Providing the resources to help sustain livelihoods & alleviate poverty through the protection of coral reefs & tropical forests www.coralcay.org
Welcome to Coral Cay Conservation The health of coral reefs and tropical forests worldwide are under threat from increasing global demands and pressures as our population grows and the climate changes. Coral reefs, mangroves and tropical forests are critical components of the global environment. They provide vital natural services to support and protect life and balance global climate as well as providing economic benefit to local and national economies through tourism and food production. Coral reefs and tropical forests together support almost two-thirds of all recorded living species. As these vital ecosystems degrade and disappear, their services are diminished, resulting in huge natural losses to biodiversity, disruption to the earth s natural balance as well as big economic losses to entire communities. Our Belief: Coral reefs are fundamental to the future of our planet. To neglect or destroy reefs means greater poverty for future generations. Our Vision: To lead recognition of the importance and management of coral reefs for everyone s future prosperity. Our Mission: Using the best science we will support the preservation of coral reefs and through learning and education support the dependant communities, in the most cost-effective means possible. Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) is one of the leading successful specialists in organising conservation expeditions with volunteers at the front-line of our work, capacity building at the core and science in the driving seat. Local organisations and governments call on us for manpower and expertise and we work in partnership to run effective conservation projects that benefit both the environment and local communities. We take a holistic biosphere approach and run both marine and tropical forest conservation projects. The combined efforts of CCC volunteers, field staff and local project partners have helped to create marine reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, thereby securing a future for local people whose livelihoods depend on healthy, thriving and protected coral reefs and tropical forests. David Bellamy OBE CCC President Since 1986, Coral Cay Conservation has been at the forefront of community-based coral reef and tropical forest conservation. Teams of people from all walks of life are taking part in an experience of a lifetime, living and working together in remote tropical environments and helping to protect the livelihoods of millions of local people. Through CCC you can play a key role in survey work above and below the waves, experiencing environments and cultures you never dreamed you would see. Thank you for caring. Our Cause Providing the resources to help sustain livelihoods and alleviate poverty through the protection of coral reefs & tropical forests It s great to have so many smiling people around you! Hilary Crane, Philippines
Reefs under Threat Only 3% of coral reef s worldwide are protected Coral reefs have become known as the rainforests of the seas due to their incredible biodiversity. They have evolved over the past 450 million years to become the most bio-diverse marine ecosystem in recorded history. Coral reefs provide food, protection and breeding grounds for some 25% of all marine life! They are a vital component of the global ecosystem. Today, technology enables us to travel further, dive deeper and exploit resources faster than ever before. Our impact is as exponential as our growing population. The combination of climate change and human activity now pose a real and direct threat to the survival of coral reefs. This onslaught of impacts is proving too much for reefs to combat. If current trends continue, reefs as we know them will disappear by 2055! Over half a billion people in coastal communities risk being displaced if they can no longer support themselves through the fruits that healthy reefs provide to the oceans. The situation is now critical! People are largely unaware of the scale of the damage to reefs and forests around the world. The current rate of destruction simply cannot continue if these vital natural ecosystems are to exist by the end of the century. We need to change our attitude towards natural resources and start protecting and sustaining them rather than exploiting them for our immediate gain until they are destroyed. Our generation is the instrument of change. If we don t act now it will be too late. This is why Coral Cay Conservation exists! What Are They Worth? Biodiversity: Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor yet support over 4,000 fish species, 800 coral species and thousands more plants and animals with new species being discovered all the time Food: In Asia alone over 1 billion people rely on fish as their main source of protein. 1km 2 of healthy reef can produce up to 30 metric tons of fish annually, enough to feed 600 people for a year Livelihoods: Some 600 million people in coastal communities rely on coral reefs for their livelihoods Medicine: Reefs are genetic banks for new life-saving drugs. Compounds from reef organisms have been used to treat cancer, HIV and cardiovascular diseases Economy: Reefs provide humans with living resources (such as fish) and services (such as tourism returns and coastal protection) worth about $375 billion each year Hard Facts! 30% of coral reefs have already been destroyed and a further 60% are severely threatened due to a combination of local and regional impacts. Every year 3,000km 2 of reefs are destroyed, an area the size of Luxembourg! Reefs At Risk If current rates of destruction continue we will have lost 50% of all coral reefs by 2030, and the vast majority of them by 2055 A single anchor drop from a cruise ship in the Virgin Islands destroyed over 300 metres of reef. This took 20 years to grow back!
