Operation Wallacea 4253264 215584129 2008-05-28T21:01:47Z Pro bug catcher 1176750 Repairing link to disambiguation page - [[Wikipedia:Disambiguation pages with links|You can help!]] [[Image:OpWall Logo.JPG|thumb|right|500px|Operation Wallacea Logo.]] '''Operation Wallacea''' is an international not for profit conservation agency that operates scientific, [[volunteer]]-led [[wildlife]] [[Conservation ecology|conservation]] expeditions to several regions of special ecological importance globally. Volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and professions to assist with academic [[research]], and the conservation projects, in partnerships with local communities and NGO's. At present, Operation Wallacea (also known as [[OpWall]] or [[Opwall]]) works within 5 different countries world wide; [[Indonesia]], [[Honduras]], [[Cuba]], [[Egypt]], [[South Africa]], and more recently, the [[Amazon Rainforest]] in [[Peru]]. It receives funding from charitable donations, and volunteers paying to join expeditions. This facilitates research, and the conservation projects themselves, which are "self-funded" and do not heavily rely upon money paid by the governments, often unavailable, and if not, of difficulty to attain. Many projects focus on the co-operation with the local communities to set up alternative and sustainable sources of income to those that may be impacting heavily upon their environment. For example, the promotion of [[Ecotourism]] and [[Fair trade]] crops as a lucrative alternative to illegal logging or hunting within protected areas or reserves, as grass roots strategies to combat the inadequacies of global economics. Depending on the country, Opwall normally operates both [[marine (ocean)|marine]] and terrestrially based research expeditions, with a variety of research themes, whether they be [[biology|biological]], [[geological]], [[geographic]] or [[social science]] projects. <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:OpWall_Sites_2006.JPG|thumb|right|400px|Countries where Operation Wallacea is currently researching. From left to right and highlighted in red: Honduras, Cuba, South Africa, Egypt and Indonesia (Sulawesi only). ]] --> ==History== [[Image:Alfred Russel Wallace.jpg|thumb|left|500px|Alfred Russel Wallace.]] Operation Wallacea first started operating expeditions to South East [[Sulawesi]], Indonesia in 1995. This region is known as the [[Wallacea]] region, after the work of [[Alfred Russel Wallace]] and the creation of [[Wallace's line]]. It is from this scientifically important area that Operation Wallacea took its name. This region was specifically chosen for three reasons: a) Its incredible [[biodiversity]] and scientific importance b) Increasing pressure and [[anthropogenic]] impact on important [[habitats]] c) Lack of conservation and research effort in this region Much of Opwall's early work was concentrated in the Wakatobi archipelago, conducting volunteer-led rapid assessments of large areas. This baseline data allowed the identification of key areas in need of urgent protection. This work resulted in the establishment of the Wakatobi Marine National Park in 1996, the second largest marine park in Indonesia, and protection of the Lambusango rainforests on the island of Buton. [[Image:Wallace's line.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Wallace's line.]] Much of this early work concentrated on establishing research bases on both the rainforest and marine sites, and providing partner Indonesian NGO's with much needed data for the development of legislation and continued management of protected areas. In 2003 Operation Wallacea's success in Indonesia attracted the attention of NGO's in Honduras. The result was the creation of new research sites in both the [[cloud forest]]s of mainland Honduras and the [[coral reef]] clad islands of los [[Cayos Cochinos]]. 2004 saw the start of expeditions to the [[Sinai Peninsula]] in Egypt and 2006 was the first year of expeditions to South Africa and Cuba. Operation Wallacea provides opportunities for groups of young students worldwide to take part in their activities. ==Research Sites== The following is a brief summary of the different countries and sites that Operation Wallacea is currently sending expeditions to. '''Sulawesi, Indonesia:''' Est 1995. Partner Organisations: LIPI, WNP, [[GEF]], IIS, TNKW, WDI, LFCP. Terrestrial Sites: [[Lambusango]] [[rain forest]] and Labundo Bundo [[Township]], [[Buton]] Marine Sites: ''Pulau'' [[Hoga]] and [[Kaledupa]] of the [[Wakatobi]] archipelago. Main threats: Illegal logging, illegal hunting, mining, destructive fishing techniques, [[over-fishing]]. Responses: Alternative sources of income, [[Forest ranger|Ranger]] bonuses, education, [[zonation]] schemes, stakeholder zones, [[mariculture]]. '''Honduras:''' Est 2003. Partner Organisations: AFE-COHDEFOR, HCRF, BICA. Terrestrial Sites: Paraiso Valley and Cusuco National Park Marine Sites: [[Cayos Cochinos]] (2003) and [[Utila]] (2006) Main threats: Illegal logging, illegal hunting, previous [[Hurricane]] damage, excess [[runoff]] and high [[nutrient]] levels, poaching. Responses: Alternative sources of income, education, zonation schemes, Fair trade crop schemes, long-term [[monitoring]]. '''Sinai, Egypt:''' Est 2004. Partner Organisations: [[UNDP]], British Council, EEAA. Terrestrial Sites: St Katherine's Protectorate Marine Sites: Ras Mohammad National Park Main threats: Hunting, increased water [[abstraction]], unregulated [[tourism]]. Responses: Alternative sources of income, education, long-term monitoring, development of new monitoring techniques. '''Cuba:''' Est 2006. Partner Organisations: [[University of Havana]] Terrestrial Sites: Guanahacabibes Biosphere Reserve Marine Sites: Various sites around Cuba aboard the University of Havana's Marine [[Research Vessel]] Main threats: Previous Hurricane damage, over fishing, [[poaching]] Responses: Alternative sources of income, education, long-term monitoring, development of new monitoring techniques. '''South Africa:''' Est 2006. Partner Organisations: Wildlands Conservation Trust, GSLWP authority, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Terrestrial Sites: uMkhuze, Greater St. Lucia Wetland Reserve Marine Sites: Sodwana Bay, Greater St. Lucia Wetland Reserve Main threats: Previous problems with poaching, habitat degradation and unknown species diversity or [[extinction]] risks Responses: Base line studies and development of long-term monitoring for park management. ==External links== * [http://www.opwall.com Operation Wallacea] * [http://www.cayoscochinos.org HCRF] * [http://www.lipi.go.id LIPI] * [http://www.cohdefor.hn AFE-COHEDEFOR] * [http://www.bica-utila.org BICA] * [http://www.eeaa.gov.eg EEAA] * [http://www.ngo.grida.no/soesa/nsoer/resource/wetland/index.htm South African Wetlands Conservation Program] * [http://www.undp.org UNDP] * [http://www.gefweb.org GEF] {{Expand|date=January 2007}} [[Category:Environmental organizations]] [[Category:International nongovernmental organizations]] [[Category:Conservation]] [[Category:Conservation projects]] [[Category:Environment of Cuba]] [[Category:Environment of Honduras]]