Seacology
Encyclopedia
Seacology is a nonprofit
501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Berkeley, California
that focuses on preserving island ecosystem
s and cultures around the globe. Founded in 1991, it began with the work of ethnobotanist
Paul Alan Cox
, who researched tropical plants and their medicinal value in the village of Falealupo
in Samoa
during the mid-1980s. When the villagers were pressured into selling logging
rights to their rainforest
in 1988 to build a new school, Cox and his wife offered to help secure funds for the new school in return for an agreement with the villagers to protect their forest. With the help of his friends and family, Cox secured the funds within six months, later earning him and the village chief, Fuiono Senio
, the Goldman Environmental Prize
for their efforts. Word spread throughout the islands, and with increasing demand for similar projects, Cox, along with Bill Marré and Ken Murdock, decided to form Seacology and expand their work internationally. For the first few years, the organization operated on a volunteer basis. Duane Silverstein
became the first employee in 1999, and headquarters were relocated to Berkeley, not far from his residence.
Because of the high risk of extinction for island fauna
and the decline in coral reef
ecosystems, Seacology operates by focusing on projects that require local villages to sign contacts under which they agree to help protect either terrestrial or marine habitat for a specified time in return for new buildings or services. The operations are low-cost, averaging around US$20,000 to $25,000. Construction is done with local labor and without the use of machinery. Seacology selects its projects by reviewing the recommendations of its field representatives and its scientific advisory board.
By 2010, Seacology had initiated 200 projects globally, and helped preserve 957852 acre (3,876.3 km²; 1,496.6 sq mi) of marine habitat and 852651 acre (3,450.6 km²; 1,332.3 sq mi) of terrestrial habitat. At the same time, they had helped construct 104 new facilities and provided 36 programs, which included educational materials, vital medical services, and environmental training. In addition to helping local people on islands like Fiji
, Kendhoo
, and many others, their projects have helped protect mangrove forests
, sea turtle
s, marine mammals called dugong
s, and one of the rarest primates in the world
: the Hainan black crested gibbon. Seacology also awards its annual Seacology Prize to indigenous islanders for their efforts in conservation and cultural preservation. The organization helps support island communities by fostering ecotourism
, and has helped raise emergency funds following destructive tsunami
s. It performs all of these tasks on a modest budget, while also saving money by not compensating its board members. It has won awards from Yahoo!
and Travel + Leisure
magazine, and has been featured in the music video "What About Now
" by the American rock band Daughtry.
Paul Alan Cox
in Hawaii using prize money and consulting fees resulting from his efforts to preserve 30000 acre (121.4 km²; 46.9 sq mi) of rainforest
outside the village of Falealupo
on the island of Savai'i
in Samoa
. He later recorded these events in his book, Nafanua: Saving the Samoan Rain Forest. Cox began his work in Samoa in 1973 during his first Mormon missionary service
, at which time he learned from local people about the medicinal properties of the native plants. After working with local communities in other rainforests, Cox returned to Samoa in 1984 with his family. His aim was to find a cure for cancer
, which had claimed the life of his mother earlier that year. In return for the help of the local healers (called fofo), Cox offered to share the revenue generated by his research with the local villages. Over time, his research identified five new drugs, including the therapeutic agent prostratin
, a potential treatment for HIV
. Prostratin was isolated in a concoction made from the bark of the local mamala tree (Homalanthus nutans
) and shared with him by a healer named Epenesa Mauigoa, who used it to treat hepatitis
. Cox set up royalty
agreements to ensure that the Samoans will share in the revenue.
In 1988, his research was threatened when the Samoan government
pressured the village of Falealupo to pay US$65,000 for a new school, warning that if the village did not provide a new school within a year, they would withdraw the teachers from the village, leaving the children without an opportunity for a formal education. Shortly after receiving this notice from government, a foreign-owned logging company offered the village exactly US$65,000 to log
the entire 30000 acre (121.4 km²; 46.9 sq mi) surrounding Falealupo. Lacking a source of revenue, the villages eventually sold the logging rights to the forest, but when Cox learned of the situation and witnessed the logging for himself, he immediately sought an explanation from the village elders
and then requested that they halt the logging so that he could raise money for the school. Despite initial skepticism, Cox convinced the high chief, Fuiono Senio
, who then helped persuade the rest of the elders. Senio then drew his machete
and raced 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to halt the logging.
The new school was built after Cox and his wife, Barbara, were able to raise the money in six months partly by mortgaging their house. Cox also obtained financial support from others and took over payments on the mortgage for the school. Verne Read, a businessman and financial supporter of Bat Conservation International
, took over payments on the mortgage for the school. Ken Murdock, founder of the herbal company Nature's Way, and Rex Maughan
, owner of Forever Living Products
, funded the construction of the school and repaid the loggers for their US$20,000 advance. During a tribal ceremony held in February 1989, Cox, along with the village chiefs (matai
) signed the "The Falealupo Covenant," which legally protected the forest for 50 years in exchange for their help. During the ceremony, the village chiefs also bestowed chief's titles on Murdock and Maughan and proclaimed that Cox was a reincarnation
of their god, Nafanua
, because like Nafanua, he did not come from Samoa and both had fought to protect the village and the forest. The title bestowed upon him made Cox responsible for the wellbeing of the village and obligated that he return to visit.
In 1992, Cox and his friends had finished helping the Samoan villagers at Falealupo, as well as nearby Tafua
, which encountered the same problem. Prior to that, Murdock, who later became Seacology's President, suggested continuing their work by seeking out more villages with which they could exchange projects for marine and forest reserves
. As demand among island villages grew, Bill Marré, a business consultant and executive coach who later became a member of the Board of Trustees and the Chairman's Advisory Council, suggested establishing a nonprofit organization
to continue their work. He suggested the name "Seacology" to reflect the organization's focus on island conservation, and helped cofound the nonprofit in 1991, along with Cox and Murdock. Using his own funds, Marré paid the costs of starting the organization and covered its administrative costs for the first three years. Together with his assistant, Marré helped advertise Seacology by giving lectures at schools and universities, visiting other island nations, and writing articles about the work for the local media.
In Falealupo, Seacology continued their work, funding projects with a total of US$485,000 as of 2005. When cyclone Ofa destroyed the primary school at Falealupo in 1990, Seacology helped raise funds to rebuild it. The school was completely rebuilt again in 1991 following Cyclone Val
. Several years after completing the school, the organization helped establish trails and build a rainforest information center, followed in 1997 by an elevated canopy walkway
as part of an ecotourism
project to help generate income for the people and provide funds for a retirement system for the village elders. The walkway has since become one of Samoa's leading tourist attractions, and was yielding an average of US$1,000 each month for the community in 2001—bringing in more money than the villagers would have earned from selling their forest. Satisfied with the results, the villagers at Falealupo declared that they would honor the contract they had made with Cox to protect the forest forever, rather than just 50 years. In 1997, both Cox and Senio, the village chief, shared the Goldman Environmental Prize
for their work.
