In 2017, 28 Batwa households (indigenous peoples of Burundi) were involved in activities to maintain 33 km of boundary and 15 km of internal tracks, open 2 km of tourist trails, fight bush fires and poaching.

Only govermentally approved people are allowed to conduct these activities, however we do involved non-approved divers and non divers to assist in Coral restoration to help with maintenance work that does not involve collection or transplantation of any coral fragments (like cleaning coral tags etc)

Coral fragments are collected around the reef edge. These "corals of opportunity" are broken fragments that will enventually die if we do not collect them. Once collected, they are transplanted to artificial structures to help increase the coral diversity and population.

Some corals are adopted as part of our Adopt A Coral Program.The adopted coral is transplanted and named, then monitored, photographed and measured every 3 months. The data is published online and is freely available for research into coral growth. This program also helps provide data into coral growth and health states.

 

Some of our programs involve coral transplantation. In Thailand it is illegal to touch or damage coral, so we had to seek approval for some of our programs.

To receive approval from the government involves first submitted a proposal for a coral reef restoration zone. Including with this proposal are the techniques for transplantation, the people involved and their experience and qualifications, and a long term plan for monitoring and maintenance.

The DMCR has fully approved our restoration related activities and we conduct transplant research and provide them with that data.

Asset balance sheets log the stocks of assets and their values in the national accounts. Whereas flows of economic production--goods and services--have been used as primary indicators of the "health" of an economy, these measures do not take into account depreciation or degradation of the asset base form which these flows stem. Changes in the asset balance sheet would reflect, for example, the reduction in value of depleted fisheries stocks. 

Create and strengthen the capacities of the intended users of the Atlas, through workshops and training, in order to maximize the results obtained from the visualization and interpretation of the information provided by the Atlas.

Through alliances with different organizations and in coordination with the authorities, the development of the management plan was initiated.

In the first phase, work has been done to create the guiding document that will make it possible to implement the management plan by establishing roles and methods.

The organizations involved in the management plan are:

• Instituto Municipal de Ecología de Hermosillo
• Desert Walkers A.C.
• Profauna A.C.
• Ecological Collaboration.
• Ecogrande A.C.
• Naturally Fun

From all the activities and studies carried out, documents are prepared to be shared with the beneficiary groups and other interested parties, with the objective of generating awareness and knowledge about the recovery and protection of the protected areas, as well as the native plants that can be planted in these areas, in order to avoid their reduction or extinction or their inadequate mixture with plants from other places.

There is a five-tiered process to becoming a WHS.

1. An initial online application that ensures there are no fundamental prohibitive issues. 

2. A candidacy review of the initial application is carried out by impartial representatives.

3. Technical advice to discuss and advise on areas for improvement and on how to submit an application with the greatest chance of success.

4. Final application including supporting evidence, a justification for the geographical delineation of the site and a detailed explanation of how the site achieves each of the criteria. 

5. If successful, Whale Heritage Site (WHS) designation. It must then prepare and submit annual reports explaining how criteria are met.

By going through the accreditation process, The Bluff had to show that they could ensure responsible, sustainable practices and livelihoods would be continually improved thus ensuring the health and welfare of whales, dolphins and porpoises and their ocean habitats. 

It is intended to plan activities for the reforestation of the areas catalogued as protected, with oak trees and other plants germinated in the community nursery; with the purpose of recovering and conserving the biodiversity of the native species of these areas, and to receive the benefits that this represents.

The building block is built on the principle that a community based initiative to protect cetaceans and their habitats is best done when owned by the local communities itself. It incentivizes, empowers and engages a community and its businesses so that they benefit directly from a healthy and thriving ocean. 

To coordinate and facilitate the development of a WHS initiative, a steering committee is formed by local stakeholders. These are enthusiastic, creative and passionate individuals who steer the process and help launch, maintain, and sustain the application process.

An effective WHS steering committee should be fully diverse and inclusive and representative of the community and include staff, volunteers, and community members. Its purpose is to serve as a mobilizing force, not a bureaucracy. Making the process meaningful and purposeful for everyone involved. Within the process there is guidance on establishing sub-committees or workgroups to focus on specific goals and activities. 

As well as leading and manageing the process of application, the steering committee must show continual improvement across the community with its various initiatives, through annual reporting as a measure of WHS's excellence.