Only 4% of tropical rainforests are protected 60% of tropical forests have been destroyed and 80-90% of remaining forests are threatened 191,000km 2 of tropical forests are destroyed annually Extinction rates are high - 137 species are currently lost every day and 50,000 each year Around 350 million of the worlds poorest people depend almost entirely on forest resources to meet their needs 25% of western medicinal drugs come from rainforest ingredients. The US National Cancer Institute has identified 3,000 plants that are active against cancer, 70% are from rainforests At the current rate of destruction 50% will be gone by 2025 and all our tropical forest could be lost by 2060 All the world s ecosystems are interconnected, which makes tropical forests our priority too. Tropical forests are a vital part of the global ecosystem. They cover less than 7% of the earth s surface, yet provide habitat for over 5 million species - over half of all living things. Tropical forests also play a crucial role in regulating the planets global climate by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide - a service of huge value with the imminent threat of global warming. They also receive almost half of all the rain that falls on land, releasing it slowly into rivers. Deforestation is the number one threat to tropical forests. An area twice the size of Portugal is cleared each year to meet increasing demands for crops, oil, gas, minerals, timber and forest products with new roads carved through forests to access them. Some 140 species face extinction every day as a direct result of deforestation. With insufficient trees to protect watersheds and high rainfall in tropical regions, mass flooding is inevitable, putting homes, farmland, and entire communities at risk and destroying the ecosystem on which they depend. Forests At Risk
CCC is made up of a family of thousands of volunteers, specialists, organisations, communities and scholars from all over the world - people just like you - who are working together to make a real difference. Our work has three key components: Habitat Mapping We need to know what s there if we are to protect it. That s where your part is vital. CCC volunteers are out on the front line of conservation, gathering data about reef and forest species to create habitat maps. These maps are used to identify candidate sites where the conservation efforts of local communities will be best placed to create sustainable management plans. Capacity Building We offer full science development training to empower you with knowledge about the ecosystem in order to take action to protect it. You can go on to develop your skills further by going through our PADI training up to Divemaster level. We direct a portion of volunteers funds into Scholarship Programmes where local people can apply to learn these skills themselves and our Train the Trainer courses allow local stakeholders to continue the work into the future. We work with our partners to encourage alternative livelihood practices that respect the people and the culture to minimise the use of destructive logging and fishing techniques. Raising Awareness Knowledge is power so we channel a significant portion of our efforts into education. We run workshops, activity days and education programmes locally and internationally to raise awareness about issues facing reefs and forests and what appropriate action to take. The most popular awareness tool is our Fred the Fish puppet show for the kids, thought up by volunteers just like you! Grace Quiton CCC Scholar. Philippines Corals, children, and tiny fish - I ll never look at them the same way after my CCC experience! I have been privy to the desperate lives of people who live around these fabulous beaches. I have witnessed for myself fisher folk neighbours struggling to get food on their tables and my own relatives scrambling for their share of peso bills dangled by corrupt politicians. All it takes to change this is a simple concerted effort from people willing and able to teach and give people a better understanding of what they have. Some time during underwater surveying, studying corals and fish, and doing community work, I had a change of heart. This made me wonder if someone had taken the effort to teach me when I was younger - how it would have changed the course of my life. Learning from and among people who have travelled from across the world to do volunteer work was amazing. I watched in amusement as they fussed over a tiny fish that normally would not have received such fanfare from Filipinos. The most ordinary things fascinated them, and they lent me a vantage point that I never knew existed. I believe this is the best thing CCC volunteers can leave for local counterparts like me. Coral Cay Action We publish all our reports and findings online as a resource for use in further efforts to expand conservation knowledge and understanding. Being trapped on a tropical island is something I can handle. Kirsten Schüett Volunteer, Cambodia
Coral Cay Highlights We have run over 25 successful conservation projects in some 13 different countries around the world Over 10,000 volunteers have joined our expeditions Many CCC volunteers go on to careers in conservation Our scholarship programme has seen several hundred local scholars trained in conservation skills they can use in the future CCC is proud to have won multiple international awards over the years Coral Cay Success
You may be thinking at this point - is this really for me, and it s a question you ll want to give serious consideration. After all, it s your time and money we are talking about and you want to make sure you spend both wisely. As a CCC volunteer you can make a difference. We have built a great reputation running safe and successful marine and forest expeditions since 1986 and have an impeccable record for being true to our word in offering hands-on conservation opportunities. People who join us range in age from 16 to 75 plus and come from a broad range of backgrounds but share one common interest they all want to make a difference! Whatever you are looking for, we endeavour to cater for you. Have a look at the range of opportunities we can offer by visiting www.coralcay.org. We ll support you throughout the process with everything from buying your kit to fundraising and our online booking process makes organising your trip that much easier! So, if you re aged 16 or over, have a good team spirit, moderate level of fitness and are looking for something adventurous, worthwhile and fun to do during your career break, gap year, retirement or holiday, then look no further. This is the chance to feed your passion into something with long lasting impact that will be valued and remembered long after your trip has finished. An experience you can take with you for the rest of your life. We need your help. Join us now and play your part. Is It For Me? www.coralcay.org All you need is: Enthusiasm Team Spirit Moderate level of fitness Consideration for people and culture Willingness to try new things Sense of fun and adventure! Leaving is one of the hardest things that I have ever done as the group of like-minded people that you spend a least 16 hours a day with become like your family. George Brown, Philippines