For the first six years of its existence, Seacology operated as a volunteer organization with no employees. Four years after being founded, Seacology's administrative office moved to Ken Murdock's office. The office moved again in 1999 to Berkeley, California
after Cox offered a job to Duane Silverstein
—then the Executive Director of the Goldman Fund, which had previously honored Cox with the Goldman Environmental Prize. Silverstein had been inspired by the work Cox had done in Samoa, and agreed to take the position of Executive Director of Seacology under the condition that the office be relocated to within walking distance of his house.
Island
s encompass a large portion of the world's surface. Combined, the largest 125 islands cover an area the size of Europe, and if the economic zones that include marine resources (found within a few miles of shore) are included, islands make up one-sixth of the Earth's surface area and hold half of all marine species. Scientific surveys have shown that coral reef
s are declining rapidly due to climate change
, dynamite
and cyanide fishing
, and marine pollution
. According to evolutionary biologist
E. O. Wilson
, bird species that are endemic to islands face a greater risk of extinction—40 times greater than on the continents. At least 255 island bird species have gone extinct since the appearance of humans, with 158 lost during prehistory
and 97 lost between 1600 and 1994. In comparison, between 17 and 20 species of continental birds have gone extinct between 1600 and 1994. Because the small land area of islands can only support small populations, the biggest threat to endemic wildlife is habitat loss
. Other threats include direct exploitation (hunting
and pet trade
), disease, and invasive species
.
To save island habitats around the world, Seacology staff initiate new projects by first holding meetings with local villagers to determine their needs. These needs often include schools, a community center, solar energy, or freshwater delivery. Once their needs are determined, Seacology makes a deal with the local community, offering to provide the needed service in return for a forest reserve or a no-take fishing area around a coral reef. Facilities such as schools and community centers are built using local labor, and Seacology provides approximately US$20,000 for supplies and to facilitate the construction. Seacology has field representatives stationed around the world who monitor and report the progress of the projects in their region, as well as seek new projects in their respective regions or islands. New project suggestions are reviewed by the Board of Directors. The Scientific Advisory Board provide additional recommendations, based on the latest research.
In addition to their projects, Seacology played an active role in the creation of the National Park of American Samoa
through the work of their scientists and donors. In 2008, Seacology started its Carbon Offset Fund, where donations of US$40.00 went directly towards renewable energy
and reforestation
projects. That same year, they collaboratively funded the creation of a nursery run by the non-governmental organization
(NGO) Azafady
in Madagascar
to raise 3,000 seedlings of the endangered palm Dypsis saintelucei
. The two organizations have also collaborated to protect the Manafiafy Forest in southeastern Madagascar. In Bunaken
and Manado
, Seacology was involved in testing a new method of restoring coral reef, which involved planting white ceramic modules that were shaped like 3-dimensional snowflakes to maximize the surface area for corals to grow.
In 2007, Seacology became an international organization with greater visibility, despite their small staff. International affiliate programs, such as Seacology Germany and Seacology Japan were created to help raise funds to support island projects. The following year, Seacology U.K. was created, followed by Seacology Scandinavia in 2009. For its global efforts, Seacology has received several awards, including the Global Vision Award in Travel + Leisure
, the Blue Award in Islands Magazine, and Yahoo!
's Pick for Good in September 2006.
When projects are agreed upon with an island community, local rituals often coincide with the start of the project, particularly through the Pacific Islands. A common custom involves drinking kava
, a mildly narcotic drink made from the ground-up root of a pepper plant. The ritual is hundreds of years old, and has been described by the Seacology staff as being relaxing especially because of the friendly environment. The Seacology staff often dress in the local attire, and try to treat to the local people as equals without being patronizing. The villagers perform dances, and the staff are invited to join in, often to the amusement of the local people.
When the projects begin, the work is done without machines, with supplies being shipped on small boats and then carried by hand from the beach. Project costs range between US$5,000 and US$150,000, although the average is between US$20,000 and US$25,000. The protected area
s that result from these deals typically involve a 20- to 30-year commitment. Seacology hopes that during that time the local people grow to respect these resources and ideally progress to a point where they are less dependent on their natural resources. According to marine biologist Mark Erdmann, in a worst-case scenario, if the people violate the contract and destroy the habitat, Seacology will have still made a difference in the lives of the people through their low-cost investment. By contrast, Erdmann pointed out that larger conservation organizations might invest large sums of money and by not addressing the immediate needs of the people, walk away from a failed project without having helped the community.
Examples of Seacology's projects include cases where villagers in Fiji
refused a US$700,000 offer by foreign businessmen to buy one of the islands to sign an agreement that prohibited development for 20 years and established a 10-year no-take fishing reserve that encompassed 80 square miles (207.2 km²) around the island. On the island of Kendhoo
, part of the Baa Atoll
in the Maldives
, Seacology paid US$30,000 in 2003 to build a kindergarten in exchange for a ban on harvesting endangered sea turtle
eggs, which the government did not prohibit. In the Trang Province
of Thailand
, another project helps protect the habitat of seagrass
beds and mangrove forest to provide habitat for endangered marine mammals called dugong
s (Dugong dugon). In 2003, Seacology and a Chinese organization worked together to form an agreement with the people of Hainan Island
where in return for scholarships for nearly 200 middle-school children, the people would stop cutting down the trees around Bawangling Reserve, home to one of the rarest primate
s in the world, the Hainan black crested gibbon (Nomascus nasutus hainanus) and the nearly extinct subspecies of Eld's deer
(Panolia eldii) found on Hainan. In a project on Cat Ba Island
in Vietnam, the organization helped protect the golden-headed langur
, another one of the world's most endangered primates
, by paying cash and helping establish exclusive harvesting and fishing rights for the local people in return for their efforts in patrolling the beaches and forests for poachers. In 1999, Seacology began work to establish a new national park around Mt. Angavokely, near Antananarivo
in Madagascar. The mountain is home to 120 species of endangered orchids
and several medicinal herbs, including Helichrysum gymnocephalum
, which is used as an antiseptic and treatment for bronchitis; Secneicia faujasiodides, which is used for healing wounds; Psiadia altissima, which is used to treat eczema
; Bryophyllum proliferum, which is used to treat coughing; and Brachylaena ramiflora, which is used to lower malarial fever
.
In 2010, it was awarded to Rabary Desiré from Matsobe-Sud in Madagascar for his forest conservation efforts in Belaoka Marovato
in northeastern Madagascar. Rabary, an ecotour guide and research guide, had created his own forest reserve, called Antanetiambo (meaning "on the high hill"), and planned to use his prize money to fund reforestation efforts, develop tourist facilities, and expand the size of Antanetiambo. Another winner of the Seacology Prize was the Icelandic filmmaker and former reporter for RÚV
, Ómar Ragnarsson
, who won the award in 2008 for his efforts in preserving the highlands of Iceland.
