Ecoteer

Review of 2010

I call 2010 a year of diversification.  We have been changing the essence of Ecoteer from just being focused on assisting people to find volunteer projects to actively pursuing change.  We are taking a more proactive role in change and as a consequence I hope we can benefit more grass root projects.  I personally want to say a big thank you to the Ecoteer Team – Mary, Mervyn, Azimi and Terence, the project leaders and of course YOU our volunteers and members.  2010 has laid the platform for bigger more significant change in 2011.

Help Our Penyu

2010 was the founding year for Help Our Penyu an Ecoteer initiated community-focused turtle conservation society in Malaysia.  Help Our Penyu ran a marine conservation project based at one bay in the Perhentian Islands, conducted awareness events in Kuala Lumpur and conducted the first long-ranged turtle track survey in Malaysia in the Walk for Turtles event.  In 2010 Help Our Penyu had significant national recognition in Malaysia for the walk for turtles event and the rehabilitation of a very rare Olive Ridley Turtle.  My Sincere thanks has got to go to Azimi, Libby and the Bubbles Resort Staff, the interns (Illi, Yanti, Mike and Paul), the volunteers and of course the place wouldn’t be the same without Dollah.  2010 was a good platform but in 2011 we are aiming for much more.  We are expanding the turtle project in Perhentian (protection of a second turtle nesting beach, doubling the frequency of the marine after-school marine club TnT Club, an info booth which will be hosted Fri to Sun throughout the islands and from week 2 the volunteers will be staying in the village fulltime), expansion of the Walk for Turtles (Survey 300km of beach, conduct awareness events at 8 schools and villages and 3 complimentary surveys between Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Besut) and we have various other developments planned for 2011.  In 2011 our new interns, Al, Hayley, Anuar, Bex, Vicki and Mike (Walk for Turtles Research Assistant) will surely be kept very busy as 2011 promises to be a fulfilling year.

Borneo Child Aid Society

The pioneer volunteers Arsalan, Jody and Donna had an experience with the Borneo Child Aid Society when they went to the schools of Tomanggong and Melangking from July to September.  They started their 2 and half month pioneer volunteer experience at Tomanggong school where they taught the children English in the mornings and in the afternoons got their class ready for the annual BCAS sporting event.  During their time at Tomanggong they got upclose and personal not only with the children but also the non-human denizens of the Palm Oil Plantation.  But they all said it was an experience they wouldn’t forget and would not change a thing.  After 6 weeks at Tomanggong the children were ready for the event and not only won a few of the competitions but won the grand prize – actually winning all but one of the individual competitions!  It must be due to the coaches J.  They then ventured north to a Palm Oil Estate called Melangking near to Sukau on the Kinabatagan river.  They volunteered at the three schools at Melangking and initiated a recycle scheme at the schools.  The program in 2010 was a great success and highlighted some of the good and bad points of the volunteering at these schools.  It is great news that the Borneo Child Aid Society wants to continue working with Ecoteer in 2011 at not only with the schools at Melangking and Tomanggong but also with their new floating schools in Semporna.  My initial volunteering experiences where in Sabah so not only Ecoteer but I personally hope this partnership builds and gets stronger through 2011, helping to improve the English and environmental awareness of the children of Sabah.

Find out more about our teach English volunteer positions with Borneo Child Aid Society

Ecoteer Responsible Travel

I have now lived on and off in SE Asia for the past 5 years and have visited many grass root organisations and movements in the ASEAN countries.  I started Ecoteer Responsible Travel as a means to further support not only the projects Ecoteer initiates and supports in SE Asia but also the many projects I have visited.  Through the Ecoteer Responsible Travel site we are supporting local communities in central eastern Thailand, Northern Laos and Komodo as well as Malaysia.  We created these experiences so you dont only see but actually DO.  I believe doing, is believing!  And through these packages which combine traditional tourism and volunteering we will enable more people to feel passionate about helping local grass root projects.  In 2011 through the Ecoteer network I HOPE can provide these projects with more voluntourists, opening the tourists eyes to other cultures.

