As of 2010, the United Nations General Assembly declared this year to be the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). The campaign aims to help raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity throughout the world, providing an opportunity to stress the importance of biodiversity for our well-being, encourage a redoubling of our efforts to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss and reflect on our achievements to safeguard biodiversity so far.

The focal point for the IYB is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), established in Rio De Janeiro in 1992. The CBD is an international treaty for the conservation and protection of sustainable use of biodiversity, as well as the equitable sharing of the multiple benefits of biodiversity. With 191 parties, the CBD has near universal participation.

Sustaining and protecting biodiversity is a combined effort, from activities around the world to the global community working together to ensure sustainable futures for us all. Although there is much urgency that 'the time for action is now', individuals and groups worldwide can make a huge difference through their actions, efforts, motivation and optimism, ensuring change that will benefit biodiversity universally.

Challenges

For the IYB 2010 to successfully encourage global action we need to inspire participation from all sectors, throughout the world. Recognizing the current state of ecological affairs and its effects on biodiversity, CCC supports and aims to make the most of the IYB 2010 with our expertise and knowledge which has been honed over the last 25 years. Our 'call to action' will continue to make a difference, and bring success to safeguarding biodiversity for the future.

Aims of the IYB 2010:

1. Enhance public awareness of the importance of safeguarding biodiversity and of the underlying threats.
2. Raise awareness of the accomplishments realised by communities and governments to save biodiversity.
3. Encourage individuals, organisations, schools, corporations and governments to take immediate steps needed to halt the loss of biodiversity.
4. Promote innovative solutions to reduce the threats of biodiversity.
5. Start dialogue between stakeholders for the steps to be taken in the post 2010 period.

 

Coral Cay Conservations Initiatives under the IYB 2010

Jan 2010 

• CCC launches a Combo Expedition to increase our conservation efforts across South East Asia to mark the IYB 2010 and our 25th Anniversary. The Combo gives people the chance to learn more about the rich tapestry of life around the world and discover why a healthy environment is important. 

• Melissa Phillips and Gabriela Neito joined the Coral Cay team as part of Vodafone's 'World Of Difference' programme . Selected from over 1200 applicants, Melissa and Gabriela won the opportunity to further their passion for conservation and work for a charity of their choice for two months full pay. 
  

Feb 2010 

• As part of the SLCRCP (Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project) on the island of Limasawa, Philippines we are helping alleviate the fishing pressure on Thresher Sharks (Alopias vulpinus) by shifting local fisher folk's consumptive dependence on sharks to an alternative, more sustainable, tourist based income.
  

• Like most sharks, Threshers are extremely vulnerable to over-fishing due to their low reproductive rate and high age to maturity, and are considered a 'vulnerable' species on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Redlist.

• CCC have teamed  up with PENRMO (Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office) and local Mayor of Limsawa (Hon. Melchor P. Petracorta) to disseminate information to schools and fisher groups about the vulnerable species.

March 2010

• In collaboration with Miles Kelly and Camilla de la Bedoyere, CCC has endorsed the “100 facts Coral Reef ” paper back book for the IYB 2010. The book includes exactly 100 numbered facts as well as beautiful illustrations, quizzes, fun cartoons and projects to make and do.
  

April 2010 

• CCC are producing an Educational DVDs in collaboration with Classroom Video to be shown to AS/A-level students, schools and Further Education colleges here in the UK and to International schools teaching the UK National Curriculum overseas.

• The Video will be shot in three parts, each 30 minutes long. The individual sections will focus on:

1. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TOURIST RESORT concentrates on Blackpool in the UK and looks at how other successful tourism areas have been developed over the years particularly in Tobago and Majorca following the Butler’s Model of development.
2. THE IMPACT OF UK WEATHER SYSTEMS looks at how daily weather conditions and the general climate has meant more tourists leaving the UK for international holiday destinations (including Tobago and Majorca) and we investigate the positive and negative aspects of this for the UK and the tourist destinations.
3. SUSTAINABLE SETTLEMENTS showcases how various places in the UK and across the world are responsibly developing settlements for the general population, tourists, business etc and how forward planning of transport systems, living and leisure developments, the preservation of historical and ecological sites, biodiversity etc can have a positive impact for individuals and communities locally and internationally.