Following the 2002 Bali bombings, Silverstein reported that tourism fell by over 90 percent on the island of Bali
, mostly due to sensational media reporting
. Silverstein was in Bali a few days after the attack and reported that such reporting damaged the local economies, despite what he reported as little or no risk to tourists in the Muslim villages of region.
, the people requested fishing nets and boats so that they could resume their lifestyle. Goats and chickens were requested by the people of Kadachang Village in the Andaman Islands
. On Kendhoo in the Maldives, the tsunami had destroyed the local plant life, so seedlings were needed to restore the environment. In Trang Province, Thailand, basic structural repair was requested. Seacology emphasized that it would repair and replace the projects that had been damaged or destroyed in the tsunami.
As of late 2005, Seacology had raised US$261,716 for the relief work, with all of it going directly to fund the efforts. All donors received details of how the money was spent, as well as photos of the work. The California Association of Nonprofits later honored Seacology with their Achievement in Innovation Award at their annual meeting in San Francisco for the relief work.
Previous work by Seacology in the region had helped minimize the damage caused by the tsunami. Seacology Prize recipient Anuradha Wickramasinghe from Sri Lanka noted that the mangrove forests that were preserved shielded their community, whereas nearby villages that cleared their mangroves to create industrial shrimp farm
s had not fared so well. Mangroves also buffered Kadachang Village in the hard-hit Andaman Islands, which suffered little loss of human life or structural damage compared to the nation's capital city of Port Blair
.
Following the 2009 Samoa tsunami
, Seacology once again started a tsunami relief effort. They helped Samoan villages by providing new water tanks and pipelines, and also helped to clean up mangroves and inshore coral reefs that were littered with debris from nearby motels.
and low inefficiency with its modest budget. Its tax identification number
is 87-0495235. According to Silverstein, its annual budget for all of its staff and office expenditures is significantly lower than the median compensation for business chief executive officer
s (CEOs) alone. Unlike many organizations, board members receive no compensation and are not reimbursed for the costs of attending board meetings. Unlike other environmental groups, Seacology does not offer memberships, which further reduces its expenditures.
In addition to its efficiency, the organization boasts a responsive and reliable staff, who answer the phone instead of using automated answering services. Furthermore, Seacology respects donor privacy and is compliant with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
(COPPA).
In 2010, Seacology reported US$1,235,720 in donations and grants and a total of US$1,354,314 when other revenue was included. Its expenses that year totaled US$1,458,667, with US$226,619 going toward fundraising and US$188,157 supporting management and other general expenses. Financial support comes mostly from individuals, foundations, and companies such as Nu Skin Enterprises
, which pays US$180,000 annually in royalties for the plant-based cosmetic formulas Cox developed for facial creams and other skincare products. Board members also contribute a sizable portion of the annual budget, donating a minimum of US$10,000 per year to the organization.
from Harvard University
, and served as a professor at Brigham Young University
, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
, and Uppsala University
. Cox served as the Director of the National Tropical Botanical Garden
(NTBG) for seven years, and as of 2011, he is the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethnomedicine, which is affiliated with the NTBG. His research interests include island plant ecology and ethnobotany of island cultures, and he has published more than 150 scientific papers and reviews. For his research on new medicinal plants
, he was named one of eleven "Heroes of Medicine" by Time
magazine. Cox is an advocate of indigenous peoples
, and has learned several of island languages.
The Executive Director of Seacology is Duane Silverstein, who for 18 years prior to joining the organization acted as the Executive Director of the Goldman Fund and headed the Goldman Environmental Prize. He has written articles that have appeared in Asian Geographic
as well as various scuba diving
magazines, and he is a National Fellow of The Explorers Club
. Silverstein has met with heads of state around the world, including several presidents of the United States, as well as several Secretaries-General of the United Nations. In addition to having his work covered in newspapers and periodicals, including Time magazine, the Bangkok Post
, and the San Francisco Chronicle
, he was also selected as an "All-Stars Among Us" in People
magazine, for which he was honored at the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
. In 2008, Silverstein and Seacology were briefly featured alongside several organizations in the music video for "What About Now
" by the American rock band Daughtry. In 2010, Silverstein was awarded the one of the Jefferson Awards for Public Service
and also was given the 2010 Coastal Hero Award by Sunset
magazine.
The President of Seacology is Ken Murdock, who also founded the herbal company Nature's Way after his mother was cured of a serious illness with an herbal medicine. Murdock played a key role in the creation of Seacology, and Nature's Way covered Seacology's administrative costs for three years. Murdock has volunteered in Samoa, during which time he resided on Manu'a and learned the local language.
The Scientific Advisory Board of Seacology includes island biodiversity
specialists, whose research focuses on the conservation of oceanic and terrestrial island ecosystems
. The Scientific Advisory Board generates recommendations for new conservation projects based on the latest research available. Among the eleven members are researcher and Pulitzer Prize
winner Jared Diamond
, entomologist
and evolutionary biologist E. O. Wilson, and oceanographer
Sylvia Earle
. As the founder of Seacology, Cox is also a member of the advisory board.
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
that focuses on preserving island ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
s and cultures around the globe. Founded in 1991, it began with the work of ethnobotanist
Ethnobotany
Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants....
Paul Alan Cox
Paul Alan Cox
Dr. Paul Alan Cox is an ethnobotanist whose scientific research focuses on the ecology of island plants and the uses of plants by island peoples. After receiving his B.S. in Botany from Brigham Young University, he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to read for his M.Sc. in Ecology at the...
, who researched tropical plants and their medicinal value in the village of Falealupo
Falealupo
Falealupo is a village in Samoa situated at the west end of Savai'i island from the dateline. The village has two main settlements, Falealupo-Uta, situated inland by the main island highway and Falealupo-Tai, situated by the sea...
in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
during the mid-1980s. When the villagers were pressured into selling logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
rights to their rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
in 1988 to build a new school, Cox and his wife offered to help secure funds for the new school in return for an agreement with the villagers to protect their forest. With the help of his friends and family, Cox secured the funds within six months, later earning him and the village chief, Fuiono Senio
Fuiono Senio
Fuiono Senio was a chief and environmentalist from Savai'i in Western Samoa. He was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1997, shared with Paul Alan Cox, for their contributions to the protection of rainforests of Falealupo....
, the Goldman Environmental Prize
Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize is a prize awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists, one from each of the world's six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America. The prize includes a no-strings-attached award of...
for their efforts. Word spread throughout the islands, and with increasing demand for similar projects, Cox, along with Bill Marré and Ken Murdock, decided to form Seacology and expand their work internationally. For the first few years, the organization operated on a volunteer basis. Duane Silverstein
Duane Silverstein
Duane Silverstein is the Executive Director of Seacology, a U.S. 501 nonprofit organization with the sole focus of preserving island environments and cultures around the world...
became the first employee in 1999, and headquarters were relocated to Berkeley, not far from his residence.