Boom Festival

In August Jay, Kelly and Zoe held a stall at the Boom Festival in Portugal.  Jay was helping to set up the bamboo structures for the event and managed to get Ecoteer a free booth. I would like to personally thank Jay and the co-founder of the Boom Festival Artur.  The event went well and the guys spoke to lots of people.  We are continuing our partnership with the Boom Festival who are helping a project registered with Ecoteer in Mozambique.  The Boom crew are providing the Manda Wilderness Trust with training and skills sharing for the local community so they can improve their own community events.  This is another partnership we hope we can consolidate and build upon in 2011.

Green ANT

This is a very new concept which we are working on.  Green ANT or Green Adventure Nature Travel is a social network with a purpose.  We are currently building the Green ANT website which will enable the network’s members to buy responsible holidays, fundraise and buy indigenous handicraft all from one spot – with the ultimate aim of raising money which provides grants for one-off projects voted for by the Green ANT members.  Ecoteer hope a trial of this website to be online by February 2011.

2010 has been a year of change and diversification, in 2011 we hope it is a year of consolidation and growth supporting our current and new grass root projects around the world.

I would also like to give a special thank you to my fiancée Aida who had to put up with me in 2010.  For us 2011 will be a year to remember as we will be marrying in April.

Aman cinta ke semua hidup jiwa (Peace and love to every living soul in Malaysian)

Daniel

Volunteer abroad

Terengganu Eco and Marine Tourism Conference (TEMCO 2010)

On the 1^st November 2010 Azimi and myself went to the first Terengganu marine and ecotourism conference.  One of the highlights of the conference was listening to Anuar McAfee who told us about the birds of Terengganu. He has seen 8 species of hornbill within a square mile near Tasik Kenyir which is more than the whole of Sarawak or even Borneo has.  I was shocked to hear there were even any species of Hornbill as I thought they only lived on the island Borneo. In fact Terengganu has a large variety of birds due to many types of habitats from montane to island.  We also listened to a talk from my good friend and owner of the world renowned Sukau Rainforest Lodge – Albert Teo.  Ecoteer has volunteer opportunities at Sukau Rainforest Lodge.  He told us about his new venture in the northern part of Sabah in an area near Kudat.  He is doing capacity building and soft skills training with the local communities there with the view to opening a new community based tourism product.  I really like the way Albert is so humble even though his lodge has just been named the best accommodation in Asia at the world tourism awards –you definitely cannot say success has gone to his head.

The second day the event turned to the sea with talks on the coastal environment of Terengganu, an ecosystem named BRIS.  The dominating species of the BRIS ecosystem are Melaleuca which includes the species nicknamed the Tea Tree.  Prof Jamilah from UMT told us about how the local people use the trees for medical purposes and handicraft – this could be a possibility for community based tours.  You can get the chance to experience the BRIS environment if you join the Terengganu Turtle conservation expedition.  After the BRIS talk, Rahayu from WWF Malaysia spoke of the potential for turtle tourism in the state and Clement Lee of Borneo Divers told us how Sipadan Island and Borneo Divers have benefitted from them removing their resort off the island.  It is a real credit that Borneo Divers did remove their resort from the island and the recovery of the island just shows how much damage resorts do to marine habitats.

The conference was wrapped up by a tour of the Setiu wetlands, PEWANIS and ended up with us all planting mangrove trees.  The ladies of PEWANIS are very inspirational and are developing their own cottage industries and conservation initiatives like the mangrove replanting.  Ecoteer through their Terengganu Turtle Expedition are supporting PEWANIS.  As an expedition volunteer you will not only get to meet and dine with the ladies but also join in a mangrove tree replanting session and help them make Kerepek Pisang (Banana chips) which they are famed.

All in all the conference was very interesting and a great success.  We hope this is not the last Terengganu Eco and Marine tourism Conference but the first of many.

Well done to the organisers.

