INFORMATION FOR VOLUNTEERS

ACHIEVEMENTS 2000

       This year was the year we finally finished La Hidalga, after eight years we have moved from cold shower heads against a hastily constructed breeze block wall to a comfortable and highly functional site- the summer started well with the completion of the Sandwell Terrace, a feature much enjoyed by all over the summer. The new office, roofed courtyards and games room, all added to the ambience as did the additional resourcing to the research room- probably the best equipped facility of its type in the Canaries now. The challenge now is to find an additional ten educational groups for the winter months to bring the site to full capacity. It is capable of creating easily 30+ local, quality jobs and will be a valuable local asset as well as an extraordinary model for similar developments elsewhere. Every block, every tile, every inch of cement and every dash of paint has the hand of a volunteer from somewhere in the world on it- that as much as anything else is the charm and warmth of La Hidlaga.
       The local project team continues to get stronger- in regards to the administration and the control of the whale watch project- we had no problems on the boats this year thanks in the main to the continuous PR job of Yasmina. Many of the projects this year were, or ended up being, co-ordinated by Canarians- the Educational Workshops with first Carolina and then Alex, the Shore Line Ecology passed over from Sue to Paco, now the most popular person on site; the Folk Lore project with Sulay- destined to be our biggest project so far; Santiago's Artesan Craft workshops. On the cetacean research projects, Paqui has been heavily involved and now assists in both training and field work. At the end of the summer, the local team moved down to La Hidalga's office- another milestone!
       The quality and range of research continues to improve. The photo identification databases for both pilot whales and bottlenose dolphin communities have been totally overhauled and extended. The picture in Log Gigantes is now particularly clear. Rose's work on the pilot whale database on population estimates is particularly interesting.
       The flagship boat impact project continues apace. Stage I is complete and we are arranging meetings with the captains to discuss its implications and progress to stage 2, which will probably have to involve access to our own boat. This is a very courageous project as we are trying to reconcile the interests of all parties involved- conservationists, whale watching industry, environment, research community, media.. and, of course the pilot whales.
       The acoustics and psychology projects are being developed. Dan's work on psychological impact of whale watching last year is to be published in the Lancet and was continued this year with a closer look at the links between depression and whale watching. The acoustics work this summer is now the focus of a funding bid for a full scale project.
       The Shore Line ecology project finally got well and truly off the ground with Sue Pyle's efforts this summer. Having identified a solid core of good sites and a rigorous methodology, we now have baseline data sets and follow up data together with a programme of data collection throughout the year. Critically, we have also identified a Canarian interested in, and capable of, running the programme- Paco, an individual who is proving particularly popular with our volunteers.
       Elsewhere on the research front, we concluded Management Survey No. 4 which Rebecca has already framed into a press release. Again this shows how much the whale watching industry is appreciated by tourists. This year we were also able to get individual reports out to each participating boat on their relative performance.
       The Marine Habitat Survey grows apace, with an ever increasing band of loyal divers and extraordinary esprit de corp. New sites were added and further data collected to last year's base line work. Additionally, work was started on a sea urchin programme and plans are afoot to launch a massive funding programme for "specialist" equipment as well as develop similar projects in Cuba, Bahrain and Qhesm (Iran!).
       Will also started an investigation to flora colonisation of lava flow of differing ages and apparently took to the habit of wandering off into the mountains for days at a time. Again, this is a project that will pull in educational groups over the winter.
       The folklore project got off to a good start with Sulay arranging herbal demonstrations, traditional dancing sessions and music. This whole area will be of enormous interest to people.
       The educational workshops were inaugurated- a series of week long sessions in villages across the island with local co-ordinators, all materials and boat trips for participating children, all funded through the projects. This is the first time such a project has been run and its success in the media will mean more interest next year but also more Canarians coming forward with ideas for their own project.
       Posters- two great posters were developed together with two flyers, for Los Gigantes and Playa/ Los Cristianos respectively. Unfortunately, lack of funds means they are at the printers still but over the course of the winter 100,000 will be produced and given out free on the whale watch boats. The fast ferry issue is the focus of the main poster and the aim is to exceed the numbers signing Greenpeace's whale sanctuary project.
       Most all of Tenerife's whale watching boats were given excellent didactic materials designed, and paid for, by the projects, and all laminated as well as up to date information on new sightings and groupings of both pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins.
       Designs for the planned Educational Centre for Playa Las Americas were drawn up in Barcelona and presented to the authorities. Fundraising is underway and it is hoped to have stage 1 complete for the Spring cetacean conference currently being organised.
       In many ways, this summer was a watershed, a platform of success from which to plan and build the future development of the projects and the ideals underpinning them. The Atlantic Whale Foundation will lead the way. It is now set up as a funding vehicle as well as a strategy centre for developing new projects and programmes.
       A large part of its funding effort will be in supporting long term scholarships 6-12 months for those of you interested in co-ordinating the programmes (and conducting research at the same time). To get the continuity of research, we need long term involvement and this must be supported. Funding will also be needed to fund an increasing number of local co-ordinators as well as financing special projects such as the Educational Centre.
       There will be a number of strategic elements within the Foundation: research, funding, educational materials, conservation, events, publicity. If you are interested in participating, let us know.
       Proyecto Ambiental Tenerife is increasingly independent and will, more and more, be going its own way- the ultimate success of everyone's efforts over the years.