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MARINE CONSERVATION FUND -
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Patrol
boat for the Green Life Society (GLS) on Andaman Island
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Restarting conservation efforts on dugong, turtles and coral
reefs after the Tsunami -
 The
Andaman Islands, being extremely close to the epicenter
of the massive December 2004 earthquake, were severely affected
by the tsunami. We now know that the disaster killed over
1,500 islanders, with many still missing, and displaced
55,000 others. The tsunami wiped out scores of villages,
altered the geography of entire islands, and created mountains
of debris which threaten to choke and destroy coral reefs.
The
islands contain one of the world’s largest mangrove
ecosystems, with extensive networks of mangrove creeks inhabited
by saltwater crocodiles and the giant monitor lizards. The
islands are also fringed by spectacular coral reefs, which
support thousands of species of fish, coelenterates, mollusks,
crustaceans, and sea snakes. Mangroves are extremely important:
they protect coastlines from wave damage, protect coral
reefs by filtering mud and sediments from the land, and
act as a nursery for juvenile fish species.
Human
life and property were not the only victims of the tsunami.
Untold acres of coral reefs were damaged not only by the
initial impact but also by the debris, sewage, and sediments
that were washed back out to sea.
After
the initial assistance to contain the human catastrophe,
it is now time to rebuild.
The
Green Life Society has been active before the tsunami to
research and protect dugong and turtle populations ad to
monitor reef health around the islands. Their only research
vessel was destroyed during the tsunami and they are in
need of assistance to restart their work:
 “The
Andaman Islands are a group of islands and the only way
to get around and especially to research sites is via boat.
Our own boat, which has been destroyed, is lying somewhere
at the bottom of the Junglighat Jetty and it is too dangerous
at the moment to dive down there, as the jetty has also
collapsed and is also barely hanging on.”
Hasmukh Hoslo Jiwa, GLS Chairman
With
the new boat which should started operation in December
2006 the GreenLife Society will recommence the monitoring
of several coral reef sites around the islands to assess
the impact of tourism and other influences, which is essential
to ensure that the islands’ coral reefs are kept healthy
for generations to come.
Everytime
you book through DIVERSION DIVE TRAVEL you contribute to
this exciting work so that your kids can still enjoy a healthy
marine environment.
DIVERSION
MARINE CONSERVATION FUND -
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