Day 10 – 200km of beach and 10 islands

Impact of sun tan lotion on corals

Using sunlight to power our tweets

Washing with Soapnuts

The end 200km and 10 islands have been covered

Sea turtles are “ambassadors of the oceans”, for conserving these animals means protecting the seas and coastal areas. The collection of nesting numbers is vital for their conservation but has never been conducted statewide in Terengganu therefore the walk will provide invaluable data which the decision makers wouldnt otherwise have. The Walk for Turtles event is a 10 day walk which will start, annually, on World Sea Turtle Day (16th June), in 2010 from Dungun to Kuala Besut, visiting every beach along the way (mainland and islands). The team will be collecting invaluable sea turtle data during the walk, visit conservation projects and give awareness talks. The data will be used to identify potential new areas for sea turtle nest conservation in Terengganu. The walk will be further extended in 2011 to cover all beaches in the State of Terengganu resulting in a thorough annual monitoring of sea turtle nesting densities. Raising awareness is the second objective of the walk with the team hosting presentations, meeting turtle conservation experts and visiting conservation projects. The event will be broadcast via the worldwide web, television and newspapers raising awareness throughout the world. The third objective of the walk is to raise RM100,000 for sea turtle conservation projects throughout Terengganu. The funds will be used to support sea turtle conservation in Terengganu, Malaysia.

To find out more walk for turtles

Day 9 – Setiu River mouth to Bukit Kelung

Sea turtles are “ambassadors of the oceans”, for conserving these animals means protecting the seas and coastal areas. The collection of nesting numbers is vital for their conservation but has never been conducted statewide in Terengganu therefore the walk will provide invaluable data which the decision makers wouldnt otherwise have. The Walk for Turtles event is a 10 day walk which will start, annually, on World Sea Turtle Day (16th June), in 2010 from Dungun to Kuala Besut, visiting every beach along the way (mainland and islands). The team will be collecting invaluable sea turtle data during the walk, visit conservation projects and give awareness talks. The data will be used to identify potential new areas for sea turtle nest conservation in Terengganu. The walk will be further extended in 2011 to cover all beaches in the State of Terengganu resulting in a thorough annual monitoring of sea turtle nesting densities. Raising awareness is the second objective of the walk with the team hosting presentations, meeting turtle conservation experts and visiting conservation projects. The event will be broadcast via the worldwide web, television and newspapers raising awareness throughout the world. The third objective of the walk is to raise RM100,000 for sea turtle conservation projects throughout Terengganu. The funds will be used to support sea turtle conservation in Terengganu, Malaysia.

To find out more walk for turtles

Day 8 – Kg Mangkok

Walking to Kg Mangkok

Surveying terrapins with the Turtle Conservation Centre

Visit to the Turtle Conservation Centre House

Lunch with PEWANIS

Sea turtles are “ambassadors of the oceans”, for conserving these animals means protecting the seas and coastal areas. The collection of nesting numbers is vital for their conservation but has never been conducted statewide in Terengganu therefore the walk will provide invaluable data which the decision makers wouldnt otherwise have. The Walk for Turtles event is a 10 day walk which will start, annually, on World Sea Turtle Day (16th June), in 2010 from Dungun to Kuala Besut, visiting every beach along the way (mainland and islands). The team will be collecting invaluable sea turtle data during the walk, visit conservation projects and give awareness talks. The data will be used to identify potential new areas for sea turtle nest conservation in Terengganu. The walk will be further extended in 2011 to cover all beaches in the State of Terengganu resulting in a thorough annual monitoring of sea turtle nesting densities. Raising awareness is the second objective of the walk with the team hosting presentations, meeting turtle conservation experts and visiting conservation projects. The event will be broadcast via the worldwide web, television and newspapers raising awareness throughout the world. The third objective of the walk is to raise RM100,000 for sea turtle conservation projects throughout Terengganu. The funds will be used to support sea turtle conservation in Terengganu, Malaysia.

