Reaching out today for a better tomorrow

NatGeo Project

OK folks and okes, we need to start getting together a format for the natgeo report.
First, thanks to those that have started uploading pics. Please keep up the effort and hopefully those that haven't had the time to do so will be able to soon.

What we need to do is go start tagging the pics with information about the species, so if you recognise the species in a pic then please add it to the photo's tags.

If you have any other ideas then please post here for all.

Cheers

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Permalink Reply by Ernst van der Poll on November 21, 2008 at 4:38pm

Hi Guys!

Please find below 3 points of discussion to meet the criteria of the National Geographic Exploration Project for our recent trip to Sipidan and Mabul.
Please post your answers on the National Geo Forum on the Tawasul Social Community Network site by following this link http://tawasul.ning.com/forum/topics/natgeo-project
Be as creative as you want. Tap into your experiences on the trip and if you want to use pictures to outline the answers even better.
I would need a response from each of you to be able to meet the criteria for certification as a National Geographic Diver.

Looking forward to reading your feedback!

Best wishes

Ernst

National Geographic Exploration Project Outline –Mabul November 20081.
Diversity Among and Within Societies and Cultures.

• The Standard of living of various peoples throughout the world is dependent on environmental quality, the availability of, utilisation and distribution of resources, the government and the culture of the inhabitants.
Compare the standard of living between the U.A.E. and the Semporna /Mabul Area outlining the differences and similarities of the environmental quality, the availability of and utilisation of the resources and the culture of the two regions giving at least 5 examples.
2. Structure and Scale in Societies and Cultures
• The structure and scale of Natural Resources in a given area shape the economy upon which the society and culture is based. Cultural structures and actions affect the management of resources and environmental quality.
• Demographics influence environmental quality, governmental policy and resource use.
When considering the biodiversity of Mabul/Sipidan area, outline the differences of the sustainability and impact on the economy and local communities between Tourism and fishing. Give practical examples of how cultural structures and actions affect the management of resources and environmental quality.
• Examples could be a case study of Borneo Divers that set an example for other tour operators to move of Sipidan to Mabul in an effort to restore and conserve the bio diversity of the island.
• The effects of the Shark Finning Industry on the environment and the natural resources.
What role do you believe the youth plays as a demographic that can influence the environmental quality, governmental policy and resource use and how can education be used to shape this influence?
3. Natural beauty as experienced in forests, coral reefs and other habitats enhances the quality of human life by providing artistic and spiritual inspiration as well as recreational and intellectual opportunities.
Give one example of an experience or a connection you had during the trip and how it influenced your attitude, beliefs, and biases of people towards the use of resources and environmental protection.

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Permalink Reply by Khaled Sultani on December 8, 2008 at 7:59pm

Standard of living in the UAE varies between emirate and emirate, and even within each emirate you find a substantial variation btw different groups of peoples and cultures. For the sake of our discussion, I will be moving away from the major emirates such as AD and DXB to focus on the standard of living in the less modernized emirates such as Fujeirah and specifically areas around Dibba and Musandam where old traditions remain dominant - relatively rural areas with historic dependency on fishing and living off the sea by trade, and move on to cover some the key topics in the natgeo project.

Fujairah holds a unique position in the UAE. It is the only emirate that lies on the eastern side of the UAE, along the Gulf of Oman, while all the six other emirates are along the Arabian Gulf.

It is one of only emirates that is almost totally mountainous (Hajjar Mountains) allowing them to promote eco-tourism on a relatively larger scale than the remainder of the emirates. Fujairah happens to be the rainiest emirate also allowing them atleast one good harvest a year with mainly good weather all year around. It enjoys a diversity of marine creatures and coral reefs that the remainders of the emirates lack.

Employment is at 50-60% (wikidpedia) which is rated one of the highest in the world.
Despite their focus on tourism and fishing they are still heavily reliant on government subsidies for social development, and the existence of one of the more active and biggest ports in the region gained its popularity when the Iraq Iran conflict. (Port mainly for oil bunkers and live stock transportation)

Although, fishing and agriculture is most abundant way of living, herding livestock is also quite common. With the boom in tourism, many private investors have launched plans to build luxury resorts in Fujairah. With years of over-fishing, oil spills and red tide and increasing price of diesel, many traditional fishermen have started withdrawing from this ancient occupation to get more involved in Labor/Construction work in order to be able to pay off education and healthcare facilities.

