Conservation International booklets released
Conservation International has been working with IAN staff to develop a series of publications regarding Marine Managed Areas as part of their Science to Action program. The first three booklets in a publication series were released in September. "People and Oceans: Managing marine areas for human well-being" (20 pp.) provides a social and economic perspective on marine managed areas. "Living with the Sea: Local efforts buffer effects of climate change" provides a natural science perspective on marine managed areas. "Marine Managed Areas: What, why and where" (16 pp.) provides a description of this management approach. Each booklet is rich in illustrations and uses multiple case studies from a global effort by Conservation International to develop and test marine management approaches.
Adapting to climate change: maintaining ecosystem services for human well-being in the Verde Island Passage, Philippines
IAN's collaboration with Conservation International has produced this report and an accompanying newsletter on the effects of climate change in this region of the Philippines. The Verde Island Passage, located in the Coral Triangle—an area considered the center of the world's marine biodiversity—has a wealth of marine resources on which rests the livelihoods of millions of people, and which are vulnerable to increasing sea surface temperatures, sea levels, ocean acidity, storm activity, and rainfall.
National Park of American Samoa: a place of spectacular beauty at our doorstep
Tim Carruthers and Jane Hawkey from IAN spent a week with the National Park Service staff of the National Park of American Samoa to create this flyer. The purpose of this science communication tool is to convey the connection between the unique and fragile natural resources of American Samoa and the Samoan cultural practices and beliefs. The flyer will be distributed by the park to the Samoan community, church groups, and schools, as well as to off-island park visitors, to promote good stewardship and sustainable use of the natural resources found in these remote South Pacific islands.
Baltimore partnership begins new integrated assessment and restoration project
The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore has committed to a bold and ambitious plan to restore Baltimore's Inner Harbor area to "fishable and swimmable" status in the next 10-15 years. EcoCheck is working with the Partnership and other team members to recommend sampling and data analysis methods to assess current status and track progress toward project objectives. The project kicked off on Friday, September 24, 2010 with team and board meetings at the Institute of Molecular Environmental Technology located at the city waterfront. In addition to the Waterfront Partnership, the team includes IAN/EcoCheck, the Center for Watershed Protection, and Biohabitats Inc. Key components of the project will include a November workshop with stakeholders and scientists to develop ecological health and watershed-based indicators and relevant data needs to track progress. A newsletter-style report, technical report, and training for volunteer data collection will follow the workshop.