To find out more walk for turtles

Day 6 and 7

Morning walk before we head to the islands

Around the islands of Terengganu

Day 7 – Merang to Bari Kecil

Sea turtles are “ambassadors of the oceans”, for conserving these animals means protecting the seas and coastal areas. The collection of nesting numbers is vital for their conservation but has never been conducted statewide in Terengganu therefore the walk will provide invaluable data which the decision makers wouldnt otherwise have. The Walk for Turtles event is a 10 day walk which will start, annually, on World Sea Turtle Day (16th June), in 2010 from Dungun to Kuala Besut, visiting every beach along the way (mainland and islands). The team will be collecting invaluable sea turtle data during the walk, visit conservation projects and give awareness talks. The data will be used to identify potential new areas for sea turtle nest conservation in Terengganu. The walk will be further extended in 2011 to cover all beaches in the State of Terengganu resulting in a thorough annual monitoring of sea turtle nesting densities. Raising awareness is the second objective of the walk with the team hosting presentations, meeting turtle conservation experts and visiting conservation projects. The event will be broadcast via the worldwide web, television and newspapers raising awareness throughout the world. The third objective of the walk is to raise RM100,000 for sea turtle conservation projects throughout Terengganu. The funds will be used to support sea turtle conservation in Terengganu, Malaysia.

To find out more walk for turtles

Walking from Kuala Terengganu to Merabang Panjang

Sea turtles are “ambassadors of the oceans”, for conserving these animals means protecting the seas and coastal areas. The collection of nesting numbers is vital for their conservation but has never been conducted statewide in Terengganu therefore the walk will provide invaluable data which the decision makers wouldnt otherwise have. The Walk for Turtles event is a 10 day walk which will start, annually, on World Sea Turtle Day (16th June), in 2010 from Dungun to Kuala Besut, visiting every beach along the way (mainland and islands). The team will be collecting invaluable sea turtle data during the walk, visit conservation projects and give awareness talks. The data will be used to identify potential new areas for sea turtle nest conservation in Terengganu. The walk will be further extended in 2011 to cover all beaches in the State of Terengganu resulting in a thorough annual monitoring of sea turtle nesting densities. Raising awareness is the second objective of the walk with the team hosting presentations, meeting turtle conservation experts and visiting conservation projects. The event will be broadcast via the worldwide web, television and newspapers raising awareness throughout the world. The third objective of the walk is to raise RM100,000 for sea turtle conservation projects throughout Terengganu. The funds will be used to support sea turtle conservation in Terengganu, Malaysia.

To find out more walk for turtles

Day 3

Sea turtles are “ambassadors of the oceans”, for conserving these animals means protecting the seas and coastal areas. The collection of nesting numbers is vital for their conservation but has never been conducted statewide in Terengganu therefore the walk will provide invaluable data which the decision makers wouldnt otherwise have. The Walk for Turtles event is a 10 day walk which will start, annually, on World Sea Turtle Day (16th June), in 2010 from Dungun to Kuala Besut, visiting every beach along the way (mainland and islands). The team will be collecting invaluable sea turtle data during the walk, visit conservation projects and give awareness talks. The data will be used to identify potential new areas for sea turtle nest conservation in Terengganu. The walk will be further extended in 2011 to cover all beaches in the State of Terengganu resulting in a thorough annual monitoring of sea turtle nesting densities. Raising awareness is the second objective of the walk with the team hosting presentations, meeting turtle conservation experts and visiting conservation projects. The event will be broadcast via the worldwide web, television and newspapers raising awareness throughout the world. The third objective of the walk is to raise RM100,000 for sea turtle conservation projects throughout Terengganu. The funds will be used to support sea turtle conservation in Terengganu, Malaysia.

