A survival guide for corals?
Once again, today’s blog entry will take the form of a conservation entry. A couple of reports have just been published by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). These reports talk about the damage to both coral reef and mangrove ecosystems, and more interestingly to me, give ideas on what could and should be done to protect these areas. For anyone with even a passing interest in conservation issues, these are a must read. To download them, click the links below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/31_10_06_iucn_coral_guide.pdf - Coral Reef Survival Guide
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/311006_iucn_mangroves_guide.pdf - Mangrove Guide
Given the rather depressing ecological news reported in my last 2 entries, these documents show that there is a light right at the end of the tunnel, and that helping the environment isn’t a lost cause just yet. Again, on an individual level, we divers can promote good practices by diving with good bouyancy and not disturbing the bottom, or marine life which lives under the waves. A few readers of this blog may be, like me, working in education. We can do even more, and teach further generations about what the oceans have to offer, and what everyone can do to help out. If the children learn good practices when they’re young, they’ll grow up with those same values. There is also a good chance the children can alter their parents’ behaviour for the better. Teach your children about he environment in your classes - it’s a topic than can be easily integrated into almost any subject. Continue reading this entry »