Fishes came back around healthy corals in July 2010 due to the improvement of the corals ecology after our conservation work

The coast in Hepu county is an area with the most diversified species of coral reefs in China. The ecology has been worsening and the number and varieties of coral reefs have been declining along the western part of the Hepu coast extending about 5 miles in recent years, although some conservation achievements has been achieved along the eastern Hepu coast with 1st RSG support. This project will make a survey of coral reefs along the western Hepu coast and provide conservation education to the local communities and change local people’s unsustainable economic activities.

Corals grow in unpolluted ocean water along the western Hepu coast in Jul 2010 after our conservation work

With your 2nd grant support, we will be able to take the following methods to realize our educational and conservational goals within an expanded geographical area where more coral reefs need our conservation. A complete underwater survey of coral reefs along the western Hepu coast will be conducted to take a comprehensive video record of the current coral reef ecology and the updated data of coral reefs will be used to make educational materials such as posters and VCD for distribution among local communities along the western Hepu coast consisting of 826 families covering fishermen and school students at all levels.

Local communities will be gradually aware of the harm of their current breeding and fishing activities and learn and grasp the technology and necessity of sustainable aquatic breeding and fishing through supervised practice under the direction of my team and on-site visits and learning along the eastern Hepu coast where significant coral reef conservation achievements and sustainable economic development models has been established under the support of our 1st RSG. Staffs from local governmental agencies of environmental protection will also be involved to make pertinent presentations of legal aspects of nature conservation to local communities.

Hopefully, the whole Hepu coast will become an environmentally beautiful place with sustainable conservation of coral reels and communities development.