Evolution is the fundamental idea in all of life science

So, 2016 is just around the corner and we are now looking at the future of Blue Temple in a whole new light. After two years running voluntourism in Pulau Perhentian, we have decided to step back and make some exciting changes!

‘Sustainability through Conservation and Research’ is the new tagline for the project. The data collected over the last two years has put us in a fantastic position to drive forward and start to make a difference on the island.

We believe there is nothing quite like science driven conservation and the facts speak loudly now and our hope is that we can expand that science with new research (Human-Environment relations, Coral Nurseries, into the Jungle surveys and maybe even some Shark genetics!).

All this research will be accompanied by our new sustainable tourism approach where we will be targeting a Plastic Free island through removing one use plastic bottle consumption (refillable bottles and stations anyone?), increased awareness and tourists who care!

We know it is a long, challenging road, and not everyone will get on board. But our focus will be targeting resorts and putting up banners and posters to permanently make people think before they buy that new bottle.

Every small act can make a huge difference if done for the right people. Let’s do something special.

 #PlasticFreePerhentian

Butts in our Sand

Since our World Oceans Day celebration on June 6^th, we have focused on keeping a log of all our beach clean ups. You might have seen our fairly regular Facebook updates highlighting how much we found during each clean up. So far, the level of plastic found has been fairly consistent, averaging around the 40% - 45% mark.

Of course, plastic has been in our sights recently due to the sheer volume of it, the constant concerns over plastic in the food chain and its ability to clog up the guts of many marine species. However, this is not why I write this post. Since we started collecting data, it has become painfully clear that the most common (and probably smallest) items we find are cigarette butts. In total, we have collected 2,440 butts over 7 beach clean ups. Of those, 569 were collected from the beach in the village, a 281m long beach that we have cleaned 4 times since 6^th June. Teluk Keke, a popular snorkel tour stop and campsite was second with 404 butts collected in one morning, whilst Long Beach saw 1,233 butts collected in a 2 hour clean up.

A remarkable amount of cigarettes, but not a surprising amount, especially in beach areas. Sand makes a particularly good ash tray and quick for discarding cigarettes when finished. However, whilst people probably realise and understand the risks of smoking to themselves (And perhaps others around them), many will not realise the dangers of cigarettes can have on the environment.

This is not a new report, but the importance of it has been highlighted to us through the very high number of butts found on the islands. A study, conducted by Slaughter et al (2011) found that a cigarette butt in 1 litre of water leached enough toxins to kill fish living in that water. Of course, it could be argued that the amount of water in the sea is so huge that the amount of cigarettes required to make a difference is infinite, however, considering we collected 2,440 in about 10 hours, and the World Lung Foundation estimated 43 trillion cigarettes were smoked between 2002 and 2012, there is an almighty amount of water that could be damaged, even from cities, where rainwater and drainage run off can reach the seas.

It is difficult, and scary, to consider that one cigarette butt, improperly disposed of, could kill a fish. Remember, if you smoke; Stash it. Don’t Trash it.

International Day for Biological Diversity

Today, we celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity, a bit of a mouthful, but an important day to reflect on our environments, ecosystems and biological surroundings and to understand their importance. As I write this, I sit on a tropical island, surrounded by rainforests, white sandy beaches and stunning coral reef environments. So it is perhaps very easy for me to sit and talk about the importance and value of these systems and their biological diversity, but if you spend a few minutes to think about the environment you live in, I am sure you will find equally important links.

2015’s theme is ‘Biodiversity for Sustainable Development’. When people think of biodiversity and development together, they usually see it as development destroying biodiversity (the eco-warrior view) or biodiversity preventing development (the corporation view). In reality, there is no reason why the two things cannot work together, technology has advanced to a stage where there is no reason we can’t accommodate biodiversity in our lives and development; Sustainable Development.

To understand what sustainable development is, we first need to know what sustainable means. The most commonly used definition is taken from ‘Our Common Future’ (1987) states:

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

Within this, they consider two key notions, firstly the notion of ‘needs’, particularly those of the world’s poorest, to which key consideration should be given. Secondly the notion of limitations felt by technology and society on the ability for the environment to meet said needs.

As I already said, it is very easy for me to consider biological diversity where I am due to the very obvious importance of the ecosystems and development for the local community. There are inherent links between the local community and the biological diversity of the islands. The relationships between development, society and the environment are complicated and difficult, which just further highlights the importance of considering sustainable development.

