Transcript SI - Who are We?

Who are we?
• Sirenian International is a grassroots network
of volunteers who share a dedication to
sirenian conservation
• A Partnership of Participating & Supporting
Members dedicated to the
Only 4 Extant Species
Photo (c) Gisela Rothauscher
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
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Amazonian manatee
West Indian manatee
West African manatee
dugong
History
1998
1999
2000
2001
2001
Concept visualized
Networking; gathering at SMM
Incorporation/BOD/SAC
IRS 501(c)(3) status
Awarded our First Grant
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Organizing Board of Directors
• Sarita Kendall, Colombia,
The Omacha Foundation
• Katherine S. LaCommare,
USA, University of Mass,
Boston
• Renata Santoro de Sousa
Lima, Brazil, Laboratorio de
Mamiferos Aquaticos – INPA
• Tamra Gilbertson, USA,
Washington, DC
• Ester Quintana Rizzo,
Guatemala, University of
South Florida
• Angela K. Sullivan, USA,
Fredericksburg, VA
• Nicole Auil, Belize, Coastal
Zone Management Institute
& Authority, Texas A&M
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
• Caryn Self Sullivan, USA,
Texas A&M University
Scientific Advisory Council
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Robert K. Bonde, Ct. E.S., USGS Sirenia Project, Gainesville, Florida
Gregory Bossart, Ph.D., VMD, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida
Daryl P. Domning, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy, Howard University,
Washington, D.C.
Helene Marsh, Ph.D., School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography,
James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, Ph.D., Caribbean Stranding Network,
Universidad Metropolitana, Puerto Rico
Jane M. Packard, Ph. D., Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Cameron Shaw, , Endangered Species Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Jacksonville, Florida
Jim Valade, , Endangered Species Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Jacksonville, Florida
Graham A. J. Worthy, Ph. D., Provost's Distinguished Research Professor of
Biology and Hubbs-Sea World Professor of Marine Mammalogy; Director,
Physiological Ecology and Bioenergetics Lab, Department of Biology, University
of Central Florida
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Charter Contributors
We thank the following people for their generous donations
during our organizational process:
• Scott Carl, Alliance Computer Systems, Myrtle
Beach, SC
• John Patrick Sullivan, Artist, Fredericksburg, VA
• Tim Hayes & Bill Gray, Hunton & Williams Law
Firm, Richmond, VA
• Peter Gadient & Maija Gadient-Heberlein, Cape
Coral, FL
• Sue Otto, Fairview Park, OH
• Thomas W. Evans, Richmond, VA
• Jane M. Packard, College Station, TX,
in Honor of Martin Packard
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Our Motivation
All four extant species of the order Sirenia are
threatened or endangered, yet . . .
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Well funded research, education, and
conservation projects exist mostly in a few
industrialized nations
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But, most sirenians inhabit less-developed
nations where resources are limited
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Motivation (con’t)
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There is a strong and emerging
conservation ethic in many of these
countries
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The public is an untapped source of
funding for sirenian conservation
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Most people, even those who are
concerned with marine conservation, don’t
know what a seacow is!
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Our Goals are 3-fold
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Research
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Education
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Conservation
Photo (c) Katie LaCommare
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Research Goals
To foster, promote, and support
scientific research related to
manatees & dugongs
Focus on populations in developing
nations where resources are
severely limited
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Education Goals
To facilitate exchange of information
among scientists, students,
regulatory agencies, NGOs, and
concerned citizens
To promote effective communication
about science & conservation to
diverse audiences
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Conservation Goals
To support conservation efforts by
local people in developing nations
To provide scientific data to local
decision makers concerned with
manatee & dugong conservation
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Accomplishments to Date
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Dynamic Website
Mermaid Ambassador Program
Educational Outreach Exhibit
Awarded our First Grant!
Created LISTSERV
Electronic Newsletter
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
http://www.sirenian.org
Developed Internet website designed to:
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Promote networking among scientists,
educators, and conservationists
(SIRENIAN; Bibliography; Links )
Provide educational materials to diverse
audiences (SirenianVoice; Intro; Links)
Raise funds for research, conservation,
and educational projects (memberships;
gift shop)
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Ambassador Program
Developed Mermaid Ambassador Program
designed to raise funds and educate the
public about the Order Sirenia
Our Ambassadors are:
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Elandra – dugong
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Maya – Antillean manatee
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Yara – Amazonian manatee
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Bahari – West African manatee
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Conch – Florida manatee
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Educational Outreach Exhibit
Developed a “traveling road show” – an
educational outreach exhibit for primary
and secondary school age children. It
features a manatee skull, ribs, and flipper
assembly and a fixed brain, which are on
loan from the MMPL and UFL; an
interactive question box, video from FL
FWCC and Endangered Mermaids, and
handouts printed by Sirenian International
and the FL FWC.
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
Awarded our first Grant!
Dugong research project coordinated by
British Conservationist - Nick Cox, in Con
Dao National Park, Southern Vietnam.
This has enabled the initiation of much
needed research on a previously unsurveyed endangered population of
dugongs, and will hopefully lead to
further interest in the study of dugongs
elsewhere in Southern Vietnam and the
surrounding region.
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
In the Pipeline
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DATABASE
Multilingual Website (Kana Aketa)
An online education module that
incorporates Standards of Learning
An endorsement program for Participating
Members
WISH LIST: What does our membership
see as our role in the International
Conservation of Sirenians?
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.
We invite you to JOIN US!
Sirenian International is dedicated to intercultural collaboration. Please join us as a
Participating or Supporting Member!
• When: Today!
• Where:
http://www.sirenian.org/membership.html
• $$ How much: No fee for Participating
members – just information about your
project. Supporting memberships from $10
(c) 2001 Sirenian International, Inc.