Post by tekmac on Aug 29, 2005 14:09:18 GMT -5
Snorkellers and scuba divers across the globe are being enlisted to help save the world’s oceans and seas.
A new initiative, called Earthdive, is being launched in which professional and amateur divers are being urged to record the health of the marine environment including coral reefs, mangrove swamps and coastal waters.
The scheme, which is being supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through its World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) in Cambridge, England, is the brainchild of Chris Long.
Mr Long, a keen diver and the founder of Run the World (a mass participation event which raised awareness and funds for victims of the African famine in 1986) said: “If threats such as pollution, over-fishing and climate change continue, it could lead to dire consequences for the global population”.
“Earthdive wants people with an interest in diving to understand that what they see under the oceans is not just beautiful, it also sustains human life, and they can help to preserve it by simply recording what they see,” he added.
Klaus Toepfer, UNEP’s Executive Director, said: “The world’s oceans and their valuable habitats provide food and livelihoods for many people across the globe in activities ranging from fishing to tourism.”
“In conserving the oceans, we are not only saving a key part of the planet’s life support systems and many wonderful marine life-forms, we are also playing a key role in meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals in areas from poverty eradication to hunger reduction,” he said.
Earthdive membership is extended to divers and snorkellers of all abilities, as well as anyone with an interest in marine conservation issues. The key feature of the scheme centres on encouraging members to record findings from their dives on the Earthdive website (www.earthdive.com).
By doing this, they will be contributing scientific data on key indicator species to build a Global Dive Log (GDL). This Global Dive Log is sponsored by P&O.
Members also sign an international petition, demanding action to protect the oceans, which will be delivered to the United Nations in 2005. Meanwhile 50% of all membership fees go directly to marine conservation projects.
UNEP-WCMC, which has been providing scientific assessments of biodiversity for a quarter of a century and is one of the world’s leading centres for coral reef conservation, is providing a unique mapping service. It will allow divers to pinpoint locations and log their observations, which in turn can be shared with other divers and the scientific community.
Mark Collins, the Centre’s Director, said: “We are making a significant contribution to the development of the Earthdive Global Dive Log through our innovative interactive map service (IMapS). By combining recreation with conservation, Earthdive can help spread important environmental messages to a much wider audience.”
These sentiments are echoed by Coral Cay Conservation (CCC), another Earthdive partner. Formed in 1986, the organisation aims to help sustain livelihoods and alleviate poverty through the protection, restoration and management of coral reefs and tropical forests.
Much of their work depends on the goodwill of volunteers, who make tens of thousands of dives a year to survey marine life. Coral Cay Conservation’s Founder and CEO, Peter Raines MBE, is a keen advocate of the Earthdive principles.
“There is a natural link between diving and environmental protection, and we are working closely with Earthdive to encourage more people to bring the two together. Recreational diving is a fast growing sport, with more than 1.5 million new divers being certified each year. Earthdive has a unique opportunity to unite this rapidly-growing community in vital conservation activities, which are ultimately of enormous benefit to us all,” he said.
For More Information Please Contact: Eric Falt, Spokesperson/Director of UNEP’s Division of Communications and Public Information, Tel: +254 20 623292, Mobile: +254 (0) 733 682656, Email: eric.falt@unep.org
or Nick Nuttall, UNEP Head of Media, Tel: +254 20 623084, Mobile: +254 733 632755, E-mail: nick.nuttall@unep.org
About Earthdive
Earthdive is a revolutionary new concept in ‘citizen science’ and a global research project for millions of recreational scuba divers who can help to preserve the health and diversity of our oceans.
As a commercial organisation, Earthdive is also seeking to effect positive change towards a more sustainable marine environment by raising global awareness and financial support for the protection of our oceans.
At the heart of this unique research project is the Earthdive Global Dive Log (GDL), which has been developed in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) and marine biologists from all over the world.
The Global Dive Log, sponsored by P&O, is a unique database into which divers and snorkellers log sightings of key indicator species and human impacts via online logbooks.
Observations of illegal trade in endangered species are also recorded, which are then passed on to TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. TRAFFIC works to ensure that the trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. It has offices covering most parts of the world and works in close co-operation with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). TRAFFIC is a joint programme of WWF and IUCN – The World Conservation Union.
A unique point & click positioning system enables data to be fixed to specific map references and then searched and analysed via an interactive digital map. As divers and snorkellers log their underwater observations on the Earthdive web site, these logs will together create a unique and evolving ‘Global Snapshot’ of the world's oceans that can be used by decision makers at every level.