We have several different options to suit your specific needs Expeditions - These are no 5-star holidays! Expedition life is for people who like mucking in and getting their hands dirty. We all bunk in together, cook and clean together and there is many-a-story told over a campfire dinner. You hard-core travellers out there will love it! Mini-Expeditions - We recognise in our high-speed world that some of you may want to do something worthwhile but have only a week or two to spare. We have developed our expeditions to cater for that. You can now join our expeditions for a time to suit you, from one week up to a year if you wish! CCC projects form part of the host country s long-term conservation aims, so you can be confident that whichever you choose, your participation will have a direct and lasting effect. Family Friendly Conservation Expeditions - We appreciate that families want to travel and experience responsible and conservation orientated expeditions together. On selected expeditions, we now offer families the opportunity to do exactly that! Call us to find out more. We also offer Unique Expeditions, Group Discounts and Research Opportunities! Full details are on our website www.coralcay.org What will I be involved in? Making a unique difference to a community and valuable ecosystem Front line conservation Community workshops and education programmes Marine and/or terrestrial surveys Beach clean ups and activity days Puppet shows A real expedition experience with volunteers from all walks of life Practical conservation work out in the field The results of careful planning with local partners Environmentally, economically and socially ethical work What will I come away with? Expertise in tropical ecology, biodiversity and species identification New friends and unforgettable memories Experience in front line conservation! Independence, perspective and improved self esteem SCUBA dive training up to Divemaster level Cultural understanding and appreciation of the natural world Improved career prospects Valuable transferable skills and a broader outlook on life An experience that may just change your life! What Can I Do?
Safety First Our staff are individually selected to lead groups overseas. Selection of staff is based on many factors, including both hard and soft skills. We select our Field Base Managers for their ability to communicate with groups and be fun people to have around! All Field Base staff must complete an arduous training and selection process, assessed by our experienced coreteam of instructors. Every Field Base has a Satellite Telephone, Personal Locator Beacon, Satellite Broadband and a Global Positioning System Handset (GPS). All Field Bases are linked to our 24-hour telemedical system with doctors on-call 24-hours a day. Our Operations Room is active 24-hours a day, whilst groups are overseas. With our team of incident managers on alert to coordinate rescue work. Coral Cay Conservation are members of the Year Out Group, Young Explorers Trust and the Expedition Providers Association. Coral Cay Conservation have been independently assessed against British Standard 8848. As well as making a lasting contribution to science, team members may also: Qualify through our PADI instructors to become Divemasters Complete our Reef Check course Gain up to 70 UCAS points Complete their Duke of Edinburgh s Award residential section Gain First Aid qualifications Fulfil the criteria for the John Muir Awards Please contact our office or further details. Safety & Value Added
Administration Recruitment & marketing Insurance Community education There s never a dull moment at Ampo Fred the Fish, planting mangroves, crazy fairs, secret Santa, rescue scenarios, counterparts what an action packed fun filled time! Heather Jones, Philippines Trekking through the dense, mountainous tropical forest, catching birds, bats and small mammals and lying in pitch black darkness surrounded by beautiful forest sounds. Yee Chow, Volunteer Scuba/science training, logistics & equipment The expedition fee includes: UK briefing sessions Field accommodation Food PADI Open Water & Advanced Open Water training BCD s & regulator hire (dive trainees) Tanks Weights & weight belts Free Reef Check training Free First Aid training Expedition & research training & surveying Community work CCC Trust membership Field staff supervision The fee does not include: International flights Transfers In-transit accommodation PADI manuals Dive certification Insurance Personal dive equipment First Aid certification (optional) Personal equipment Where The Money Goes
Marine Expeditions Ever dreamt of diving the fish-filled tropical waters of the world plus contributing to conservation? Well if the ocean is your thing, then a CCC marine expedition is perfect for you. You will help survey coral reefs in remote tropical locations, making for an exclusive and worthwhile experience that you will never forget! CCC marine expeditions are for those of you interested in diving and we offer full SCUBA training if needed to Divemaster level. As qualified divers you then undergo training in conservation science, where you learn about reef ecology, underwater surveying and how to species spot when you are down there diving! You will gain familiarity with coral reef habitats, and learn how we can help protect these threatened ecosystems into the future. From learning new skills through to meeting new people, there is no doubt that you will come away with many memories that are uniquely individual. Who knows what marine species you will encounter when diving in the tropical waters of the world! Expeditions The ability to dive daily on beautiful un-dived reefs was a fantastic bonus! But it s the people that make a CCC expedition what it is - living amongst other people who want to do something to help preserve coral reefs for future generations, but who can also conjure a fancy dress costume from whatever you can scrounge. Jake Turner, Philippines