So this highly scientific and complicated looking image clearly took hours of research and time to develop…Ok fine, it didn't, but it can quickly highlight the relationships and importance of sustainable development within the Perhentian Islands.

The community rely, predominantly, on tourism to remain economically sustainable. Tourism, in turn relies on a number of factors, resorts, rainforests coral reefs and turtles. A simple questionnaire we conducted last year showed that 60% (n 274) of tourists wanted to see a turtle, whilst 80% said they had already, or planned to go on a snorkel tour during their stay. Both of these aspects highlight the importance of biological diversity through the importance of the presence of coral reefs and turtles for sustainable development. In order to develop the islands, there must always be a consideration for these aspects, including the threats (Sedimentation, over fishing, waste management) that come hand in hand with development and deforestation.

Why is biological diversity important in a coral reef you ask? Let’s look at the well-researched and complicated diagram below to help us understand…

The image that was carefully put together above highlights the varied intricacies found within an ecosystem. This is a highly simplified diagram, so please do not take it as absolute. We can see that Fish are involved in many interactions, which is because this category includes numerous species with varying behaviours! 

Parrotfish, Butterflyfish, Damsel fish and other grazers can often be found eating algae from the reef, without them, the algae would be given too much of a free reign and could over grow the reef, smothering corals (not feeding on, just smothering), a similar scenario could exist if nutrient levels were to increase excessively, such as an area where no proper sewerage were present and waste flowed or leeched directly into the sea. Likewise, excessive removal of predator species at the top of the food chain, can result in explosions in the fish category, meaning reduced levels of invertebrates and algae.

Ecosystems are carefully balanced and naturally fluctuate annually and seasonally, but in areas where development is occurring, like Perhentian, it is vital that it is competed sustainably, considering the long term implications and careful management of the biological diversity in-line with the societal and economic success. 

Litter in our Oceans; Blue Temple Earth Hour initiative

Litter is something so regularly discussed on the internet and by us that is hardly seems useful mentioning again. However, the last few weeks have seen a huge effort from the volunteers and team to get as much litter and trash cleaned up as we can.

Litter comes in many shapes, sizes and forms. Perhaps the most damaging and long-lasting type is plastic. Plastic is a (mostly) synthetic product, often derived from petrochemical processes and materials, resulting in a light, cheap and easy to produce material which has become one of the most commonly used materials for packaging.

An interesting fact often said about plastic is the length of time it takes to break down. Except of potentially organic plastics, any plastic made from synthetic materials will never biodegrade, they simple get weaker and break into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually becoming so small they can appear as grains of sand or float unseen in our waters, filling the bellies of marine and freshwater species, resulting in illness and death.

It is estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastic reach our oceans annually, that is almost 23 tonnes of plastic EVERY DAY entering our planets life source. People could be forgiven in thinking our oceans are a large space ideal for trash disposal due to their size and our relative lack of knowledge of the deep. But no one can begin to argue that 23 tonnes of plastic every day is a long term sustainable scenario.

People state plastic is difficult to recycle due to the huge variety in types of plastic, and they’d be right. The answer isn’t necessarily recycling, it is instead reducing the amount we use. Instead of using plastic bags when you go shopping, take a back-pack or your own ‘bag for life’, they are cheap and long lasting. Thankfully, some states in the USA are taking positive action against the plastic world we are living, New York have bannedpolystyrene containers whilst California are trying to ban plastic bags. These are steps we all need to take if we are to make a difference.

The team after a long clean up at Long Beach - 10 full bin bags collected

For our part, we recently conducted an underwater clean up with Universal Diver, Pulau Perhentian, where, over two dives, we collected up to 500kg of plaster board.

Universal Diver and Blue Temple unite to clean up the ocean

We have also conducted numerous beach and village clean ups, collecting close to 300kg in plastic, fishing and glass trash. We have not even scratched the surface of the litter problem.

Our only answer is to cut it out of our lives, think before we buy and try to buy fresh with paper of tote bags. You can be the difference. Get involved in our Earth Hour initiative and build something cool out of trash you find on the beach, in the woods, in the street. Our team are creating bracelets out of straws, clocks from old bottle caps, musical instruments and flowers. Join in and post your pictures to our Facebook page.