Because of the high risk of extinction for island fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
and the decline in coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
ecosystems, Seacology operates by focusing on projects that require local villages to sign contacts under which they agree to help protect either terrestrial or marine habitat for a specified time in return for new buildings or services. The operations are low-cost, averaging around US$20,000 to $25,000. Construction is done with local labor and without the use of machinery. Seacology selects its projects by reviewing the recommendations of its field representatives and its scientific advisory board.
By 2010, Seacology had initiated 200 projects globally, and helped preserve 957852 acre (3,876.3 km²; 1,496.6 sq mi) of marine habitat and 852651 acre (3,450.6 km²; 1,332.3 sq mi) of terrestrial habitat. At the same time, they had helped construct 104 new facilities and provided 36 programs, which included educational materials, vital medical services, and environmental training. In addition to helping local people on islands like Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, Kendhoo
Kendhoo (Baa Atoll)
Kendhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Baa Atoll, Maldives.It is located in the northern part of the Baa Atoll.-External links:* Seacology**...
, and many others, their projects have helped protect mangrove forests
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
, sea turtle
Sea turtle
Sea turtles are marine reptiles that inhabit all of the world's oceans except the Arctic.-Distribution:...
s, marine mammals called dugong
Dugong
The dugong is a large marine mammal which, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow , was hunted to extinction in the 18th century...
s, and one of the rarest primates in the world
The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates
The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates is a list of highly endangered primate species selected and published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission Primate Specialist Group , the International Primatological Society , and Conservation International...
: the Hainan black crested gibbon. Seacology also awards its annual Seacology Prize to indigenous islanders for their efforts in conservation and cultural preservation. The organization helps support island communities by fostering ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
, and has helped raise emergency funds following destructive tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
s. It performs all of these tasks on a modest budget, while also saving money by not compensating its board members. It has won awards from Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
and Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure is a travel magazine based in New York City, New York. Published 12 times a year, it has 4.8 million readers, according to its corporate media kit. It is put out by American Express Publishing Corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Company led by...
magazine, and has been featured in the music video "What About Now
What About Now (Daughtry song)
"What About Now" is the seventh single from American rock band Daughtry's eponymous debut album. The song is a ballad, that was written by Ben Moody, David Hodges , and Josh Hartzler, who is married to Amy Lee . It is one of only two songs on the album not at least co-written by Chris Daughtry...
" by the American rock band Daughtry.
History
Seacology was founded in 1991 by ethnobotanistEthnobotany
Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants....
Paul Alan Cox
Paul Alan Cox
Dr. Paul Alan Cox is an ethnobotanist whose scientific research focuses on the ecology of island plants and the uses of plants by island peoples. After receiving his B.S. in Botany from Brigham Young University, he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to read for his M.Sc. in Ecology at the...
in Hawaii using prize money and consulting fees resulting from his efforts to preserve 30000 acre (121.4 km²; 46.9 sq mi) of rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
outside the village of Falealupo
Falealupo
Falealupo is a village in Samoa situated at the west end of Savai'i island from the dateline. The village has two main settlements, Falealupo-Uta, situated inland by the main island highway and Falealupo-Tai, situated by the sea...
on the island of Savai'i
Savai'i
Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. He later recorded these events in his book, Nafanua: Saving the Samoan Rain Forest. Cox began his work in Samoa in 1973 during his first Mormon missionary service
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
, at which time he learned from local people about the medicinal properties of the native plants. After working with local communities in other rainforests, Cox returned to Samoa in 1984 with his family. His aim was to find a cure for cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, which had claimed the life of his mother earlier that year. In return for the help of the local healers (called fofo), Cox offered to share the revenue generated by his research with the local villages. Over time, his research identified five new drugs, including the therapeutic agent prostratin
Prostratin
Prostratin is a protein kinase C activator found in the bark of the mamala tree of Samoa, Homalanthus nutans . While prostratin was originally isolated and identified as a new phorbol from species of the genus Pimelea in Australia, the antiviral activity of prostratin was discovered during...
, a potential treatment for HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
. Prostratin was isolated in a concoction made from the bark of the local mamala tree (Homalanthus nutans
Homalanthus nutans
Homalanthus nutans, known locally as the mamala tree, is a species of plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is found in Samoa. Samoan healers use a concoction made from the bark to treat hepatitis. Research has indicated that a protein from the bark called prostratin has the potential to act as a...
) and shared with him by a healer named Epenesa Mauigoa, who used it to treat hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
. Cox set up royalty
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
agreements to ensure that the Samoans will share in the revenue.
In 1988, his research was threatened when the Samoan government
Politics of Samoa
Politics of Samoa takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic state whereby the Prime Minister of Samoa is the head of government...
pressured the village of Falealupo to pay US$65,000 for a new school, warning that if the village did not provide a new school within a year, they would withdraw the teachers from the village, leaving the children without an opportunity for a formal education. Shortly after receiving this notice from government, a foreign-owned logging company offered the village exactly US$65,000 to log
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
the entire 30000 acre (121.4 km²; 46.9 sq mi) surrounding Falealupo. Lacking a source of revenue, the villages eventually sold the logging rights to the forest, but when Cox learned of the situation and witnessed the logging for himself, he immediately sought an explanation from the village elders
Elder (administrative title)
The term Elder is used in several different countries and organizations to indicate a position of authority...
and then requested that they halt the logging so that he could raise money for the school. Despite initial skepticism, Cox convinced the high chief, Fuiono Senio
Fuiono Senio
Fuiono Senio was a chief and environmentalist from Savai'i in Western Samoa. He was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1997, shared with Paul Alan Cox, for their contributions to the protection of rainforests of Falealupo....
, who then helped persuade the rest of the elders. Senio then drew his machete
Machete
The machete is a large cleaver-like cutting tool. The blade is typically long and usually under thick. In the English language, an equivalent term is matchet, though it is less commonly known...
and raced 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to halt the logging.
The new school was built after Cox and his wife, Barbara, were able to raise the money in six months partly by mortgaging their house. Cox also obtained financial support from others and took over payments on the mortgage for the school. Verne Read, a businessman and financial supporter of Bat Conservation International
Bat Conservation International
Bat Conservation International is an international non-governmental organization working to conserve the world’s bats and their habitats through conservation, education and research efforts....
, took over payments on the mortgage for the school. Ken Murdock, founder of the herbal company Nature's Way, and Rex Maughan
Rex Maughan
Rex G. Maughan is the founder, president, and CEO of Forever Living Products and Terry Labs. He is a philanthropist who has purportedly given millions of US dollars to several causes....
, owner of Forever Living Products
Forever Living Products
Forever Living Products International, Inc. is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based direct selling company that sells aloe vera and bee derived drinks, cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and personal care products in over 145 countries. Forever is the world's largest grower, manufacturer and distributor...
, funded the construction of the school and repaid the loggers for their US$20,000 advance. During a tribal ceremony held in February 1989, Cox, along with the village chiefs (matai
Fa'amatai
Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa...
