newsletter of the CARMABI foundation - Liveincuracao.com

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Ingvar Debrot showing some of the preparationshe helped with in an effort to ready theinstitute for the fast-approaching hurricaneFelix (Saturday, 1 September, 2007).CARMABI newsHurricane readinessThe Carmabi institute representsmore than 50 years of investmentin materials references,equipment, resources andscientific infrastructure, much ofit donated. As such it is importantto protect the totality frompotential natural calamities suchas hurricanes. On Friday the 31stof August it had become clearthat hurricane Felix (category 1but growing rapidly in strength)was heading more or less straightto the the Leeward Dutch islandsand precautionary measureswere called for. On Saturday,September 1st Stanley Criens andson Rainier and Dolfi with sonIngvar spent 4 hours hammeringboards, taping windows, movingvaluable equipment to safe roomsand putting loose items in windprotectedareas. On Friday theboats had already been movedinto the sheltered PiscaderaBay and heavy tree branchesthat could cause structuraldamage to the building had beensawed down. On the morningof Sunday, September the 2ndFelix passed the island at shortdistance but fortunately left theisland unscathed. Recent yearshave seen several close calls onhurricanes menacing Curaçao andin the near future Carmabi willcome with measures to reduce itsvulnerability to hurricane damage,including the development of ahurricane protocol.A properly functioningadministration is vital to anyorganization. To this endseveral measures have beentaken this year to reinforce theorganization’s administrativecapabilities. Purchases were madeof a new laptop and scanner forthe administration. New ExactGlobe software was purchasedand our administrator EllaUpgrading Administrative capacityreceived two days of training inits use. Janie de Windt was takeninto temporary service as anadministrative assistant to helpreduce some of the administrativebacklog. She will be with us for atleast several more months. Nexton schedule will be to purchaseand install internal networkcapabilities and a program forthe administration of fixed assets(E-Activa). Special thanks goto treasurer Peter Bongers forquite intensively coaching theadministration towards moreeffective procedures and forhelping to implement measurespreviously recommended by ourauditors. He has spent many hourstogether with the administrationtowards streamlining working andreporting procedures.Carmabi’s academic programtogether with the UNA, openedin July 2007 with a one-weekworkshop on Mariculture and aten-day workshop on TropicalMarine Biology and Environment.Interest in the workshops camefrom the USA, Japan, Europe,Caribbean countries and Curaçao.The two workshops were lead bytop scientists and both workshopswere accredited by UNA.Summer workshops have met their expectationsThe workshop SUSTAINABLEMARICULTURE of FISH &CRUSTACEANS was instructedby Prof. Dr. Sheenan Harpazfrom Israel. This workshopaimed at understanding theinteractions between maricultureand the environment in a mannerthat will help the protection oftropical marine ecosystems whileenabling the production of fishand crustaceans. Issues addressed10were sustainable mariculturemethods, feed inputs and properfeed utilization to reduce costs andreduce environmental impacts.Participants in the workshopincluded people from governmentservices, the private sector andNGO sector in Curaçao.The workshop MARINEBIOLOGY ANDENVIRONMENT was instructedby Dr. Sean Lema from the
CARMABI newsSummer workshops have met their expectations (continued)USA. The workshop was anintensive introductory programon tropical marine biology andcovered aspects of the physicalproperties of tropical marinesystems, coastal ecosystems(coral reefs, sea grass habitats andmangroves), reef fishes (ecologyand behavior), environmentalimpacts and conservation, andfield survey methods. Participantsin the workshop included studentsof the UNA and local highschools, Columbia University(USA), national park staff fromSTINAPA-Bonaire, and localgovernment agencies.The workshops, their syllabi,organization, learning conditionsand instructors were highlyscored by the combined total of21 participants. While the courseswere run at a net financial lossto Carmabi, they did signify agreat and encouraging kick-offfor the academic and vocationaltraining program. In 2007 and2008 Carmabi will conduct andfacilitate at least two coursesof the University of Illinois,as well as workshops on suchtopics as Marine Biology andEcology, Mariculture, AquacultureDevelopment Planning and WaterManagement in Semi-Arid Areas.Regular sightings of the rare scaly-naped pigeon at CarmabiFor the last two years, includingseveral times as recent asSeptember 2007, a number of therare scaly-naped pigeon have beenseen during the early morninghours in the tall manchineel treesat the institute at Piscadera Bay.The scaly-naped pigeon, Columbasquamosa, is locally known asthe blauwduif. The bird is veryrare in Curaçao but this may bechanging. A growing number ofrecent sightings by Dr. Debrot inwood lots near residential areassuch as Julianadorp, De Savaan,the Kura Hulanda hotel groundsat Playa Kalki, and even onesighting each at Girouette andSeru Domi are interpreted as apositive sign heralding a gradualrecovery of the species on theisland. The blauwduif is a pigeonthat is quite wary, especiallyduring nesting, and dependsprincipally on native wild berriesfor food. As agricultural activitieshave drastically decreased inrecent decades (grazing andthe felling of trees), woodlandsaround the island have beengradually recovering. Recentdecades have also seen huntingfor sport decline precipitously asenvironmental consciousness hasgrown. These are probably thereasons underlying the apparentcomeback of this species. Thisis good news considering thefact that the species has alreadybeen extirpated on Aruba in the1950s due to a combination ofhunting and habitat loss due todeforestation.A Blauwduif (Columbasquamosa) sitting on top ofone of the Machineel treeson the CARMABI premises atPiscaderabay.Note the fiery red patcharound the bill and the rednaked skin around the eyesthat give the bird a particularlook. The slade-blue hue onthe feathercoat are reason forthe name.Picture by mr. Drs. L Pors11
Page 1 and 2: 5th Year number 2 April-June 2007Bi
Page 3 and 4: CARMABI newsAssociate researcher Dr
Page 5 and 6: CARMABI newsCARMABI Clear Water Cha
Page 7 and 8: CARMABI newsNew members on the CARM
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Page 15 and 16: Education/ CARMABI newsEDUCATIONNew

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