World Wildlife Day; Getting Serious about Wildlife Crime

#seriousaboutwildlifecrime

www.wildlifeday.org

This Tuesday, 03-March-2015, Blue Temple Conservation will be celebrating World Wildlife Day. Introduced by the United Nations General Assembly, World Wildlife Day is held on the day of the adoption of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). As well as providing an opportunity for us to celebrate our privileged interactions with the world’s diverse forms of wild plants and animals, World Wildlife Day also seeks to raise awareness of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and the multitude of economic, environmental and social impacts that stem from crimes against wildlife. In recognition of this, we’ve investigated three contemporary issues that are having a significant impact on the world’s marine environment.

(Photo Source: Ocean.si.edu)

Extraction and Distribution of Shark Fins (Source: WildAid and Shark Savers)

Current estimates suggest that approximately 100 million sharks are killed every year. The removal of these apex predators is having a devastating impact on marine ecosystems the world over, upsetting the delicate balance that exists in these fragile environments. Close to 73 million of these sharks are murdered in support of the destructive and inhumane shark fin industry. As part of this industry, the most valuable piece of the shark, its fins, are removed and the remainder of the catch is often simply thrown overboard (up to 98% of the shark is wasted as part of this process). Shark fins are then distributed to those regions where demand for shark fin soup exists. It is important to note too that there is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that the end product provides any medicinal or health benefits for the consumer. If this practice is allowed to continue at current rates, many shark species (including, Hammerhead, Dusky, Bull and Tiger shark species) will be in danger of extinction. You can do your bit by signing WildAid’s shark pledge online and letting the world know that #I’mFINishedwithFINS.

Further information regarding finning can be found at Wild Aid and Shark Savers

(Photo Source: Science Daily)

Aquarium Trade of Tropical Fish (Source: Sea Shepherd)

Most of us are familiar with Finding Nemo and, perhaps more embarrassingly, Deuce Bigalow, and the prominence of tropical fish in each of these fictional movies. However, did you ever stop and think about the impact of the aquarium trade of tropical fish on the world’s marine environment. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society certainly has and their estimates indicate that more than 11 million reef fish and millions of other reef dwellers are removed from our ocean’s each year to support demand created by aquarium hobbyists in the United States, alone. Global demand sees these figures doubled. If this extraction continues unmonitored, the forecast for biodiversity in our ocean’s coral reef ecosystems is bleak with both species extinction and ecosystem collapse very real possibilities. You can make a difference by providing financial support for Sea Shepherd’s, Operation Reef Defense, or investigating the origins of tropical fish in your local pet store.

Further information regarding aquarium trade can be found at National Geographic

(Photo Source: Ensia.com)

Hunting and Poaching of Sea Turtles (Source: WWF)

The illegal trade and direct consumption of the world’s sea turtles coupled with further destructive human activities and the exceptionally high natural mortality of hatchlings and juveniles means that an increasing number of sea turtles are failing to live long enough to reproduce. If hunting and poaching practices are allowed to continue at current rates, the result will be a rather depressing forecast for the future of the world’s seven sea turtle species. As recognised by the World Wildlife Fund, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) now prohibits international trade in all sea turtle species and their parts. However, unfortunately, illegal trafficking persists. By supporting the WWF’s StopWildlife Crime campaign and refusing to buy products made from sea turtle parts, you can help to reduce the impact of hunting and poaching on the world’s sea turtle populations.

Further information regarding hunting and poaching can be found WWF's website

Remember what lies beneath

Are you planning on going away on holiday soon? Perhaps to a idyllic location with beautiful white beaches and tropical waters? 

If you are, make sure you prepare fully before you go, and we are not just talking about packing sun-cream and your snazzy Hawaiian shirts. We want you to prepare mentally. 

Did you know, in 2014, over 80% of participants in our survey who visited Perhentian last year went snorkeling. That is a staggering proportion of people, and highlights the attraction the marine life has to us. I am also pretty sure that if you go on holiday to a beach location, you will be getting in the water for a swim or snorkel.

With this in mind, we would like you to take some time to consider just what lies beneath. In a coral reef ecosystem, you can find thousands of animals and species all hunkered together, working and living in balance. Some of these species, like corals, can take years to grow, living in colonies and working in symbiosis with algae, helping remove carbon from the atmosphere, and providing a home to thousands of important fish and marine species. 

Corals, although they look like rocks, are fragile and very susceptible to stress and change. You might notice broken corals lying on the floor, often broken by natural causes, but commonly by carefree tourist behaviour, those that are white are also at risk, either bleached or already dead they have expelled the algae that provides the majority of sustenance and are on the verge of (or are already) dead.