) signed the "The Falealupo Covenant," which legally protected the forest for 50 years in exchange for their help. During the ceremony, the village chiefs also bestowed chief's titles on Murdock and Maughan and proclaimed that Cox was a reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
of their god, Nafanua
Nafanua
Nafanua is the name of the revered Goddess of War in Samoa and a deity in Polynesian Mythology.According to Samoan mythology, Nafanua was the daughter of Saveasi'uleo, the God of Pulotu, Samoa's spirit world. In one legend, Nafanua's mother was Tilafaiga the sister of Taema.-Background:Nafanua is a...
, because like Nafanua, he did not come from Samoa and both had fought to protect the village and the forest. The title bestowed upon him made Cox responsible for the wellbeing of the village and obligated that he return to visit.
In 1992, Cox and his friends had finished helping the Samoan villagers at Falealupo, as well as nearby Tafua
Tafua
Tafua is a seaside village on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. It is situated on a peninsula on the southeast coast of the island in Palauli district.The population is 408 .-Tafua Rainforest Preserve:...
, which encountered the same problem. Prior to that, Murdock, who later became Seacology's President, suggested continuing their work by seeking out more villages with which they could exchange projects for marine and forest reserves
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
. As demand among island villages grew, Bill Marré, a business consultant and executive coach who later became a member of the Board of Trustees and the Chairman's Advisory Council, suggested establishing a nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
to continue their work. He suggested the name "Seacology" to reflect the organization's focus on island conservation, and helped cofound the nonprofit in 1991, along with Cox and Murdock. Using his own funds, Marré paid the costs of starting the organization and covered its administrative costs for the first three years. Together with his assistant, Marré helped advertise Seacology by giving lectures at schools and universities, visiting other island nations, and writing articles about the work for the local media.
In Falealupo, Seacology continued their work, funding projects with a total of US$485,000 as of 2005. When cyclone Ofa destroyed the primary school at Falealupo in 1990, Seacology helped raise funds to rebuild it. The school was completely rebuilt again in 1991 following Cyclone Val
Cyclone Val
Severe Tropical Cyclone Val, also known as Cyclone Val, was a cyclone that struck Western Samoa and American Samoa on December 4, 1991. Lasting until December 13, the cyclone moved in a west-to-east trajectory. The cyclone lasted for five days in American Samoa and was designated by the United...
. Several years after completing the school, the organization helped establish trails and build a rainforest information center, followed in 1997 by an elevated canopy walkway
Canopy walkway
Canopy walkways are bridges between trees in the canopy of a forest; mostly linked up with platforms inside or around the trees. They were originally intended as access to the upper regions of ancient forests for scientists conducting canopy research. Eventually, because they provided only...
as part of an ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
project to help generate income for the people and provide funds for a retirement system for the village elders. The walkway has since become one of Samoa's leading tourist attractions, and was yielding an average of US$1,000 each month for the community in 2001—bringing in more money than the villagers would have earned from selling their forest. Satisfied with the results, the villagers at Falealupo declared that they would honor the contract they had made with Cox to protect the forest forever, rather than just 50 years. In 1997, both Cox and Senio, the village chief, shared the Goldman Environmental Prize
Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize is a prize awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists, one from each of the world's six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America. The prize includes a no-strings-attached award of...
for their work.
For the first six years of its existence, Seacology operated as a volunteer organization with no employees. Four years after being founded, Seacology's administrative office moved to Ken Murdock's office. The office moved again in 1999 to Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
after Cox offered a job to Duane Silverstein
Duane Silverstein
Duane Silverstein is the Executive Director of Seacology, a U.S. 501 nonprofit organization with the sole focus of preserving island environments and cultures around the world...
—then the Executive Director of the Goldman Fund, which had previously honored Cox with the Goldman Environmental Prize. Silverstein had been inspired by the work Cox had done in Samoa, and agreed to take the position of Executive Director of Seacology under the condition that the office be relocated to within walking distance of his house.
Activities
Seacology is a nonprofit organization that works to preserve both island habitats and cultures by exchanging services for local assistance and cooperation with conservation efforts. As of 2000, it was reported to be the only conservation organization to focus entirely on island preservation. Seacology has 501(c)(3) status (providing federal income tax deductions for some donors) because it is a charitable, non-profit organization. According to its mission statement on its website, "Seacology searches for win-win situations where both the local environment is protected and islanders receive some tangible benefit for doing so." Its motto is: "Saving the world, one island village at a time."Island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s encompass a large portion of the world's surface. Combined, the largest 125 islands cover an area the size of Europe, and if the economic zones that include marine resources (found within a few miles of shore) are included, islands make up one-sixth of the Earth's surface area and hold half of all marine species. Scientific surveys have shown that coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
s are declining rapidly due to climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, dynamite
Blast fishing
Blast fishing or dynamite fishing is the practice of using explosives to stun or kill schools of fish for easy collection. This often illegal practice can be extremely destructive to the surrounding ecosystem, as the explosion often destroys the underlying habitat that supports the fish...
and cyanide fishing
Cyanide fishing
Cyanide fishing is a method of collecting live fish mainly for use in aquariums, which involves spraying a sodium cyanide mixture into the desired fish's habitat in order to stun the fish...
, and marine pollution
Marine pollution
Marine pollution occurs when harmful, or potentially harmful effects, can result from the entry into the ocean of chemicals, particles, industrial, agricultural and residential waste, noise, or the spread of invasive organisms. Most sources of marine pollution are land based...
. According to evolutionary biologist
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
E. O. Wilson
E. O. Wilson
Edward Osborne Wilson is an American biologist, researcher , theorist , naturalist and author. His biological specialty is myrmecology, the study of ants....
, bird species that are endemic to islands face a greater risk of extinction—40 times greater than on the continents. At least 255 island bird species have gone extinct since the appearance of humans, with 158 lost during prehistory
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
and 97 lost between 1600 and 1994. In comparison, between 17 and 20 species of continental birds have gone extinct between 1600 and 1994. Because the small land area of islands can only support small populations, the biggest threat to endemic wildlife is habitat loss
Habitat destruction
Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species present. In this process, the organisms that previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Habitat destruction by human activity mainly for the purpose of...
. Other threats include direct exploitation (hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
and pet trade
Wildlife trade
The international wildlife trade is a serious conservation problem, addressed by the United Nations' Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES, which currently has 175 member countries called Parties. The 15th meeting of the Parties took place in Doha,...
), disease, and invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
.
To save island habitats around the world, Seacology staff initiate new projects by first holding meetings with local villagers to determine their needs. These needs often include schools, a community center, solar energy, or freshwater delivery. Once their needs are determined, Seacology makes a deal with the local community, offering to provide the needed service in return for a forest reserve or a no-take fishing area around a coral reef. Facilities such as schools and community centers are built using local labor, and Seacology provides approximately US$20,000 for supplies and to facilitate the construction. Seacology has field representatives stationed around the world who monitor and report the progress of the projects in their region, as well as seek new projects in their respective regions or islands. New project suggestions are reviewed by the Board of Directors. The Scientific Advisory Board provide additional recommendations, based on the latest research.