The area in itself is not only surviving on the nature as it has developed a sense of modernization with the abundance of construction, well-structure housing developments , paved roads, as well as small businesses like restaurants, mobile phone and computer shops, as well as gyms ect...

Despite the government’s promotions of the area as an eco-tourism destination, they are yet to protect the reefs and its habitats from over fishing and over development. Fishermen nets close to coral reefs are suffocating turtles and sharks.
After laying eggs, turtles use the natural glow of horizon to guide them back to the ocean but light from the beach front development can lead them off course which can put them in serious danger. Many incidents have occurred from tankers flushing our their cargo holds near the coast causing quite damaging ecological effects on the environment has forced government to put some penalties for tankers yet considerably little action has been done to prevent such actions from even occurring in the first place.
A stricter environmental policy needs to be put in place to protect the resources.

The emirate is home to a wide variety of nationalities with different cultures, spoken languages and backgrounds which we are all familiar with in this region.
However over all many schools with different curriculums exist to cater for all the various ethnic and religious groups in the emirate. Education is provided to the Emarati and Arab population via government schools. Apart from the gov. school there are other schools which cater for vast majority which come from Indian subcontinent. A few other schools also serve the minorities from UK ,and even Iran and Pakistan. Healthcare facilities are generally available with a number of hospitals and clinics in the emirate itself.

Despite the abundance of education and healthcare, it seems very few people are concerned about the environment and sustainability of natural resources in the area.

Mabul is an island off the south-eastern coast of Sabah in Malaysia. Due to the close proximity to the equator they enjoy big amount of rains and sunshine throughout the year.
Similarly to Fujairah, Mabul lies in a very special location. It lies in the heart of the indo-pacific basin which is home to the most exotic macro-marine life around the world. It's is also famous for its proximity to Sipidan Island, the only volcanic island in Malaysia, and now a nature reserve for one of the worlds richest marine habitats making it an ideal destination for scuba divers. The western part of Sabah is generally mountainous, containing the three highest mountains in Malaysia, including Kota Kinabalu (SouthEast Asia's 4th highest mountain). So not only is the region host abundance in underwater species, but their jungles/rainforests are home to a diverse amount of plant and animal species.

Majority of the population lives coastal while some few smaller villages can be found inland.
Bajau are indigenous ethnic group of Malaysia which consists of a various combinations of smaller groups from Malaysia and Phillipines are predominately in the area.
The area has also seen a big number of Chinese migratations. As Fujairah, The area is home to many other different peoples from different cultures and heritages. A big portion of people descend from nomad- sea gypsy tribes who have settled on land after generations of roaming the sea, many of which do not hold proper Malaysian paperwork.
Being a rural area/island, it’s very common for families to have many children - where the extra hands are welcome once they reach adulthood.

It’s quite difficult to track employment figures in such rural areas as it’s more a way of life, than an actual statistic. It’s quite obvious the majority of the working force is involved fishing, where barter trade is still quite common. Mabul has a very raw sense of survival where the unlike any place i've ever seen where they rely on nature to be able to survive whether it's Baking local bread on coconuts shells (as opposed to coal) , using palm tree oil (hand made), or using wood from trees to carve hand made goggles and wooden guns for spear fishing. Unlike Fujairah , For most Nature is all they have. The trees , the earth , and the sea. No computer shops no mobile phones no cars...... Tourism has been booming as a result they've seen an increasing the demand for helping hands. However Local inhabitants/villagers are employed for the most basic of services such as for cleaning, handling luggage, carrying dive equipment in the neighboring diving and luxury resorts. I noticed some villagers run tourist shops underneath their bungalow type homes and sell memorabilia and coral necklaces which are collected from the reefs amongst other basic goods. This is the closest to a small modernized business I’ve come across during my visit. But also represents one of the many bad practices which can be common found in the area. Over fishing, cyanide and dynamite fishing by the local people of this area is not uncommon, giving Mabul a world wide reputation for muck diving in the silt and patches of dead corals. However the government has started enforcing certain restrictions to preserve the reef around sipidan by forcing all the resorts to close shop and move to neighboring islands. They've also limited the number of divers to 120 divers per day. Nevertheless so much can be done in neighbouring islands and the area in general to support the preservation of nature which they so much rely on. The region has seen 50% of orangutan population has fallen in past 50 yrs, massive plots of palm trees has been chopped for use of palm tree oil production , and shark fining are some examples of the abuse nature has undergone.

