Posts for the ‘In the Field’ topic
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Ecuador’s Government Agrees to Protect Manta Rays
Looking for good environmental news? You’ll find it in Ecuador, where the government has committed to protecting some of the ocean’s largest inhabitants—manta rays. As you might guess, based on their relatively flat bodies and distinctive, swooping fins, manta rays (Manta birostris) are closely related to sharks. Growing as long as 8 meters (around 25 feet) from tip to tip and weighing more than 1 ½ metric tons, these migratory swimmers—which live around the world in temperate and tropical waters—are hard to miss. Their conspicuous appearance also makes manta rays easy targets for fishermen. In some parts of the world, where they are ... -
A Lifelong Passion for Amphibians
[caption id="attachment_3395" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Robin Moore with an amphibian friend."][/caption] As CI launches our "Search for the Lost Frogs" campaign, Amphibian Conservation Officer Robin Moore reflects on how he first became interested in amphibians - and why these species are so important to protect. (This text has been adapted from the 2009 book "Courting the Wild: Love Affairs with Reptiles and Amphibians". The book was edited by Jamie K. Reaser.) “I’m going to catch amphibians!” I announced to my parents from the kitchen doorway. My backpack bulged with containers of every size and shape imaginable, and my feet rattled in gum boots two sizes ... -
In the Philippines, community members come together to aid ailing fish
CI’s Global Marine program is pursuing ambitious actions to secure a sustainable future for our ocean. However, sometimes the easiest way to make a difference is by taking small actions on the ground – or, in this case, in the water. Below, CI-Philippines communications coordinator Corina Bernabe recounts a recent event that rallied local community members to save the life of one fish. A rare sighting of the ocean sunfish (Mola mola) in Batangas, Philippines culminated in an unusual clean-up activity, as the parasite-ridden fish drifted near the coast and allowed a group of Bantay Dagat (Sea Watch) members to ... -
Alexandra Cousteau Talks to CI’s David Emmett About Tonle Sap Lake
As part of a 100-day journey exploring the planet’s most crucial freshwater systems, Alexandra Cousteau – granddaughter of Jacques and daughter of Philippe – recently caught up with CI’s own David Emmett at Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake. As regional director of our Greater Mekong program, Emmett and his team are facing threats like deforestation and dam construction as they work to maintain the lake’s ability to provide food and fresh water for more than 3 million people. Watch a short video of the Q&A below, and learn more about the communities and wildlife who make their homes near, in and on Southeast ... -
Seeing Home Through a Different Lens
“Cerrado [the Brazilian savannah] is my home. Cerrado is my life. Here I live. Here I work”. The words of the agronomist Rogerio Lustosa touch me. He was one of the participants of the photo workshop “Recriação do Olhar,” which, loosely translated, means “re-creating your view of the world”. The workshop was conducted last month by the photographer Adriano Gambarini, in Barreiras, Bahia as part of the Biodiversity Conservation Program – a project developed by CI-Brazil in partnership with Monsanto and implemented in the region by the local NGO Bioeste. On our final day together, I interviewed Rogerio and the other ... -
Highlights From the Field in Our New Issue of Team Earth Magazine
Has it been three months already? The new issue of our quarterly digital magazine will bring you into the mountains, forests and lagoons of some of the world's most stunning ecosystems to see firsthand the central role that fieldwork plays in Ci's success. Among the features: An exploration of the work being done in Colombia to protect the landscapes that collect and deliver water to Bogotá; A look at how CI is working with partners and communities to build a green economy in the forests of DRC; Intimate glimpses of some of China’s less well known, but deeply charismatic species; An stunning visual overview of some of ... -
Back to School, For Kids Big and Small (Part 2 of 2)
Kim McCabe is attending CI’s seascapes workshop in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. This blog is the continuation of yesterday's post. I was particularly encouraged to see conservation education in action when our boat docked next to the CI and Nature Conservancy-funded educational vessel, the Kalabia, which was visiting a Papuan village. The realized dream of Dr. Mark Erdmann, CI’s Senior Marine Advisor for Indonesia and a father of three himself, the Kalabia is a converted tuna trawler that now serves as a floating marine school for young children of 98 islands around Raja Ampat and CI’s Birds Head Seascape. I had read ... -
Back to School, For Kids Big and Small (Part 1 of 2)
Kim McCabe is attending CI’s seascapes workshop in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Read more reports on the meeting from our marine team. I woke up with the sun this morning and spent several quiet minutes drinking in the view outside my driftwood-constructed guest house at the Misool Eco Resort – the entire resort was built with fallen lumber and driftwood its owners found on area beaches! The lagoon’s turquoise surface was as smooth as glass, while beneath it, a colorful variety of life darted this way and that. I must say, it’s pretty cool to watch wild sea creatures like blacktip reef sharks [Carcharhinus ... -
Raja Ampat’s Underwater Ambassadors
[caption id="attachment_3148" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium sp.) "][/caption] Sebastian Troёng is attending CI’s seascapes workshop in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Read more reports on the meeting from our marine team. The shadows from the coconut palm trees were growing larger as we wrapped up the last session of the day. Since the morning we had been engaged in dynamic discussions about fisheries, aquaculture and communications. The Seascapes team members from around the world had shared their experiences and discussed ideas for how we can make marine conservation more successful on our blue planet. Now, it was time to observe firsthand the reason for our passionate ... -
Good Morning, Nature!
Frazer McGilvray is attending CI's seascapes workshop in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Read more reports on the meeting from our marine team. It was a typical morning on a tropical island, miles from anywhere. Mosquito net that didn’t quite work, waves that were just a little too loud, and jetlag that woke me up at 4 am. Oh, and it was raining. Not just normal rain, but that tropical rain that makes you wet just thinking about it. Of course, the bathroom was outside as well. Clearly even the wildlife didn’t like the rain, as a snake decided to come my way during morning ablutions, ...
