by Liam Gladstone

Disturb nothing. Take only pictures. Leave everything the way it is.

As kids, we heard our parents remind us in an especially non-negotiable way that anything foreign in the trunk of the car by vacation’s end would mean big trouble. These days, with the explosive international growth of ecotourism and climate issues at the forefront of public awareness, Mom and Dad’s car has assumed global proportions.

Within the last decade or so, the stereotypical image of the world traveler has changed. The Acapulco shirts, broad-rimmed straw hats and cheap disposable cameras have been traded for backpacks and expedition gear as more and more tourists are looking beyond the travel guide for their next adventure. Despite a strong social and environmental conscience, it’s a trend not without a ripple effect.

Enter Seacology, the world’s leading nonprofit island ecology and cultural advocacy group. Launched in 1999, Seacology has already established more than 130 island-based projects, which, in conservation terms, means the preservation of 1,741,062 acres of coastal marine ecosystems and 98,507 acres of protected habitats. Its stated mandate is to seek mutually favourable resolutions to a dilemma often encountered by indigenous island populations: while ecotourism promises huge economic growth, particularly for regions that would be otherwise isolated, the environmental impact can be substantial for fragile island ecosystems. “An important way to interact with islands is to have minimal impact because of their fragility,” writes Seacology’s Development Director Susan Racanelli. While it may be tempting to leave with a suitcase or backpack full of exotic, hard-to-find natural artifacts from far-flung corners of the world, don’t. “A seashell plucked from the sands may seem like a great souvenir, but it might also be the future home of a hermit crab.”

As self-sustaining biospheres subject to extreme conditions, islands are a special consideration in conservation efforts. For example, “coral reefs are extremely delicate and take a long time to grow,” says Racanelli. Pacific coral grows at the rate of about one inch per year. While beautiful and compelling, even the slightest touch can have negative consequences. Since ecotourism brings an immense influx of travelers, protecting nature at its most vulnerable is critical to ensuring that such beauty will remain untainted for future visitors.

Such is the trouble encountered by indigenous populations. More than anyone, the traditional

inhabitants of remote island areas are well aware of both the beauty and fragility of their natural surroundings. However, they’re equally aware of the economic potential presented by foreign travelers spending untold sums of money to appreciate those surroundings themselves; island beauty on one hand, survival in a competitive market on the other. Until recently, the two concerns appeared mutually exclusive.

Seacology works within this concern, protecting island environments while supporting local communities. On Vuna Village in Fiji, Seacology constructed a kindergarten and a local school administration center in exchange for a forest preserve and two protected marine areas. In Hainan, China, the children of four villages have been provided with an education. Reciprocally, the endangered Hainan Gibbon has been protected.

 In a tourism sense, Seacology encourages inquisitive travelers to indulge themselves in the local economies of the islands they visit, eating foods that have been locally caught and produced. “The local coconut dessert is a lot fresher than the pre-packaged cupcake shipped in from thousands of miles away,” writes Racanelli.

One notable example of Seacology’s conservation work in recent years is found at Chumbe Island, a 55-acre natural coral garden off the coast of Zanzibar. A protected marine reserve since 1994, the island features seven small eco-friendly bungalows, the housing units of a private, nonprofit resort. These bungalows, made entirely from natural materials, collect rainwater for re-use and are fitted with solar panels to provide electrical power. The island has been recognized as an exceptional environmental organization by British Airways, Conde Nast and the United Nations, and it’s a prime example of Seacology’s mandate realized.

In 2004, Seacology funded a variety of projects at Chumbe Island. The end result, an array of offshore mooring buoys, prohibits marine traffic from interfering with the Chumbe Marine Sanctuary, a marine protected area registered by the World Conservation Monitoring Center. This ‘no take’ reserve has had a positive impact on the island economy. Fishermen, trawling the waters with traditional outriggers, have seen increased catches in the nearby reefs, the effect of greater numbers of fish ‘spilling over’ from the sanctuary.

The overarching result, through the involvement of committed NGOs like Seacology, is a harmony of conservation and community.

“I would have to cite Chumbe as an excellent example of involving the surrounding community,” says Racanelli. “Once they were stable enough to provide for the responsible fiscal management of the eco-park and resort, they started to pour money back into the community by way of educational programs with Zanzibar school children. They bring children to the eco-resort for day long field trips to learn about island wildlife.”

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