We ask simply that you remember what a coral is and when you head out into the sea to snorkel, you don't need to stop and stand up, even if you think you are standing safely, there are loads of different varieties of corals, and even some species of fish and invertebrate that camoflage themselves and can be painful for you. 

Yesterday we went snorkeling, our hearts died a little bit inside. Even after people were told of the impacts, they continued to do it. Don't be one of the crowd, look closely and in one square meter you will see so much life. Imagine a giant foot coming down on London or New York City, it might not kill everything, but the stress caused could be irreparable. 

 No

 No

or, alternatively...

Please think twice when you are out in the waters, so much damage can be avoided!

A brief guide to Responsible Tourism

There are a lot of blog posts out there talking about ecotourism and how to travel green, even we have published one such blog before. But today, I wanted to talk about something different, something that will relate to you, whether you have green goals or are just looking for a fun time holiday. You can still be a responsible tourist, even if you don't have the inclination to go 100% green for your adventures.

Being a responsible tourist is quite simple really, you don't have to go out and buy recycled products or buy 'ocean friendly' suncream (though it wouldn't hurt!), you just need to stop and think. Check out our list of ways to be responsible whilst travelling, follow these and you never know, you might just experience something new.

1. Litter

This one may seem pretty obvious, but it is amazing how careless people often become on holiday. If you go to the beach or park and take a picnic or containers with you, be smart and take a plastic bag so you can bag it all when you have finished and carry it to a bin, don't leave it in the hope someone picks it up.

2. Touching stuff

As a race, we humans have an uncanny ability to touch everything. Someone once said "look with your eyes, not your hands". Whilst you may not realise it, a lot of stuff is alive, we witness countless numbers of people touching and standing on corals in Perhentian, this is no good for either the corals or for you. Corals are sharp and can give quite a nasty cut, and they are fragile animals, easily stressed out. Think about how many tourists visit a location, if everyone touches the same thing, then chances are it won't last long

3. Interactions with Wildlife

It has been widely documented that feeding animals (fish, reindeer, hippos, lions whichever) changes the behaviour of the animal, it can upset the balance of the ecosystem, encouraging greater numbers of some species and increasing aggression in animal populations. It has also been suggested that human food (bread etc) is not a natural diet and can result in sickness or death in some species!

4. Stick to the Path

You have probably noticed in your local park that there are paths, put in place by the council for people to walk along, nice tarmacked paths which are easy to follow. This isn't always the case in developing countries or remote areas, there are usually designated pathways though, even if they are not so easily noticeable. They are there for a reason, stick to them, if people start meandering through the undergrowth and off the path it isn't just a danger to themselves, it starts erosion, wearing away the grass or undergrowth. Once it starts to wear away, more people will join in and get eroding as it looks like a path.

5. Respect the Culture

Whether you are visiting a country in Europe, America, Asia or Australia, you will meet people of different backgrounds and cultures. Just because they dress differently or have a different religion to you, doesn't mean they are wrong or to be avoided. Be friendly, get into the spirit of the locals, dress appropriately, if you are in a Muslim village or country, don't walk around in a bikini, be respectful and engage locals and kids in conversation. You'd be amazed at the amount of awesome people in the world.

6. Transport 

We spoke about this in our ecotourism blog, but it rings true here as well. If you want to experience a country properly, use public transport, don't rent a car. Not only will you contribute money directly to the wider economy, but you will see the country in a whole new light. Nothing beats zooming across the countryside on a rickety old train surrounded by local people and foods!

7. Think Local

I always get shocked when I see someone ordering Macaroni Cheese, or Burger and Chips when in Perhentian. Open your mind (and your taste buds) to the amazing food you find in different countries. Eating local foods benefits you and the locals. Ordering your home foods in a foreign country will result in two outcomes. (1) Food will likely be from frozen and unlocally sourced (2) Lower quality meal as locals are not expert chefs in foreign foods. So don't be afraid, try everything once.

We all travel thousands of miles just to watch TV and check in to somewhere with all the comforts of home, and you gotta ask yourself, what is the point of that?
(The Beach)

Seriously, what is the point in that?

There are obviously more things you can do, but follow these steps and your holidays will become something more. You will meet amazing people, taste fantastic food and feel so much better for it. Break the norm of human behaviour and experience life.