Showing Off the Island

One of the things I really enjoy about being an expat is having the opportunity to show others exactly why I live here. I had just that opportunity when my friend and fellow Foundation for Coral Restoration board member visited for a week. It was enough time to see at least a lot of the North Coast. I think I might have tired her out, though!

Sunsets are only one of the exquisite things about living here!

First and foremost, we visited Fundacion Ecologica Magua, Manuel’s marine unicorn station dedicated to restoring coral reefs, not only here on the North Coast, but in other locations as well. He has done a magnificent job of bringing back reefs in Sosua Bay, but sadly they are still a shadow of what they once were, due largely to over fishing and pollution. The good news, though, is that this season’s coral spawning and assisted fertilization in the lab is providing literally thousands and thousands of “recruits,” young coral that can then be planted in the sea and monitored through their growth cycles. Hard to tell what the outcome will be, but I believe in the next several years, we will see a huge increase in coral population here.

These are coral recruits seen under magnification. You can see the calcification beginning. Did you know coral are part of the same family as jellyfish?

Trekking to Costambar. From left to right, Amy, me, Deborah, Manuel

We also trekked to Costambar, a bay about an hour from Sosua, where Deborah has done an unbelievable job of creating underwater structures that not only enhance coral growth but also attract fish and other marine life critical to the ecosystem. She’s done this all pretty much on her own, with the help of some of the locals. She’d love to be able to do even more … but funding is required to take her work to the next level.

Santos has been a great help to Deborah in her work!

For Amy, these two visits, I believe, were a good foundation of learning for her work on our Board. Next step will be to lay out a structure for a website, execute it, and then hopefully be able to start looking for grants, other fundraising mechanisms, and educational opportunities. We’re engaging the rest of the board to get their important advice and input as we move forward into the next phase … as well insight from four scientific advisors who have joined our cause … more on that later.

If you are interested in coral restoration and would like to help, we’d love to have your support!

Back to showing off the island, when you live in a place, it’s hard to not get jaded and take too much for granted. When I am able to share this beautiful island with a visitor, fresh eyes help me remember exactly why I’m here. I’m not saying it’s perfect here; no place is, really. But I do feel very lucky to be able to enjoy the beauty of this place. Every. Single. Day.

Thanks, Amy, for helping me renew my gratitude and continue to appreciate and enjoy all the great things about living here!