May 2010

• Our Philippines Community Liaising Officer, Mr. Dag Navarrete , received a fully paid Rare Pride scholarship . The scholarship is one of twelve in the Philippines designed at promoting sustainable fisheries in the country. Our proposal to Rare Pride focuses on addressing illegal fishing in San Francisco and Pintuyan Municipalities in Southern Leyte and compliments the community work already being conducted in the area under the Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project.
  

• CCC was invited to Kenya by a local organisation to determine the possibilities of running a terrestrial forest restoration and conservation project. The programme will form part of the wider Restoration of the Mau Forest Ecosystem, which the Kenya Forest Service and the Interim Coordinating Secretariat are spearheading.
  
  The Mau Forest is the largest closed-canopy forest ecosystem in Kenya and provides a myriad of ecological service to the country in terms of water storage, river flow regulation, conservation of biodiversity, water provision and more, which without the people of Kenya would suffer. 

• CCC Project Science, Ben Diamond is interviewed by Gayelle TV Trinidad and Tobago. 

June 2010

• Pascaline Cotte and Louis Augustin, both 18 years of age and descendents of the Diego Garcian and Chagossian communities in Crawley, are selected to visit the coral reefs of Southern Leyte in the Philippines as part of a Coral Cay Conservation training programme funded by the Chagos Conservation Trust.  

• A Message from our Chairman: "This year sees Coral Cay Conservation celebrate its 25 birthday...and what a 25 years it has been!
  
  CCC has achieved much throughout that time and it has done so by sticking to a few simple beliefs.
  
  •     A belief that properly trained volunteers can collect valuable data which will make a real difference to the outcomes for coral reefs and tropical rainforests.
  •     A belief that the best way to promote sustainability is to work with local communities rather than against them.
  •     A belief that hard work and integrity are worth more than flashy adverts and big bucks.
  •     A belief that given the rights tools people can achieve remarkable things.
    
  Through the years CCC has faced some challenging times but the fact that we are still out there working hard to conserve amazing eco-systems is a credit to everyone who is involved today and everyone who has been involved in the past.
  
  • Without our volunteers nothing that CCC has achieved would have been possible. Their hard work and belief in what we do has been the single greatest reason for CCC's success.
  • Our teams of staff working in the field and in the office have guided, led and trained many thousands of people who have gone on to make a real difference and, in many cases, changed their own lives too.
  • The local communities and partners with whom we work have inspired, supported and encouraged us in everything we do.
  • The huge number of supporters, advisors and friends that have been there when we needed them and shown us the way forward are just one of the things that makes CCC so special.
    
  The past few years have been tough for CCC but we have come through in arguably better shape than we have ever been before. The next 25 years will be tough ones for coral reefs and rainforest around the world but I am certain that CCC will be there, with teams of volunteers, committed staff and dedicated local partners and communities to continue to make a difference for the better.
  

  Thank you to everyone who has made the past 25 years possible, and to everyone who will make the next 25 years an even greater success."

July 2010 

•  CCC will be attending the Global Business of Biodiversity Symposium 2010

• Keen cyclist Ben McCormick , nephew of former Chairman of the CCC Trust Roger Parr, takes part in the fearsome La Marmotte sportive, a cycle race over four of the Tour de France's infamous mountain passes. As a tribute to his uncle, Ben has decided to raise money for two charities close to Roger's heart – Coral Cay Conservation and Macmillan Cancer Care. 

Call to Action

If you are a Governmental department, Environmental NGO, University, School or keen environmentalist and would like to be an active part of the IYB 2010, please contact us @:

Coral Cay Conservation
1st floor Block 1
Elizabeth House
39 York Rd
London
SE1 7NQ

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
telephone: +44 (0)20 7620 1411