nirina Rasoanandrasana, a lecturer at the university responded saying, “This is a great opportunity for us to meet scientists in the marine environment, and to engage in an exchange of research and communication. Comoros relies on subsistence fishing, which is contributing to the country’s developing economy. This project will adequately equip us to teach our communities about protecting our precious ecosystems and the parts of it that are unknown, as well as fishing sustainably in a way that will not harm the very ecosystems we aim to protect”. Nirina, who is also a biologist and oceanographer, will be part of the science fraternity joining this expedition.

To include the local community members, opportunities will be created to take some fisheries department researchers and representatives of fisher communities to sea, so they can witness the surveys of the ecosystems and benthic fish species through visual means first-hand. While the main aim is to significantly advance scientific knowledge about nature and the condition of these important habitats, it is also important that local community members are well acquainted with their surrounding environment, by being made aware of marine biodiversity and its value for sustaining human well-being and livelihoods. Beyond that, two local community development organisations, UMAMA and AIDE, will communicate biodiversity conservation and fisheries sustainability principles to school children and local community stakeholders. “An opportunity like this is not only exciting for our organisation, but also for the communities where we are involved. Our communities are willing to learn, and this collaboration will help us to educate and empower them even more”, said Faouz Fardani, Head of Communications at UMAMA.

Sustainability is central to all projects initiated by WILDOCEANS. Generating baseline data for data-poor ecosystems within these key biodiversity areas will result in information being used for future conservation projects and regional marine protected area (MPA) network expansion initiatives. When asked about teaming up with UMAMA and AIDE to facilitate local community meetings made up of local fishing and tourism organisations, Dr Harris said, “Sharing the expedition work we will be doing and learning about the social and economic context of these communities, will contribute to advancing our research in leaps and bounds.”

This project possesses unique and exciting qualities. Scientists and local community members in Comoros will be empowered and equipped to continue the work long after the expedition ends. Various students from the University of Comoros will be trained to use various pieces of equipment, including baited remote underwater videos (BRUV) – some of which will be left with the team in Comoros to use for further research and exploration.

The RV Angra Pequena set sail for the Comoros expedition on the 24th of September 2018.

Youth shine a light on Marine Protected Areas

The youth shone a light on the importance of Marine Protected Areas with an evening of original poetry, inspiration and a spotlight performance at the WILDOCEANS Ocean Stewards’ Dinner on the Dock event held at Trawlers Wharf last week, launching a week of mentorship and career guidance.

With the launch of the annual four-day WILDOCEANS Ocean Stewards’ Science Sessions held in UKZN’s Howard Campus, which brought marine science students together with a cohort of leading marine scientists on Monday the 17th of September, the Dinner on the Dock was a coming together and celebration of all the work done in the environmental and conservation sector in honour of the oceans.

Honouring the youth’s invitation, guest speaker at the dinner, Department of Environmental Affairs’ Director of Youth Development Nomxolisi Mashiyi said that she was excited to be in the midst of such brilliant, intelligent and committed focused future leaders of South Africa. She said it inspired her to see so many young women in the field of marine science.

“You need to continue with what you’re doing, you need to do more in terms of taking centre stage in managing the environment and being part of leadership in this country because you are the future leaders. So, the decisions that you make today will affect you if you don’t demand 5%. The stupid decisions that we make today are the decisions that you will live with,” she concluded.

The Ocean Stewards’ program was launched in recognition of the threats facing our oceans and provides young marine science students with a formative experiential journey that gives them unique insights into marine conservation and provides opportunities for hands-on research integration relevant to each student’s area of expertise.

The WILDOCEANS Oceans Stewards’ Science Sessions is a capacity building program that forms part of the student’s journey. The programme gives students access to career guidance and mentorship within the marine conservation space.

The youth have become increasingly aware of the threats that the oceans are currently facing and are advocating for increased protection. With a push for 5% marine protection by the end of 2018, some of the Ocean Stewards along with youth from WILDOCEANS as well as youth from other environmental organisations across the country have developed a Youth for MPA (Y4MPA) initiative.

Inspired by the OnlyThisMuch campaign, which is a coalition of organisations supporting the advancement of MPA’s in African waters, the Y4MPA strive to pull together youth from across the country to get passionate and active about ocean protection and governance in any capacity they can muster. Already the Y4MPA have established communication platform’s and have written a letter to the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa to advocate on the behalf of the stalled marine protected area expansion.