In addition to an international research project, Earthdive is also a global membership organisation and a conduit of advocacy for marine conservation. As each member joins Earthdive, their name is added to a Global Petition demanding action from policymakers to help protect our oceans, which will be presented to the United Nations during 2005.
Earthdive is committed to making a positive contribution towards marine conservation through active support and fund-raising.
Funding comes directly from contributions made by Earthdive members, with 50% of all membership fees going directly to Earthdive’s selected organisations: Coral Cay Conservation (80%) and UNEP-WCMC (20%).
The selected organisations are directly benefiting the marine environment by carrying out important conservation projects, such as:
* Environmental assessment, research and/or monitoring programmes
* Education and/or awareness initiatives at a local level
* Alternative livelihood schemes and/or related community projects.
As the number of members grows over time, Earthdive will seek to increase the diversity and geographical spread of the organisations selected.
Log-on to www.earthdive.com to learn more about this global initiative and the host of benefits it offers to its members. These include:
* Creating an online Dive Log, using the unique Earthdive point & click facility to locate specific dive sites
* Contributing to a ‘Global Snapshot’ of the oceans by completing an online Science Log for each dive, recording key indicator species and anthropogenic impacts
* Accessing the Earthdive search facility for news stories, dives, divers, dive sites, dive centres, dive logs and key marine species
* Accessing 30 regional pre-dive briefing packs containing essential information on 30 Earthdive eco-regions, key indicator species and tips on how to monitor them
* Supporting selected marine conservation organisations
* Using the Earthdive secure e-mail facility to catch up with old dive buddies or make new friends all over the world
* Contributing to the Earthdive petition, demanding action to protect the health and diversity of our oceans
* Supporting the Earthdive Code of Responsible Diving (eCord), as recognised by all dive centres registered on the web site
* Accessing a host of other membership benefits including discounts on diving equipment, competitions and Earthdive branded merchandise.
These benefits are provided for an annual membership fee of just £10, of which 50% goes directly to Earthdive’s selected marine conservation organisations.
Through Earthdive, sustained action can be taken in a global effort to monitor and conserve marine life on this planet.
For more information please contact : Chris Long, Founder and Director, Email: chris@earthdive.com or Angela Bawtree, Director, Email: angela@earthdive.com, Tel: 07990 725700.
A new initiative, called Earthdive, is being launched in which professional and amateur divers are being urged to record the health of the marine environment including coral reefs, mangrove swamps and coastal waters.
The scheme, which is being supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through its World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) in Cambridge, England, is the brainchild of Chris Long.
Mr Long, a keen diver and the founder of Run the World (a mass participation event which raised awareness and funds for victims of the African famine in 1986) said: “If threats such as pollution, over-fishing and climate change continue, it could lead to dire consequences for the global population”.
“Earthdive wants people with an interest in diving to understand that what they see under the oceans is not just beautiful, it also sustains human life, and they can help to preserve it by simply recording what they see,” he added.
Klaus Toepfer, UNEP’s Executive Director, said: “The world’s oceans and their valuable habitats provide food and livelihoods for many people across the globe in activities ranging from fishing to tourism.”
“In conserving the oceans, we are not only saving a key part of the planet’s life support systems and many wonderful marine life-forms, we are also playing a key role in meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals in areas from poverty eradication to hunger reduction,” he said.
Earthdive membership is extended to divers and snorkellers of all abilities, as well as anyone with an interest in marine conservation issues. The key feature of the scheme centres on encouraging members to record findings from their dives on the Earthdive website (www.earthdive.com).
By doing this, they will be contributing scientific data on key indicator species to build a Global Dive Log (GDL). This Global Dive Log is sponsored by P&O.
Members also sign an international petition, demanding action to protect the oceans, which will be delivered to the United Nations in 2005. Meanwhile 50% of all membership fees go directly to marine conservation projects.
UNEP-WCMC, which has been providing scientific assessments of biodiversity for a quarter of a century and is one of the world’s leading centres for coral reef conservation, is providing a unique mapping service. It will allow divers to pinpoint locations and log their observations, which in turn can be shared with other divers and the scientific community.
Mark Collins, the Centre’s Director, said: “We are making a significant contribution to the development of the Earthdive Global Dive Log through our innovative interactive map service (IMapS). By combining recreation with conservation, Earthdive can help spread important environmental messages to a much wider audience.”
