Established in 1986, we have worked in 14 countries, over 17 projects, and are internationally awarded for our achievements in environmental conservation. Operating in a range of countries and ecosystems for over 30 years, we have developed impactful and efficient protocols whilst ensuring the safety and satisfaction of project participants. We work directly with local communities, resource managers and government agencies to achieve our mission;
All of our data and reports are freely available and without a pay wall. We ensure this to enable the continuation and adoption of our work as well as facilitating further efforts within our current and historic regions.
Montserrat
2013 - 2016
In 2013 CCC, in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Montserrat Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Lands, Housing and the Environment (MATLHE), established the Montserrat Ridge to Reef Conservation Project (MRRCP). The project was funded in part by the Darwin Initiative and in part by contributions from volunteers through a sustainable volunteer-financing framework.
The project had four main objectives;
- Assessment and monitoring of marine resources;
- assessment and monitoring of terrestrial resources;
- community engagement, education and awareness raising;
- and capacity building training programmes for members of the local community interested in or already working within the field of conservation.
Working with both local and UK based project partners, CCC’s work aimed to provide a more thorough understanding of the marine and terrestrial ecosystems on Montserrat to help the local community better utilise these natural resources and conserve threatened biodiversity. The long-term aim of the project was to facilitate government bodies in the establishment of a Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA).
Tobago
2007- 2011
On the invitation of the Tobago House of Assembly and in partnership with several local Non-Governmental Organisations including the Buccoo Reef Trust and Environment Tobago, the Tobago Coastal Ecosystem Mapping Project (TCEMP) was initiated in March of 2007, by Coral Cay Conservation. One of the key objectives was to collect extensive baseline and monitoring data on the health of the island’s coral reef, mangrove and seagrass habitats. Between April 2007 and June 2011, Coral Cay conducted 927 baseline surveys of the coastal marine habitats around Tobago and highlighted significant degradation of the reefs within the focus region. CCC advised on the generation of a network of MPAs and the establishment of a long-term monitoring programme.
In addition to the TCEMP, CCC also established, in collaboration with Bucco Reef Trust, the Speyside Marine Community-based Management Project that aimed to promote the adoption and implementation of some for the recommendations presented by the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) for the focus region. Efforts resulted in a comprehensive ecological database with associated
anthropogenic impacts being developed. Analysis also highlighted that the Speyside reefs had consistently high conservation management values (CMV).
Honduras
1995 - 2006
In order to build on the work and achievements of Project Utila (1995-98), the Bay Islands 2000 project, was initiated as a collaborative Honduran / British partnership project between Corporación Hondureña de Desarrollo Forestal (COHDEFOR), the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras (UNAH)
and the Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA). The project was established initially in Utila in June 1999 with the aim to:
- Undertake a systematic and detailed survey of the marine resources of Utila and provide data for the development of an integrated coastal zone management plan for the protection and sustainable utilisation of Utila’s coral reefs;
- continue and expand monitoring programmes previously established on the reefs of Utila by Project Utila;
- establish an environmental database at UNAH for the Bay Islands;
- provide SCUBA and scientific training and research opportunities for Honduran project counterparts;
- and provide conservation education opportunities for local communities.
CCC's efforts in Honduras continued until 2006, continuing to assess the region including the eastern and southern regions of the Bay Islands of Roatan.
Mexico
2004
CCC conducted a three-month ecological assessment of Sian Ka-an Biosphere Reserve in collaboration with La Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas in 2004, termed the Sian Ka'an Coral Reef Conservation Project.
The coral reefs and coastal marine habitats of the Sian Ka’an United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve were highlighted of vital national and international importance, both ecologically and economically. Over the three-month period, the project had four aims:
- To apply the recently developed regional Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System Synoptic Monitoring Program (MBRS SMP) for selected sites within the Ascension Bay area of the UNESCO SKBR. This will provide regional decision makers with up to date information on the biological condition of the local reefs.
- To collect data on the status of coral mortality and diseases to submit to the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) - United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Western Atlantic Coral Disease Database. Also, to the interactive database- www.reefbase.org.
- To use the collected data to develop a simple local environmental management plan for Pescdores de Vigia Chico’s snorkelling eco-tourism.