In addition to their projects, Seacology played an active role in the creation of the National Park of American Samoa
National Park of American Samoa
The National Park of American Samoa is a national park on the American territory of American Samoa, distributed across three separate islands: Tutuila, Ofu-Olosega, and Ta‘ū. The park includes coral reefs and rain forest and is popular for hiking, snorkeling, and scuba diving, although the primary...
through the work of their scientists and donors. In 2008, Seacology started its Carbon Offset Fund, where donations of US$40.00 went directly towards renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
and reforestation
Reforestation
Reforestation is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted, usually through deforestation....
projects. That same year, they collaboratively funded the creation of a nursery run by the non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO) Azafady
Azafady
Azafady is a registered UK charity and Malagasy non-governmental organisation, established in 1994, working in southeast Madagascar to alleviate poverty, improve well-being and protect unique environments...
in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
to raise 3,000 seedlings of the endangered palm Dypsis saintelucei
Dypsis saintelucei
Dypsis saintelucei is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is found only in Madagascar.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Dransfield, J. & Beentje, H.J. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007....
. The two organizations have also collaborated to protect the Manafiafy Forest in southeastern Madagascar. In Bunaken
Bunaken
Bunaken is an island of 8 km², part of the Bunaken National Marine Park. Bunaken is located at the northern tip of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It belongs administratively to the municipality of Manado...
and Manado
Manado
Manado is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Manado is located at the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area. The city has about 405,715 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar...
, Seacology was involved in testing a new method of restoring coral reef, which involved planting white ceramic modules that were shaped like 3-dimensional snowflakes to maximize the surface area for corals to grow.
In 2007, Seacology became an international organization with greater visibility, despite their small staff. International affiliate programs, such as Seacology Germany and Seacology Japan were created to help raise funds to support island projects. The following year, Seacology U.K. was created, followed by Seacology Scandinavia in 2009. For its global efforts, Seacology has received several awards, including the Global Vision Award in Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure is a travel magazine based in New York City, New York. Published 12 times a year, it has 4.8 million readers, according to its corporate media kit. It is put out by American Express Publishing Corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Company led by...
, the Blue Award in Islands Magazine, and Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
's Pick for Good in September 2006.
Projects
According to their 2010 Annual Report, Seacology has funded over 200 projects globally, and has thereby preserved 957852 acre (3,876.3 km²; 1,496.6 sq mi) of marine habitat and 852651 acre (3,450.6 km²; 1,332.3 sq mi) of terrestrial habitat since it was founded. The island communities that have aided in these efforts have collectively received 104 facilities, including schools, community centers, and other important structures. Educational materials, vital medical services, and environmental training were provided in 36 programs.When projects are agreed upon with an island community, local rituals often coincide with the start of the project, particularly through the Pacific Islands. A common custom involves drinking kava
Kava
Kava or kava-kava is a crop of the western Pacific....
, a mildly narcotic drink made from the ground-up root of a pepper plant. The ritual is hundreds of years old, and has been described by the Seacology staff as being relaxing especially because of the friendly environment. The Seacology staff often dress in the local attire, and try to treat to the local people as equals without being patronizing. The villagers perform dances, and the staff are invited to join in, often to the amusement of the local people.
When the projects begin, the work is done without machines, with supplies being shipped on small boats and then carried by hand from the beach. Project costs range between US$5,000 and US$150,000, although the average is between US$20,000 and US$25,000. The protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
s that result from these deals typically involve a 20- to 30-year commitment. Seacology hopes that during that time the local people grow to respect these resources and ideally progress to a point where they are less dependent on their natural resources. According to marine biologist Mark Erdmann, in a worst-case scenario, if the people violate the contract and destroy the habitat, Seacology will have still made a difference in the lives of the people through their low-cost investment. By contrast, Erdmann pointed out that larger conservation organizations might invest large sums of money and by not addressing the immediate needs of the people, walk away from a failed project without having helped the community.
Examples of Seacology's projects include cases where villagers in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
refused a US$700,000 offer by foreign businessmen to buy one of the islands to sign an agreement that prohibited development for 20 years and established a 10-year no-take fishing reserve that encompassed 80 square miles (207.2 km²) around the island. On the island of Kendhoo
Kendhoo (Baa Atoll)
Kendhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Baa Atoll, Maldives.It is located in the northern part of the Baa Atoll.-External links:* Seacology**...
, part of the Baa Atoll
Baa Atoll
Baa Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives. It consists of three separate natural atolls, namely southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll , the Fasdūtherē Atoll and the smaller...
in the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
, Seacology paid US$30,000 in 2003 to build a kindergarten in exchange for a ban on harvesting endangered sea turtle
Sea turtle
Sea turtles are marine reptiles that inhabit all of the world's oceans except the Arctic.-Distribution:...
eggs, which the government did not prohibit. In the Trang Province
Trang Province
Trang is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, at the western shore of the Malay Peninsula to the Andaman Sea. Neighboring provinces are Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Satun....
of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, another project helps protect the habitat of seagrass
Seagrass
Seagrasses are flowering plants from one of four plant families , all in the order Alismatales , which grow in marine, fully saline environments.-Ecology:...
beds and mangrove forest to provide habitat for endangered marine mammals called dugong
Dugong
The dugong is a large marine mammal which, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow , was hunted to extinction in the 18th century...
s (Dugong dugon). In 2003, Seacology and a Chinese organization worked together to form an agreement with the people of Hainan Island
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
where in return for scholarships for nearly 200 middle-school children, the people would stop cutting down the trees around Bawangling Reserve, home to one of the rarest primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
s in the world, the Hainan black crested gibbon (Nomascus nasutus hainanus) and the nearly extinct subspecies of Eld's deer
Eld's Deer
Eld's Deer , also known as the Thamin or Brow-antlered Deer, is an endangered species of deer indigenous to southeastern Asia. The species was first discovered by westerners in Manipur in India in 1839. The original scientific name Cervus eldi was coined in 1844 in honour of Lt. Percy Eld – a...
(Panolia eldii) found on Hainan. In a project on Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba Island
Cat Ba is the largest of the 366 islands spanning 260km2 that comprise the Cat Ba Archipelago, which makes up the southeastern edge of Ha Long Bay in Northern Vietnam. Cat Ba island has a surface area of 285 km2 and maintains the dramatic and rugged features of Ha Long Bay...
in Vietnam, the organization helped protect the golden-headed langur
White-headed Langur
The white-headed langur is a critically endangered langur from Cat Ba Island, Vietnam , and Guangxi, China . Both taxa are overall blackish, but the crown, cheeks and neck are yellowish in T. p. poliocephalus, while they, as suggested by its scientific name, are white in T. p...
, another one of the world's most endangered primates
The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates
The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates is a list of highly endangered primate species selected and published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission Primate Specialist Group , the International Primatological Society , and Conservation International...