Sign up as a School Group! Our expedition programmes structure incorporates the educational framework of Learning Outside the Classroom objectives. It also highlights the benefits of taking part in one of our environmental expeditions in a safe and rewarding environment. Key benefits of our programmes include: SCUBA diving and coral reef and tropical forest survey training - Pupils are trained to identify a range of species and use their skills to contribute to local conservation efforts Duke of Edinburgh s Award - Gold residential programmes overseas 70 UCAS points Pupils can earn up to 70 UCAS points on our programmes John Muir Award Environmental awards for pupils CPD Our programmes provide valuable support for the teacher s development (teachers travel free) Team Building Taking part will increase pupils self esteem and invoke a can do attitude through a truly life-changing experience! Our programmes fit with the aims of the curriculum and the framework of personal learning and thinking skills. It enables all pupils to become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens, contributing to local environmental conservation efforts. School Groups Incredible people, amazing places, having fun whilst doing good. Hands down the best time of my life! Oenone Scott Volunteer, Philippines
University Group Expeditions Coral Cay can deliver students a rewarding overseas learning experience whilst being actively involved in coastal management conservation efforts in some of the world s most stunning yet endangered habitats. We provide bespoke packages to student groups, including: PADI SCUBA diving Students are trained to PADI Advanced Open Water level and beyond Skills Development Programme All students are trained in coastal ecology, including courses on: Species Identification Coastal Ecology Coral Reef and Tropical Forest Surveying Natural Resource Management Introduction to Data Analysis and GIS Local Community Engagement Personal growth Being at the forefront of grass-roots conservation efforts, working in teams to conduct surveys and involvement in local community work and expedition life will provide students with a life-changing experience and invoke a can do attitude! Our programmes can be tailored to the needs of your curriculum and range from full 3-week tropical marine survey, to 1-week turtle conservation projects. Alternatively, we can provide a suitable research centre for students to carry out their independent fieldwork under the supervision of our project scientists. University Groups Ultimately my time with Coral Cay turned out to be a true life changing experience as it spurred me into making a career change. The expedition has made me more committed to marine conservation and in September, I start an MSc in Marine Resource Development and Protection. Bethan O Leary, Philippines
Group Discounts On marine and forest expeditions we offer fantastic group discounts for groups of ten or more people - 10% off for the group and one goes free! Bigger discounts for bigger groups! School, college or university groups of 10 or more are eligible for free teacher placements and student bursaries offering discounts of up to 25%! CCC expeditions are operated to the most stringent of safety procedures and are all managed by our highly qualified and experienced tropical field staff. Research Opportunities CCC has numerous ties with the academic world and a strong grounding in science. We are proud to say that many a CCC volunteer, intern and scholar have developed their career through working with us and many have gone on to become key players in the conservation world. We are connected with some pivotal people in the field and pride ourselves in posting the latest publications and news releases up on our website. We are always open to accepting research requests from post graduates and offer research opportunities to scientists and students alike. We are willing to offer advice and support to university students and academics who wish to pursue their research objectives with us. Groups & Research Come complete your thesis, help contribute to your environmental and community conservation work, while making friends for life; research doesn t have to be lonely! Fiona Mills, Philippines
You don t have to go out on a CCC expedition to help our cause. Simply spreading the word helps people become more aware about the plight of coral reefs and tropical forests and how they can help - so if you fancy putting some posters up in your area, that s great! You can get involved in Coral Cay Conservation in loads of ways: Join the Coral Cay Conservation Charity Put on a fundraising event or let us know about events coming up in your area Become a Coral Cay Ambassador Distribute posters or leaflets within your local area Look into current Advisory or Internship opportunities Join our Facebook group and chat with CCC volunteers about what its like out there! Get involved! Check out www.coralcay.org Help protect the future of our natural world and the people that depend on it! Help At Home Coral Cay Conservation set me on the road to everything that s now going on today! Monty Halls, CCC Patron - Explorer and TV Presenter
Contact Us Email: info@coralcay.org Website: www.coralcay.org Tel number: +44 (0)20 7620 1411 Fax number :+44 (0)1483 810223 Skype: coral.cay This is just an appetiser about what we offer, go to our website for full details of what we offer or give us a call, we d be happy to help. Get In Touch As a partner in the Know Before You Go campaign, we are working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to do all that we can to help British travellers stay safe overseas. Before you go overseas, check the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk/ knowbeforeyougo It is packed with essential travel advice and tips, and up to date country information. Think Before You Print Coral Cay Conservation is a not-for-profit division of the Lifesigns Group