No hospitals or clinics are available in the island, although there is one available in Sempurna. The villagers on the island are occasionally visited by volunteering medical personnel
To give out vaccinations. All resorts/dive centers are equipped with first aid kits and there is a decompression chamber 30 minutes away from the island in case of diving emergencies. No proper healthcare is provided to the people - and i'm certain who they can turn to when one falls ill. Perhaps they turn to the village healer if they were fortunate enough. I did not get the opportunity to meet or hear of any such person during my stay. This , in a sad kind of way, is one of the major fundamental problems which Mabul faces today.

A relatively high proportion of the populus is young. This represents another fundamental problem which is schooling.
Officially one (government) school exists in Mabul, where all children with official paperwork are allowed in. Facilities are incredibly basic and budgets are tight.
Other schools such as the Mosque's 'Madrasa' and little home schools can be found throughout the village (normally run by a single teacher) where the children with no paperwork can obtain a basic education. Stationary, chalk, paper books are normally provided from the teacher's own pocket. Classes are free, but student's parents normally donate some money to the teacher out of gratitude and support.

If a child grows up watching his father dynamite fishing, that child will not realize the implications of his father’s actions unless educated otherwise.
The lack of education implies not knowing any better. Many of the basic environmental problems can be solved by educating the people in general, and the youth in specific on how to interact and treat nature, encourage them to dispose of wastes properly, highlight the effects of dangerous fishing methods, implication of shark fining and the dangers of decreasing populations of such predators ect...in order to provide them with a sustainable lifestyle for future generations.
Various associations , dive centers and NGOs are working full time to organize such efforts like clean ups and workshops, however Government and ruling bodies need to drive general education in school (and nature-specific educations (after curricular activities) as well as programs to help build a proper foundation for environmental thinking.
Majority of fisherman fish to feed their families and try to earn a living in the same seas their ancestors have lived off. Now with the growing populations and
Effects of over fishing, fisherman are facing tougher times at sea and need to go further out to have a good catch.
Studies have shown that marine reserves actually boost the fish populations around the reserve within a few short years.
With the right government subsidies , enforcement and education , fisherman can take advantage of that to secure a sustainable lifestyle for their children at the same time preserve the natural resources they count on so dearly.

Developing support groups such as tawasul can help enhance these efforts further by reaching out and helping not only those in need but ourselves as well - To cultivate an environmental awareness and interest for everyone to preserve the environment and its resources.

Mabul, as Fujairah to a certain extent, have many pristine natural resources which not only make them destinations of choice for so many travelers around the globe but as a source of life and means of survival for its inhabitants. We all have a moral obligation for preservation of these resources for future generations.

..So Where do I sign up ?

''Ohhh...
Excuse me Mr, do you have the time?
Or are you so important that it stands still for you?
Excuse me Mr, won't you lend me your ear?
Or are you not only blind but do you not hear?
Excuse me Mr but isn't that your oil in the sea?
And the pollution in the air Mr, who's could that be?

So excuse me Mr, but, I'm a Mr too
And you're giving Mr a bad name, Mr like you
Now im taking the Mr from out infront of your name
Coz it's a Mr like you that puts the rest of us to shame''

Ben Harper- excuse me mr.

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Permalink Reply by Khaled Sultani on December 8, 2008 at 10:44pm

i didnt have a camera with me in sipidan..but i've posted some of the cooler pics on the website
as i've collected the pics from some of the guys. So most of the work was really done by them. ...Laetitia , Jochum, Laurent, Majed , & Stu.

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Permalink Reply by rama on December 10, 2008 at 8:44am

Hi Ernst,
Here's my report in pdf format.. enjoy !!

Attachments:

NationalGeo-RC.pdf, 270 KB

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Permalink Reply by Ernst van der Poll on December 10, 2008 at 10:19am

Fouad's Exploration Project!

Attachments:

National_Geographic_-_Fouad_G._Aoun[1].doc, 739 KB

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Permalink Reply by stuart simmons on December 15, 2008 at 1:27pm

2. Structure and Scale in Societies and Cultures

• The structure and scale of Natural Resources in a given area shape the economy upon which the society and culture is based. Cultural structures and actions affect the management of resources and environmental quality.
• Demographics influence environmental quality, governmental policy and resource use.