To find out more walk for turtles

Day 2 – walking to Jambu Bongkok

Sea turtles are “ambassadors of the oceans”, for conserving these animals means protecting the seas and coastal areas. The collection of nesting numbers is vital for their conservation but has never been conducted statewide in Terengganu therefore the walk will provide invaluable data which the decision makers wouldnt otherwise have. The Walk for Turtles event is a 10 day walk which will start, annually, on World Sea Turtle Day (16th June), in 2010 from Dungun to Kuala Besut, visiting every beach along the way (mainland and islands). The team will be collecting invaluable sea turtle data during the walk, visit conservation projects and give awareness talks. The data will be used to identify potential new areas for sea turtle nest conservation in Terengganu. The walk will be further extended in 2011 to cover all beaches in the State of Terengganu resulting in a thorough annual monitoring of sea turtle nesting densities. Raising awareness is the second objective of the walk with the team hosting presentations, meeting turtle conservation experts and visiting conservation projects. The event will be broadcast via the worldwide web, television and newspapers raising awareness throughout the world. The third objective of the walk is to raise RM100,000 for sea turtle conservation projects throughout Terengganu. The funds will be used to support sea turtle conservation in Terengganu, Malaysia.

To find out more walk for turtles

Turtle populations of Terengganu

All four species of sea turtles in Terengganu are under severe pressure. Population numbers have dropped by more than 80% for Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) and for the Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles, nesting numbers are below 20 nests per year (Chan, 2006). Currently, nesting data is collected from official hatcheries who receive eggs from licensed turtle egg collectors. The current method underestimates the nesting population with the egg collectors preferring to sell the eggs at the market rather than to official hatcheries (DoF, 2008) with suggestions that only 50% of nests are sold and incubated in hatcheries (Chan, 2004). Turtle track surveys which are the most commonly used tool for collecting nesting numbers on a large scale are not presently conducted on a large scale in the State of Terengganu. On the 16th June 2010 (World Sea Turtle day), which is the middle of the nesting season, a track survey commenced starting at Tanjong Jara in the south and continued northwards to Kuala Besut lasting 10 days, surveying 200km of beach and encompassing 10 islands. A total of 106 nests, 40 false nests and 60 false crawls were recorded. Using nesting numbers from tanjung tukas, (a beach, within the survey area, where accurate nesting numbers have been recorded) annual numbers of turtle nests from the surveyed area were estimated to be in excess of 3095 with over 3795 nests for the whole of Terengganu. The survey estimates double the number of nests will be laid in 2010 than was recorded in 1999. Considering an error factor of 50% (level of eggs given to hatcheries by egg collectors) in the previous population estimates the nesting numbers can be considered similar in 1999 and 2010. Unfortunately the nesting numbers in 2010 are expected to be high, due to a natural cycle in sea turtle nesting, where some years turtles nest in high numbers and others in low numbers due to the length of migration (1-5 years) by sea turtles. The distribution of the nests suggests the basic infrastructure for sea turtle conservation is adequate with hatcheries being present at the majority of the top 20 nesting sites. Efforts however must be focused on increasing egg deposition by egg collectors. One area of concern is the 40km stretch from Merang to Bukit Keluang. WWF-Malaysia run a sea turtle hatchery in the area but numbers of nests being incubated are far lower than expected due to the project being new. Furthermore the highest density of turtle nests surveyed was 4.6nests/km/week. A medium density of turtle nests is considered to be above 7 nests/km/week (Canbolat, 2004) therefore it is clear to see that the nesting population of Terengganu is severely impoverished and conservation efforts must be increased before all four species go extinct.

The following recommendations have been made;

• Repeat survey on a regular basis (weekly) to create an accurate nesting census to measure percentage of nests being incubated;
• Different agencies (government, NGO’s, resorts and volunteers) to be responsible for surveying different sections of beach;
• Survey the entire coastline of Terengganu;
• Ground truthing to be conducted to account for human error;
• Increase the number of eggs being incubated – 100% for impoverished populations (Chan, 2006)
o Ban the sale of sea turtle eggs;
o Reduce demand for turtle eggs through education especially children;
o Increase price paid for eggs deposited in hatcheries;
• Increase efforts for turtle conservation from Merang to Bukit Keluang;

Key
Yellow Pin – Nest (data number – Width of track)
Dark Blue Pin – False Nest (data number – Width of track)
Green Pin – False Crawl (Data number – width of track)
Light Blue – Body pit no track (data number – info)
Purple Pin – Painted Terrapin Track (data number – Width of track)
White Pin – Hawksbill Carcass
White Arrows – Section markers