This year the Science Session program focussed on MPA’s and the blue economy. Over the course of four days, a cohort of key speakers made up of industry practitioners from various departments including NGO’s and government representatives gave presentations and held one on one engagement sessions with the students. George Branch (Emeritus Professor at the University of Cape Town) and his wife Margo Branch, also presented and gave a lovely story on the launch of the new edition of their book Living Shores.

ACEP (African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme) Canyon Connections researchers also gave a presentation of master’s projects available to the Ocean Stewards next year. Twelve master’s students were given the opportunity to present on the progress of their work and how their projects fit into the bigger picture of MPA’s and the blue economy.

On the final day, following the previous days fun and interactive science communications training by Jive Media, the students participated in the closed round of FameLab heats which is an international science communications platform hosted by the British Council to assess the students on their ability to present and communicate their research. The council hosted a closed heat for the Ocean Stewards who went down from 28 participants to ten and were then narrowed down to 3runners up. The two top students, Merissa Naidoo who took first place and Njabulo Mdluli who earned second place, will be funded to attend the national round of FameLab heats as well as receive the Master of Science Communications training from the British Council where the winners from those rounds will go to the international fame lab stage.

Third runner-up of the FameLab heats Ocean Steward and marine biology student Armstrong Gumbi said this years’ Science Sessions left him speechless, “From the time I first attended the science session I was mind blown because I didn’t know what was going around me and this year you left me speechless by bringing JiveMedia to us as a learning experience. Thank you ever so much to everyone working behind the scenes on our ocean steward family”.

Thank you to donors Grindrod Bank, the Blue Fund and ACEP for making the Science Sessions, Ocean Stewards Programme and the Dinner on the Dock event possible.

WILDLANDS celebrate Arbor Week with partners

WILDLANDS joined hands with its partners to celebrate National Arbor Week by planting indigenous trees at the Ferncliffe Nature Reserve in Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay and Cape Town this week. National Arbor Week serves to celebrate South Africa’s indigenous trees, raise awareness about their importance, admire their beauty and recognise their benefits. This year, the indigenous trees are the Yellowwood (Podocarpus spp) and the Sheperd’s tree (Boscia albitrunca). The Yellowwood being the common tree and the Sheperd’s tree, the rare species for 2018.

Kirsten Oliver, WILDLANDS’s Deputy Director of Restoration programmes comments, “South Africa is a water scarce country, where planting indigenous trees and removing invasive species is one way of mitigating against human-induced environmental and climate change.  These activities also reduce strain on our water resources and protect our natural heritage for future generations. WILDLANDS’ vision is to create a sustainable future for all South Africans and by observing Arbor Week, we lead by example in creating sustainable livelihoods for our people and the environment.”

Shekhar Mahabeer, Nedbanks’ Manager for Workstreams and Initiatives comments, “Nedbank, is committed to initiatives such as Arbor Week and other initiatives in partnership with WILDLANDS. Our aim is to enhance the environmental ecosystems within these national programmes. In doing so, we hope that all future generations are able to benefit from a sustainable environment.”

Other partners who got their hands dirty include South32, Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), the Stellenbosch Municipality, the Stellenbosch Trail Fund (STF) and Stellenbosch University.

“Together we make a difference and create value through our environmental programs,” comments Thandazile Mnyango, Community Development Specialist, South32.

Melinda Forbay, Corporate Affairs Managet from RBCT comments, “We were so privileged to partner with WILDLANDS in this fantastic initiative.”

Lydia Van Rooyen, WILDLANDS’ Greening Your Future Manager comments, “We are passionate about the protection of our water sources and natural landscapes, especially in the iconic Eerste river. We hope to continue our excellent relationship with the Stellenbosch Municipality, partners and the public to restore more of the ecological river systems by removing alien invasive plants and replacing them with indigenous riverine vegetation.

All the trees planted throughout this week have been grown and nurtured by the WILDLANDS’ Tree-preneurs; community members who grow indigenous trees at homestead level and barter them with WILDLANDS for livelihood support items like water tanks, health and hygiene hampers and education support.

All South Africans are encouraged to take time out of their busy schedules this week to care for their environment and plant an indigenous tree. Happy Arbor Week.