- To provide conservation and environmental education opportunities for the local community, particularly within the four schools of Punta Allen.
Belize
1986 - 2000
The CCC programme in Belize first started in 1986 when a small group of volunteer research scientists and divers visited the country for a three-month period to look at the effects of tourism and the fisheries industry at selected sites throughout the Belize barrier reef range. This work was repeated in successive years with more detailed studies focusing on the South Water Cay are, a location that had been designated a critical habitat by the Belize Centre for Environmental Studies.
Following numerous expeditions, CCC, encouraged by the Coastal Zone Management Unit, and other NGO operating in the region, established the "Coral Cay Conservation Belize 90'95 project". This project aimed to have trained sufficient numbers of Belizean nationals and obtain long-term support to enable Belize to become more self-sufficient in terms of marine research capacity.
Continued efforts by CCC resulted in the proposal and assessment of six Marine Protected Areas within the area, focusing efforts within the Turneffe Atol area; South Water Cay, Bacalar Chico, Sapodilla Cays, Snake Cays, Laughing Bird Cay and Caye Caulker.
Isles of Scilly
1990 - 1999
From 1990 to 1999, CCC, in collaboration with the Isles of Scilly Environmental Trust, undertook consecutive marine surveys that focused on mapping of Zostera marina
seagrass beds.
Seagrass beds were identified as being of vital importance and worth of conservation and preservation. Such ecosystems host high levels of productivity and are found in sheltered shallow marine conditions with Z. marina being considered both ecologically and economically important. Identified as being nationally scarce, the Isles of Scilly project aimed to increase the knowledge of the distribution, extent and quality of the seagrass beds in the South-West Isles. Furthermore, the project aimed to: Identify and quantify natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the beds; seek to halt any decline in Zostera
populations resulting from human influence; seek to increase the current size of the current Zostera
resource; and to raise the profile and increase public awareness of seagrass beds and their associated species.
Bing (2019) Satellite Imagery
Eritrea
Data Deficient
Thailand
2005
An extensive coral reef resource assessment study was undertaken in the Mu Ko Surin National Park, Thailand, by Coral Cay Conservation at the invitation of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Royal Thai Government. Fieldwork was undertaken during March 2005 in collaboration with staff and students from the Marine Biodiversity Research Group from Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok.
A total of 1.9 km of reef surveys were conducted at twenty-seven discreet survey sites. Both biotic and abiotic parameters of the coral reef communities as well as data on the reef fish community structure were recorded in ten meter sub-transects. Overall coral reef health in Surin Park was considered to be good. The location of the Park in an offshore area with little development affords it protection. It has however been noted by other authors that the zoning scheme in place in the Park is in need of review and restructuring.
A further study was undertaken to understand the effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami on the marine resources present.
Malaysia
2001-2006
CCC launched two projects in Malaysia; the Malaysia Reefs and Islands Conservation Project (MCRCP) and the Malaysia Tropical Forests Conservation Project (MTFCP).
Following a preparatory mission in May 2001 and project launch in March 2002, Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) and the Marine Parks Section of the Malaysian Department of Fisheries implemented a six-month pilot project in the Perhentian Islands in 2003. The pilot phase of the Malaysia Reefs and Islands Conservation Project (MCRCP), between March and August 2003, aimed to provide basic data on the marine resources of the Perhentian Islands and their status. Subject to evaluation of the outputs from this pilot project by Government and other stakeholders, the objective is for CCC to establish a more long-term presence on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia in order to provide detailed biological assessment and monitoring data, along with training, capacity building and environmental education work.
The MTFCP focused on major faunal groups: birds, mammals (non-volant), reptiles, amphibians, bats, invertebrates (butterflies), and basic vegetation assessment on Pulau Besar and Pulau Kecil. Further surveys were completed on the uninhabited islands of Susu Dara and Rawa, which are situated on the west side of P.Kecil. An additional project-phase focusing on the Seitu Wetlands was also launched.