When considering the biodiversity of Mabul/Sipidan area, outline the differences of the sustainability and impact on the economy and local communities between Tourism and fishing. Give practical examples of how cultural structures and actions affect the management of resources and environmental quality.
• Examples could be a case study of Borneo Divers that set an example for other tour operators to move of Sipidan to Mabul in an effort to restore and conserve the bio diversity of the island.
• The effects of the Shark Finning Industry on the environment and the natural resources.
What role do you believe the youth plays as a demographic that can influence the environmental quality, governmental policy and resource use and how can education be used to shape this influence

Mabul tourism and fishing are linked within their lack of sustainability; for the more that tourism increases so will that of the fishing. When one starts to decline, most likely the fish first, tourism will also decrease, as Mabul is known as only a 'white sands'/dive tourism destination. At the moment, the impact on local economy with tourism has increased employment ratios into other career fields, however, this has obviously decreased the amount of children who go in for a career as their father before, fishermen, which has put pressure on the ones left to provide for an ever growing population, which has turned them to using methods which provide fish quicker and easier, such as dynamite/cyanide fishing. Environmentally unfriendly and unsustainable actions.

With an ever increasing population of youths within Mabul and with their increase in education, they have more sounded knowledge on environmental issues then the current government officials. And with time, they will be able to stop the fast growing pace of the 'white sands' like tourism that is being inflicted onto Mabul at present to a more rounded sustainable Eco-tourism market. Which will allow them to restore and reuse the marine life their fathers used before, but on a larger scale which will help them manage and sustain the growing population of Mabul.

For example of the above, whilst I was in Mabul there was talk of a Resort being created on the surrounding reef. Even though this in the short term will provide many jobs for the local inhabitants, in the long run this facility of 'white sands resort' for tourism will have a detrimental effect to the environment; through over fishing for food to sustain guests/population, increased activity of boats and transportation will lead to pollution of the seas and skies. Also, with the increased activity of people the fish will head to deeper waters and away from the reefs. This will, eventually, lead Mabul too not being a popular tourism destination.

However, I would agree that something along the lines of an Eco Reserve/Retreat, which teaches guests about how to sustain and restore marine wildlife. This would also provide many jobs for the local inhabitants. It will also provide an opportunity for the upcoming youths to learn about sustainability of the marine life and also, increase and restore the damage that has already been done. Whilst also attracting Eco-tourism which will give a sustain Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Mabul and the surrounding islands for many years to come without affect, aside from improvement to the marine wildlife.

3. Natural beauty as experienced in forests, coral reefs and other habitats enhances the quality of human life by providing artistic and spiritual inspiration as well as recreational and intellectual opportunities.

Give one example of an experience or a connection you had during the trip and how it influenced your attitude, beliefs, and biases of people towards the use of resources and environmental protection.

As a child I have been bought up by the sea, in a small village in South Devon. I had often played on the water, skiing, fishing, wakeboarding and surfing to name a few activities but I had not ventured under the sea. It wasn’t until I ventured to Mabul that I realised what I had missed out on!

It was almost like being back in my village with the sea being so close and being able to dive every day was truly amazing, especially with the visibility that we experienced, to be able to swim with sharks and turtles and many species of marine animal without them swimming away in fear was also a very touching experience.

I took for granted what the locals would see as their livelihood, fishing and diving are hobbies for me whereas these activities are a main source of food and income for the locals of Mabul. Even though there are marine reserves in and around Mabul there is still a lot of evidence of dynamite fishing, we even heard the dynamite fishing occurring whilst diving! A few of the White tip sharks we saw were scratching themselves on the broken bits of coral, I myself had not realised that the coral reefs are a main provider of oxygen to our world!

Even though these are activities that the locals see as their livelihood, maybe other methods of gaining an income can be introduced to prevent overfishing and to prevent the destruction of the reefs. I know that seaweed cultivation has been introduced into some areas within the Sipidan area and I hope that this flourishes and reduces the impact that the reefs and fish have already sustained.
I for one will be more cautious when it comes to recreational activities in the water and I hope that these environments and ecosystems will still be here for my children to enjoy as I have and will continue to do so.