For the past 15 years, Reef
Relief has been headquartered at the Reef Relief Environmental Center
in Key West, Florida, and efforts are underway to expand that facility.
The Captain Roberts House will provide a headquarters for Reef Relief
programs in the Bahamas. "Reef Relief has installed reef mooring
buoys and created a coral nursery near Green Turtle Cay, the sister
city to Key West. In addition to maintaining the buoys and monitoring
the nursery, we want to expand our educational activities in Abaco.
This is the perfect opportunity to establish a home base for these efforts!"
noted Reef Relief Board member Linda Odum, a part-time resident and
property owner in Green Turtle Cay.
The Architectural Preservation
Foundation of New Plymouth has offered Reef Relief a 5 year lease at
a cost of $10,000 per year to establish an environmental education center
at the historic Captain Roland Roberts House in New Plymouth. The classic
Bahamian two-story house in New Plymouth will be historically restored
by the foundation. The first floor will feature a visitor center open
to the public, operated and staffed by the foundation. The Foundation
will display exhibits and information about Green Turtle Cay. Reef Relief
will mount displays and provide materials for the general public to
increase their awareness and support for protecting coral reefs. A classroom
will be set up for regional student education activities. The upstairs
and rear structures on the property will provide office space and lodging
for visiting scientists, other educational organizations, and interested
parties.
"The establishment
of the Captain Robert's House will enable Reef Relief to expand coral
reef educational programs in the Abaco area of the Bahamas--an area
that is growing fast. The increasing activity on land and in the ocean
is affecting the coral reefs here," noted Reef Relief's Executive
Director DeeVon Quirolo." Education is the key to insuring the
health of the marine environment in the future.
During the recent Reef
Relief Board of Directors Advance, the directors approved establishment
of an environmental education center and research facility at the Captain
Roland Roberts House in New Plymouth, Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos,
Bahamas.
The Reef Relief board of
directors, led by board member Linda Odum, has agreed to launch a campaign
goal of $50,000 to fund the establishment of the Captain Robert's House.
"We will seek support from individuals, businesses, and grants
to meet this goal. The funds will be used to furnish the house, create
educational displays and materials, launch an educational program for
local school students and establish a schedule of use by other interested
parties. Scientists will be able to use the facility to support research
on coral reefs in the Abacos as well. It's very exciting," noted
Ms. Odum.
Peter Anderson, self-proclaimed
Secretary General of the Conch Republic in Key West, has made the first
donation to the fund. In addition, Disney Conservation Grant Funds have
been earmarked for the project and for the buoy program in Abaco. Florida
Yacht Charters is organizing a raffle for the Miami Boat Show that will
benefit Reef Relief programs in Florida and the Bahamas. West Marine
Products recently donated $2000 to the Green Turtle Cay buoy program.
For more information or to become a part of the project, contact Reef
Relief.
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