Cambodia
2010 - 2014
Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) worked in Cambodia since 2010 at the invitation of the Fisheries Administration (FiA) of the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). Based on the island of Koh Rong, in Preah Sihanouk Province, CCC initiated the ‘Cambodia Reef Conservation Project’ (CRCP), which aimed to support the sustainable use of marine resources around Koh Rong and the nearby islands of Koh Koun and Koh Rong Sanloem. The CRCP focused on three main areas to achieve this:
- The collection, interpretation and presentation of ecological data from the coral reefs around the islands;
- building capacity for sustainable management within local communities, stakeholder groups and project partner organisations through the provision of workshops and training;
- Raising awareness for environmental issues and building support for sustainable management within local communities through engagement and education programmes.
Further research, from 2010 to 2012, alongside a Fauna & Flora International, CCC were instrumental in the establishment of Cambodia's first large-scale Marine Fisheries Management Area.
Indonesia - East Kalimantan
1998
Between January and April 1998, members of the Tanjung Bara Dive Club (part of Pt. Kaltim Prima Coal) and Coral Cay Conservation volunteers initiated the East Kalimantan Coral Reef Conservation Project (EKCRC). The aim of the EKCRC Project was to obtain baseline survey and monitoring data from coastal coral reefs within the vicinity of Sangatta and providing training and conservation education opportunities for Indonesian counterparts and local school children.
Three coral reef areas (South Marker Reef, North Marker Reef and Bengalon Reef) were surveyed in detail to produce topographical maps, describe benthic community classes and identify gross anthropogenic impacts. Rapid ecological assessments were carried out on three other reefs within the EKCRC Project area (Sangatta Reef, Miang Besar and Rita’s Reef).
The data from all six reefs were used to establish a GIS-compatible database for the area. Analysis of the data discriminated at least eight separate major benthic classes and showed that the reefs within the project area were physically and biologically diverse (particularly Bengalon Reef) and in relatively good health compared with other Southeast Asian reefs.
Indonesia - Banggai Islands
1996
In 1996 Yayasan Pengembangan Sumber Daya Laut (YSDL) and CCC initiated the Banggai Islands Conservation Project with the aim of alleviating the environmental and economic problems caused by reef degradation in the region. The project aims are to: provide marine ecology training to Indonesian counterparts; carry out baseline survey work of the marine resources; establish monitoring programmes; provide recommendations to aid the establishment of a marine protected area and establish education and alternative livelihood schemes.
The fieldwork revealed a diverse ecosystem that has received significant damage, in particular from destructive and over fishing. All nine REA sites contained areas that were either destroyed, in a poor state or showed signs of established regrowth following damage.
Similarly to the REA sites, the sites surveyed in detail showed considerable human impact with the benthic class "green algae and hard corals" common at all sites. Areas of dead coral were also found and there were few reef areas without signs of destructive fishing. The only areas which appeared to have low levels of human impact were the steep escarpments of Tolumbakan, an offshore atoll away from fishing communities. A preliminary fish species list was compiled during the fieldwork and 438 species sightings, including the endemic Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) were confirmed.
Philippines -Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project
2002 -2020
Launched in 2002, the Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project (LRCP) trained teams of volunteers, staff and scholars in coral reef monitoring techniques whilst building capacity and implemented crucial educational programmes.
We were the first NGO to provide a complete ecological assessment of the coastal waters of Sogod Bay and Panaon Island, establish over 10 Marine Protected Areas and demonstrate that, where resources are low, small-scale protection can serve as an effective tool in protection and restore coral reef function.
The project ended with phase III (2018-2020) when volunteers returned to previously surveyed areas, focusing on areas with recently established MPA status. The efficacy of protection was compared using data a Before-After-Control-impact study.
To read more about our most recent historic project click here.
Philippines - Danjugan Island
1994 - 2004
CCC's efforts on Danjugan Island, Negros Occidental, resulted in two projects; Philippine Reef and Rainforest Project (1994), and the Danjugan Island Biodiversity Survey (2001 - 2004).
The Philippines Reef and Rainforest Project was launched, in collaboration with the Philippines Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCFI)
and the World Land Trust (WLT)
and aimed to provide biodiversity conservation, restoration and education programmes for Danjugan Island and adjacent coastal areas.
The multiple terrestrial biodiversity assessments of Danjugan Island, also in collaboration with PRRCFI, focused on the diversity and distribution of Avian and Bat species studying ecological shifts over time. Furthermore, in-depth studies were undertaken on the mangrove communities present in the lagoon systems surrounding Danjugan Island. The results of the terrestrial surveys highlighted an increase in the bird inventory record, with several new bird species recorded, including three endemics and two IUCN red listed species; the Pink-bellied Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula poliocephala) and the Rufous-lored Kingfisher (Halcyon winchelli).