, by paying cash and helping establish exclusive harvesting and fishing rights for the local people in return for their efforts in patrolling the beaches and forests for poachers. In 1999, Seacology began work to establish a new national park around Mt. Angavokely, near Antananarivo
Antananarivo
Antananarivo , formerly Tananarive , is the capital and largest city in Madagascar. It is also known by its French colonial shorthand form Tana....
in Madagascar. The mountain is home to 120 species of endangered orchids
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
and several medicinal herbs, including Helichrysum gymnocephalum
Helichrysum gymnocephalum
Helichrysum gymnocephalum is a flowering plant in the sunflower family found in Madagascar. It is used locally for its alleged aphrodisiac, antiseptic, and stimulant properties, and also as a treatment for bronchitis. The essential oil is sold internationally for these same purposes...
, which is used as an antiseptic and treatment for bronchitis; Secneicia faujasiodides, which is used for healing wounds; Psiadia altissima, which is used to treat eczema
Eczema
Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis . In England, an estimated 5.7 million or about one in every nine people have been diagnosed with the disease by a clinician at some point in their lives.The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions...
; Bryophyllum proliferum, which is used to treat coughing; and Brachylaena ramiflora, which is used to lower malarial fever
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
.
Service awards
Created by cofounder Bill Marré in 1992 and underwritten by Ken Murdock in honor of his mother, the Seacology Prize is awarded each year to an indigenous islander based on achievements in island conservation and cultural preservation. The recipients of the award are often people who receive little or no public recognition for their work, and often risk their lives and wellbeing to preserve their culture and environment. The prize includes a reward of US$10,000.In 2010, it was awarded to Rabary Desiré from Matsobe-Sud in Madagascar for his forest conservation efforts in Belaoka Marovato
Belaoka Marovato
Belaoka Marovato is a commune in northern Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Andapa, which is a part of Sava Region. According to 2001 census the population of Belaoka Marovato was 8,463....
in northeastern Madagascar. Rabary, an ecotour guide and research guide, had created his own forest reserve, called Antanetiambo (meaning "on the high hill"), and planned to use his prize money to fund reforestation efforts, develop tourist facilities, and expand the size of Antanetiambo. Another winner of the Seacology Prize was the Icelandic filmmaker and former reporter for RÚV
RÚV
Ríkisútvarpið is Iceland's national public-service broadcasting organization.Operating from studios in the country's capital, Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the country, the service broadcasts a variety of general programming to a wide audience across the whole country via radio...
, Ómar Ragnarsson
Ómar Ragnarsson
Ómar Ragnarsson is an Icelandic politician and environmentalist as well as a former entertainer and news reporter. He is the founder and chairman of the environmentalist party Iceland's Movement – Living Land which took part in the 2007 parliamentary elections.Ómar is the father of media...
, who won the award in 2008 for his efforts in preserving the highlands of Iceland.
| Year | Winner | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Irman Meilandi | Indonesia  |
| 2010 | Rabary Desiré | Madagascar  |
| 2009 | Filip Damen | Papua New Guinea  |
| 2008 | Ómar Ragnarsson | Iceland  |
| 2007 | Kokichi Kariya | Japan  |
| 2006 | Ketut Sarjana Putra | Indonesia |
| 2005 | Patrick Pate | Papua New Guinea |
| 2005 | Felix Sugirtharaj | India  |
| 2004 | Adrian Lasimbang | Malaysia (Borneo)  |
| 2003 | Elisabeth Rabakonandrianina | Madagascar |
| 2002 | Meity Mongdong | Indonesia |
| 2001 | Anuradha Wickramasinghe | Sri Lanka  |
| 2000 | Doris Matsuda-Saromines | United States (Hawaii)  |
| 2000 | Edwin "Take" Matsuda | United States (Hawaii) |
| 1999 | Madison Nena | Federated States of Micronesia (Kosrae)  |
| 1998 | Saula Vodonaivalu, Sr. | Fiji  |
| 1997 | Mary Thomas | Canada (British Columbia)  |
| 1996 | Taufa'ahau Tupou IV | Tonga  |
| 1995 | A.P. Lutali | American Samoa  |
| 1994 | Va'asilifiti Moelagi Jackson | Samoa  |
| 1993 | Fuiono Senio | Samoa |
| 1992 | Ulu Taufa'asisina Tausaga | Samoa |
Ecotourism
In response to the growing demand for ecotourism, Seacology opened up its fundraising expeditions to the public in 2006. These trips include destinations like Fiji, and offer both unique travel opportunities and a means for helping improve the quality of life for the indigenous people. The experiences have been described as "moving" because of the close personal interactions with the local people. In some cases, the tour groups visit locations seldom visited by Westerners. On the tours, Seacology encourages its travelers to explore the culture and economy by trying local foods.Following the 2002 Bali bombings, Silverstein reported that tourism fell by over 90 percent on the island of Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, mostly due to sensational media reporting
Sensationalism
Sensationalism is a type of editorial bias in mass media in which events and topics in news stories and pieces are over-hyped to increase viewership or readership numbers...
. Silverstein was in Bali a few days after the attack and reported that such reporting damaged the local economies, despite what he reported as little or no risk to tourists in the Muslim villages of region.
Tsunami relief funds
Following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Seacology established a tsunami relief fund to help four impacted communities with which the organization had previously completed projects. Following the model of their projects, the Seacology staff asked the local people what they needed to rebuild their local economy and infrastructure. In Kiralakele, Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, the people requested fishing nets and boats so that they could resume their lifestyle. Goats and chickens were requested by the people of Kadachang Village in the Andaman Islands
Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands are a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west, and Burma , to the north and east...
. On Kendhoo in the Maldives, the tsunami had destroyed the local plant life, so seedlings were needed to restore the environment. In Trang Province, Thailand, basic structural repair was requested. Seacology emphasized that it would repair and replace the projects that had been damaged or destroyed in the tsunami.
As of late 2005, Seacology had raised US$261,716 for the relief work, with all of it going directly to fund the efforts. All donors received details of how the money was spent, as well as photos of the work. The California Association of Nonprofits later honored Seacology with their Achievement in Innovation Award at their annual meeting in San Francisco for the relief work.
Previous work by Seacology in the region had helped minimize the damage caused by the tsunami. Seacology Prize recipient Anuradha Wickramasinghe from Sri Lanka noted that the mangrove forests that were preserved shielded their community, whereas nearby villages that cleared their mangroves to create industrial shrimp farm
Shrimp farm
A shrimp farm is an aquaculture business for the cultivation of marine shrimp or prawns for human consumption. Commercial shrimp farming began in the 1970s, and production grew steeply, particularly to match the market demands of the United States, Japan and Western Europe...
s had not fared so well. Mangroves also buffered Kadachang Village in the hard-hit Andaman Islands, which suffered little loss of human life or structural damage compared to the nation's capital city of Port Blair
Port Blair
Port Blair is the largest town and a municipal council in Andaman district in the Andaman Islands and the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India...
.
Following the 2009 Samoa tsunami
2009 Samoa earthquake
The 2009 Samoa earthquake was an 8.1 Mw submarine earthquake that took place in the Samoan Islands region at 06:48:11 local time on September 29, 2009 . At a magnitude of 8.1, it was the largest earthquake of 2009....
