PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
WHO YOU ARE BEGINS WITH WHAT YOU DO !
Haiti Initiative
Marine conservation and education project in Haiti
We are very excited to be working with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and the Bryan Adams Foundation (www.bryanadamsfoundation.com) to develop a marine conservation and education project in Haiti. The Bryan Adams Foundation is a charitable organization created by singer/songwriter and photographer Bryan Adams.
One area we are focusing on in Haiti is the protection of whale and dolphin populations while developing ecotourism and opportunities to benefit a positive image of Haiti. Almost nothing is known about marine mammals in Haitian waters. As marine mammals are migratory, and with the information suggesting that various species occupy the waters around the entire island of Hispaniola, there is a necessity to expand the focus on marine mammals in Haiti. We are proposing a whale and dolphin watching pilot program to be located at Petite Riviere de Nippes to assess the potential of whale and dolphin watching as a positive tourism focus for other locales in Haiti.
Our goals and objectives for the Haiti initiative include:
- evaluate the potential for a structured program of whale and dolphin watching and related ecotourism activities;
- involve local fishermen in a sustainable program that provides additional or alternative income and livelihood involving the protection and promotion of whales and dolphins.
- involve local youth in the development of a naturalist program to serve as interpreters on whale and dolphin watching excursions;
- develop active research projects to establish baseline marine mammal populations and assessment of threats.
- extend existing, and develop new, educational and community outreach programs conducted by project partners to focus on marine mammal protection, including the connection of youth in Florida and the Dominican Republic with children in Haiti (peer to peer through classroom web-links, visiting scholars and lectures, and field trips) and outreach to local fishing communities;
- promote the advancement of marine mammal protective legislation in Haiti.
 |
 |
EDUCATION INITIATIVE
_sized150px.jpg)
Students at Tavares Elementary receive dolphin diplomas after learning about the marine mammals from students at Leesburg High School. In order to receive the diplomas, students were required to complete a dolphin activity and listen to a presentation about marine mammals.
_sized150px.jpg)
Leesburg High sophomore Daphne Pearson helps a student with a dolphin activity. Students also colored pictures and learned about orcas and beluga whales.
_sized150px.jpg)
At the end of the presentation, students at Tavares Elementary sat patiently to receive their dolphin diplomas. They were also given stickers from the Save the Manatee Club.
PROMOTING CONSERVATION THROUGH ART |
|
 |
 |
By: Amanda Walker |
By: Tina Berube
|
|
|
By: Edgar Manzanares |
|