Project efforts produced numerous internal and external publications as well as peer-reviewed publications.
Philippines - North Negros Occidental
2000
The Negros Rainforest Conservation Project (NRCP) was a joint programme, established in 2000, of cooperative research, education and training between the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation Inc. (NFEFI) and Coral Cay Conservation.
The aims and objectives of the NRCP are outlined as follows:
- To obtain base-line quantitative data on the biodiversity of the fauna and flora of the NNFR, to create resource maps and an environmental database for the region.
- To conduct complimentary field-based research into the habitat requirements and ecology of the species currently included in the NFEFI captive breeding programme, the objective of which is to produce guidelines for effective forest management to aid in-situ conservation of specific species.
- To provide suitable education materials and programmes to improve environmental awareness amongst local communities, to offer training opportunities to host country counterparts in biodiversity assessment & management and to provide non-destructive alternative livelihood opportunities through the development of eco-tourism and sustainable forestry practices.
- To produce integrated community-driven management plans for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biodiversity in the region.
The results of the baseline survey work contributed vital information for the development of sustainable management recommendations for the area of the NNFR.
Philippines - Southern Negros
1997 - 2001
The Southern Negros Coastal Development Programme (SNCDP) was an initiative of the regional government to encourage the conservation and sustainable use of their natural resources. The Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCFI)
and
CCC collaborated within this programme to provide an accurate baseline assessment of the coral reefs in the region. The project aimed to obtain monitoring data from reefs and forests and provide community organising and training, conservation education opportunities for Filipino counterparts and alternative livelihoods in the communities.
From 1997 to 1999, CCC undertook baseline studies on the Munciaplity of Sipalay with further studies in 2000-2001 in the Muncipality of Hinoba-an. Both studies resulted in various Marine Spatial Managements in the form of protected areas. A total of 4 recommendations were provided for Sipalay and a subsequent 3 proposed for Hinoba-an.
Papua New Guinea
2006 - 2009
The Waria Valley Community Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods Programme was initiated by CCC, supported by the Darwin Initiative, as a result of discussions with PNG collaborators regarding community conservation. The project was therefore designed in response to requests from the local partners, including the local communities of Waria Valley, to address ecosystem management, biodiversity assessments, education and training and sustainable livelihoods with the aim to achieve local sustainable development based on benefits derived for local landowners from local forest biodiversity.
The projects three key purposes were to a) undertake biodiversity assessments of the Waria Valley; b) initiate alternative sustainable livelihood options for the community and c) provide biodiversity training and environmental education. All three of these purposes were achieved within the time-frame of the project.
The overall project purpose was to achieve local sustainable development based on benefits derived for local landowners from local forest biodiversity and the basis for this was achieved. The establishment of a small-scale saw milling operation initiated under the project provided monetary benefits for those landowners involved, as with eco-tourism components. The reforestation programme had a long-term benefit for those landowners involved in it and other livelihood schemes provided protein and an income for those involved which indirectly contributes to alleviating pressure on the local forest biodiversity.
Fiji
2000 - 2005
Following two technical preparatory missions (December 2000 and March 2001), CCC and local Fijian counterparts decided to implement a three-month pilot project entitled ‘Mamanuca Coral Reef Conservation Project – Fiji 2001’ (MCRCP). The resounding success of the MCRCP led to the commencement of the full CCC project in the Mamanucas region, named the Fiji Coral Reef Conservation Project (FCRCP), in March 2002. A three-year Memorandum of Agreement was signed by CCC and The Ministry for Tourism (formerly the Ministry of Tourism and Transport) of Fiji in order to carry out a more comprehensive and detailed survey programme, whilst also expanding the environmental education and awareness work amongst the local communities of the Mamanucas Islands.
In addition, CCC also established the Yasawa Island Coral Reef Conservation Project that aimed to undertake a series of baseline surveys on and around Nacula Island towards an understanding of the condition of the coral reef resources in the areas. Various education and capacity building initiatives also accompanied these surveys.
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