, Seacology once again started a tsunami relief effort. They helped Samoan villages by providing new water tanks and pipelines, and also helped to clean up mangroves and inshore coral reefs that were littered with debris from nearby motels.
Finances
Seacology is a small nonprofit, with only seven full-time staff, and as a result has little overhead costsOverhead (business)
In business, overhead or overhead expense refers to an ongoing expense of operating a business...
and low inefficiency with its modest budget. Its tax identification number
Employer identification number
Applicable to the United States, an Employer Identification Number or EIN is the corporate equivalent to a Social Security Number, although it is issued to anyone, including individuals, who has to pay withholding taxes on employees.-Other names:Also known as the Tax Identification Number ,...
is 87-0495235. According to Silverstein, its annual budget for all of its staff and office expenditures is significantly lower than the median compensation for business chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
s (CEOs) alone. Unlike many organizations, board members receive no compensation and are not reimbursed for the costs of attending board meetings. Unlike other environmental groups, Seacology does not offer memberships, which further reduces its expenditures.
In addition to its efficiency, the organization boasts a responsive and reliable staff, who answer the phone instead of using automated answering services. Furthermore, Seacology respects donor privacy and is compliant with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 is a United States federal law, located at .The act, effective April 21, 2000, applies to the online collection of personal information by persons or entities under U.S. jurisdiction from children under 13 years of age...
(COPPA).
In 2010, Seacology reported US$1,235,720 in donations and grants and a total of US$1,354,314 when other revenue was included. Its expenses that year totaled US$1,458,667, with US$226,619 going toward fundraising and US$188,157 supporting management and other general expenses. Financial support comes mostly from individuals, foundations, and companies such as Nu Skin Enterprises
Nu Skin Enterprises
Nu Skin Enterprises is an American direct selling company that develops and distributes personal care products and nutritional supplements that are sold under the Nu Skin and Pharmanex brands. Nu Skin was founded in 1984 in Provo, Utah....
, which pays US$180,000 annually in royalties for the plant-based cosmetic formulas Cox developed for facial creams and other skincare products. Board members also contribute a sizable portion of the annual budget, donating a minimum of US$10,000 per year to the organization.
Leadership
Seacology is governed by its Board of Directors, which consists of corporate leaders who share a commitment to island conservation and the preservation of island cultures. Paul Alan Cox is the Chairman of Seacology. He received his PhDDoctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and served as a professor at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences or Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet is a university in Sweden. Although its head office is located in Ultuna, Uppsala, the university has several campuses in different parts of Sweden, the other main facilities being Alnarp in Lomma Municipality, Skara,...
, and Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
. Cox served as the Director of the National Tropical Botanical Garden
National Tropical Botanical Garden
The National Tropical Botanical Garden is a group that sponors preservation of plants native to the tropics in a network of botanical gardens and preserves.-History:...
(NTBG) for seven years, and as of 2011, he is the Executive Director of the Institute for Ethnomedicine, which is affiliated with the NTBG. His research interests include island plant ecology and ethnobotany of island cultures, and he has published more than 150 scientific papers and reviews. For his research on new medicinal plants
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
, he was named one of eleven "Heroes of Medicine" by Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine. Cox is an advocate of indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
, and has learned several of island languages.
The Executive Director of Seacology is Duane Silverstein, who for 18 years prior to joining the organization acted as the Executive Director of the Goldman Fund and headed the Goldman Environmental Prize. He has written articles that have appeared in Asian Geographic
Asian Geographic
ASIAN Geographic is a geographic magazine that focuses mainly on stories about Asia. Its motto is “Asia Without Borders”. First published in 1999, it contains articles on geography, culture, heritage, society, environment, exploration, conservation and art.As of May 2008, the magazine has a...
as well as various scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
magazines, and he is a National Fellow of The Explorers Club
The Explorers Club
The Explorers Club is a professional society dedicated to scientific exploration of Earth, its oceans, and outer space. Founded in 1904 in New York City, it currently has 30 branches world wide...
. Silverstein has met with heads of state around the world, including several presidents of the United States, as well as several Secretaries-General of the United Nations. In addition to having his work covered in newspapers and periodicals, including Time magazine, the Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
The Bangkok Post is a broadsheet, English-language daily newspaper published in Bangkok, Thailand. The first issue was sold on August 1, 1946. It had four pages and cost 1 baht, a considerable amount at the time....
, and the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
, he was also selected as an "All-Stars Among Us" in People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine, for which he was honored at the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 80th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 14, 2009, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, the home of the...
. In 2008, Silverstein and Seacology were briefly featured alongside several organizations in the music video for "What About Now
What About Now (Daughtry song)
"What About Now" is the seventh single from American rock band Daughtry's eponymous debut album. The song is a ballad, that was written by Ben Moody, David Hodges , and Josh Hartzler, who is married to Amy Lee . It is one of only two songs on the album not at least co-written by Chris Daughtry...
" by the American rock band Daughtry. In 2010, Silverstein was awarded the one of the Jefferson Awards for Public Service
Jefferson Awards for Public Service
Jefferson Awards for Public Service were created in 1972 by the American Institute for Public Service as "a Nobel Prize for community and public service".-American Institute for Public Service:...
and also was given the 2010 Coastal Hero Award by Sunset
Sunset (magazine)
Sunset is a lifestyle magazine in the United States. Sunset focuses on homes, cooking, gardening, and travel, with a focus almost exclusively on the Western United States...
magazine.
The President of Seacology is Ken Murdock, who also founded the herbal company Nature's Way after his mother was cured of a serious illness with an herbal medicine. Murdock played a key role in the creation of Seacology, and Nature's Way covered Seacology's administrative costs for three years. Murdock has volunteered in Samoa, during which time he resided on Manu'a and learned the local language.
The Scientific Advisory Board of Seacology includes island biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
specialists, whose research focuses on the conservation of oceanic and terrestrial island ecosystems
Island Ecology
Island ecology is the study of island organisms and their interactions with each other and the environment. Islands account for nearly 1/6 of earth’s total land area, yet the ecology of island ecosystems is vastly different from that of mainland communities. Their isolation and high availability...
. The Scientific Advisory Board generates recommendations for new conservation projects based on the latest research available. Among the eleven members are researcher and Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winner Jared Diamond
Jared Diamond
Jared Mason Diamond is an American scientist and author whose work draws from a variety of fields. He is currently Professor of Geography and Physiology at UCLA...
, entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
and evolutionary biologist E. O. Wilson, and oceanographer
Oceanography
Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
Sylvia Earle
Sylvia Earle
Sylvia Alice Earle is an American oceanographer. She was chief scientist for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from 1990–1992. She is a National Geographic explorer-in-residence, sometimes called "Her Deepness" or "The Sturgeon General".-Education and career:Earle received a...
. As the founder of Seacology, Cox is also a member of the advisory board.