These sentiments are echoed by Coral Cay Conservation (CCC), another Earthdive partner. Formed in 1986, the organisation aims to help sustain livelihoods and alleviate poverty through the protection, restoration and management of coral reefs and tropical forests.
Much of their work depends on the goodwill of volunteers, who make tens of thousands of dives a year to survey marine life. Coral Cay Conservation’s Founder and CEO, Peter Raines MBE, is a keen advocate of the Earthdive principles.
“There is a natural link between diving and environmental protection, and we are working closely with Earthdive to encourage more people to bring the two together. Recreational diving is a fast growing sport, with more than 1.5 million new divers being certified each year. Earthdive has a unique opportunity to unite this rapidly-growing community in vital conservation activities, which are ultimately of enormous benefit to us all,” he said.
For More Information Please Contact: Eric Falt, Spokesperson/Director of UNEP’s Division of Communications and Public Information, Tel: +254 20 623292, Mobile: +254 (0) 733 682656, Email: eric.falt@unep.org
or Nick Nuttall, UNEP Head of Media, Tel: +254 20 623084, Mobile: +254 733 632755, E-mail: nick.nuttall@unep.org
About Earthdive
Earthdive is a revolutionary new concept in ‘citizen science’ and a global research project for millions of recreational scuba divers who can help to preserve the health and diversity of our oceans.
As a commercial organisation, Earthdive is also seeking to effect positive change towards a more sustainable marine environment by raising global awareness and financial support for the protection of our oceans.
At the heart of this unique research project is the Earthdive Global Dive Log (GDL), which has been developed in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) and marine biologists from all over the world.
The Global Dive Log, sponsored by P&O, is a unique database into which divers and snorkellers log sightings of key indicator species and human impacts via online logbooks.
Observations of illegal trade in endangered species are also recorded, which are then passed on to TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. TRAFFIC works to ensure that the trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. It has offices covering most parts of the world and works in close co-operation with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). TRAFFIC is a joint programme of WWF and IUCN – The World Conservation Union.
A unique point & click positioning system enables data to be fixed to specific map references and then searched and analysed via an interactive digital map. As divers and snorkellers log their underwater observations on the Earthdive web site, these logs will together create a unique and evolving ‘Global Snapshot’ of the world's oceans that can be used by decision makers at every level.
In addition to an international research project, Earthdive is also a global membership organisation and a conduit of advocacy for marine conservation. As each member joins Earthdive, their name is added to a Global Petition demanding action from policymakers to help protect our oceans, which will be presented to the United Nations during 2005.
Earthdive is committed to making a positive contribution towards marine conservation through active support and fund-raising.
Funding comes directly from contributions made by Earthdive members, with 50% of all membership fees going directly to Earthdive’s selected organisations: Coral Cay Conservation (80%) and UNEP-WCMC (20%).
The selected organisations are directly benefiting the marine environment by carrying out important conservation projects, such as:
* Environmental assessment, research and/or monitoring programmes
* Education and/or awareness initiatives at a local level
* Alternative livelihood schemes and/or related community projects.
As the number of members grows over time, Earthdive will seek to increase the diversity and geographical spread of the organisations selected.
Log-on to www.earthdive.com to learn more about this global initiative and the host of benefits it offers to its members. These include:
* Creating an online Dive Log, using the unique Earthdive point & click facility to locate specific dive sites
* Contributing to a ‘Global Snapshot’ of the oceans by completing an online Science Log for each dive, recording key indicator species and anthropogenic impacts
* Accessing the Earthdive search facility for news stories, dives, divers, dive sites, dive centres, dive logs and key marine species
* Accessing 30 regional pre-dive briefing packs containing essential information on 30 Earthdive eco-regions, key indicator species and tips on how to monitor them
* Supporting selected marine conservation organisations
* Using the Earthdive secure e-mail facility to catch up with old dive buddies or make new friends all over the world
* Contributing to the Earthdive petition, demanding action to protect the health and diversity of our oceans
* Supporting the Earthdive Code of Responsible Diving (eCord), as recognised by all dive centres registered on the web site
* Accessing a host of other membership benefits including discounts on diving equipment, competitions and Earthdive branded merchandise.
These benefits are provided for an annual membership fee of just £10, of which 50% goes directly to Earthdive’s selected marine conservation organisations.
Through Earthdive, sustained action can be taken in a global effort to monitor and conserve marine life on this planet.
For more information please contact : Chris Long, Founder and Director, Email: chris@earthdive.com or Angela Bawtree, Director, Email: angela@earthdive.com, Tel: 07990 725700.