MSc Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Caribbean

Transcription

1 MSc Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Caribbean Handbook for the Marine Field Course Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, Belize Version

2 Introduction This Handbook was developed to provide students of the MSc Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Caribbean with basic information on logistics, field conditions and expedition etiquette while on the MSc s Marine Field Course, at the Calabash Caye Field Station in the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve. The 10- day field course is a mandatory element of the MSc. and is intended to provide a capstone to the theoretical work undertaken in the programme, by introducing students to the field elements of biodiversity conservation. While, the field teaching team have attempted to provide a sense of the logistical requirements for students while on the expedition, and of some of the conditions to be expected, this handbook is not expected to be a substitute for student participation in the pre-expedition briefings and any online training sessions provided by the field teaching team and/or the Course Convenor, Dr. Paul Ouboter of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname. Dates of Field Course The field course is typically held in July, unless otherwise determined by the Academic Management Board for the MSc. Programme. The specific dates for 2013 are July 2-11, with students arriving to Belize on the 1 st of July and departing on the 12th. Students will travel to the field station on the afternoon of July 1 st at 3:00 pm from the UB Faculty of Management and Social Sciences campus. Location On entering Belize you will be required to indicate your address on the relevant immigration forms. In this regard, you will be staying at the following address while in Belize: Calabash Caye Field Station University of Belize Turneffe Atoll Belize Contact information While in Belize you may contact Dr Leandra Cho-Ricketts at or ext 435 (office numbers). Payment of practicum fees The cost for the field practicum exclusive of the airline tickets is US$1300 and this can be paid directly to the University of Belize for the Belizean students. TT students may deposit the money to account # at the Bursary cashier UWI, St. Augustine or at any Republic Bank (see TT deposit information for local students at Appendix I). International and Regional students may wire transfer their funds using the US deposit information (see Appendix 1). Please indicate on the wire transfer or deposit that the payment is for the Field Practicum BIOL 6210/5210. Students are to either scan a copy of the receipt showing proof of payment and it to the team or submit the hardcopy to our office. We must have this before you are 2

3 allowed to participate in the course, preferably 2 months in advance to allow the course convener in Belize sufficient time to put logistics in place. Registration Students are to register for this course as well as the Taxonomy course in May for Semester 3. Fulltime students are to also register for the Research Project. No other tuition fees are to be paid for Semester 3. About Belize The official language of Belize is English, although many people speak Spanish. The currency is Belize Dollars (BZD). Currency can be changed at the airport on arrival in Belize. The Calabash Caye Field Station is a remote field station located about 50 km from the mainland in the Turneffe Atoll and has no major settlements or cities around it. The field station is located on a sandy caye with a neighbouring Coast Guard base. The Turneffe Atoll has a few resorts, several fishing camps and another research station. All meals will be provided at the field station. However if you require snacks, medication, toiletries and other personal items these must be brought with you. There are stores on the mainland in Belize City where these can be purchased on the day of your arrival to Belize, prior to going out to Calabash Caye. The voltage in Belize is 110V. The field station is powered by solar and wind energy and you are asked to conserve energy, especially during low wind or rainy and overcast days. Remember to bring spare batteries for any electrical items that you take with you. Equipment You will be required to bring a laptop with you, which you will need to use for data analysis of samples collected in the field and for preparation of presentations. You will also need any personal note taking materials. While field equipment for conducting biological survey work will be provided by the University of Belize (UB), students are advised to bring the following personal equipment with them for use on the field course: Long trousers for the mangroves (with long socks to tuck them into) Long sleeved lightweight shirt (to protect against sun and insects) Footwear or boots comfortable and durable for walking through mangroves Water shoes or waterproof slippers or sandals Ziplock bags and garbage bags for waterproofing Hat Jacket or windbreaker (if chilly) Sun block Sun hat or cap with visor Sun shades 3

4 Insect repellent (mosquitoes and sand flies can be unbearable when there is no wind) Basic first aid (seasickness/motion sickness tablets, pain killers, cold medicine, nausea/diarrhea medicine, benadryl for allergies, antiseptic, band aids, cortisone cream for itches, etc) Person-specific medicines as needed Toiletries (baby shampoo (more environmentally friendly), soap, toothpaste, toothbrush etc.) Bath towel Headlight (preferred) or flashlight and batteries Water bottle Day pack (back pack) Digital camera (if available) Binoculars (if available) Notes on Clothing, Footwear and Laundry: Swimwear and long clothing to protect against the sun are necessary for field work. Since the field practicum is marine based, it involves a lot of swimming and snorkelling. There are no laundry facilities at the field station, but clothes lines are available to allow for hand washing and drying of wet clothes. Transportation to the field station is limited and expensive, so please pack light! Food The field station will provide meals and accommodations. Meals will typically consist of a cooked breakfast, with the main meal being lunch and a light dinner at night. Meal times are 7:00-8:00 am breakfast, 12:00-1:30 lunch, and 7:00-8:00 pm dinner. For those of you with specific dietary requirements you are advised to inform the MSc team of these restrictions WELL IN ADVANCE of the field course, and these will be catered for by the cook. Drinking water will be provided at the field station. Please bring one or two reusable water bottles with you to reduce the waste generated by the field course. Housing The sleeping arrangements at the field station are dormitory rooms with bunk beds (4-6 persons in a room). Sheets and pillows will be provided by the Calabash Caye Field Station. However, you may wish to bring your own sheet or light sleeping bag if you want an additional layer (it can be cool during windy nights). Bathrooms in the field station building are also shared, and there is no hot water. Communication There is limited internet access at the field station. There is no cell phone communication only a fixed wireless line that is available for use with a pin card. Pin 4

5 cards can be purchased on the mainland. The contact information for the Calabash Caye Field Station is A list of contact details of all the students attending the field course will be circulated prior to the start of the course. Travel You will be required to book your flights to/from Belize individually, once your application to attend the field course has been approved. Remember to book early to avoid increasing costs of flights and to ensure you arrive by the required date. Please submit flight numbers, arrival and departure dates and times to the MSc Programme team to coordinate your arrival with the other students. You will be met at the airport and taken to the departure dock in Belize City. You will be transported to Calabash Caye Field Station the same day. Travel to the Turneffe Atoll is a hour boat ride from Belize City depending on weather conditions. It is important that you arrive with everyone else and not after the flight arrival date, as you would be left behind. Due to the limited duration of the field course, no time is provided during the field course for shopping or sight-seeing. If you wish to undertake any such additional activities during your time in Belize, please make such provisions to extend your stay, before embarking on this trip. If you choose to extend your stay, please inform the MSc teaching team well in advance, to coordinate logistics for meeting and/or leaving the group. Visas Caricom nationals do not require a visa to enter Belize. Non-Caricom nationals should check with their Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the local Belize embassy in their country, and the specific visa requirements relevant to their nationality. If you require a visa, do not wait till the last minute to arrange this, as in some cases it may take more than one day to process. Also, ensure that your passport is up to date and has more than 6 months before the expiry date when travelling Vaccinations and Health Prior to the field course, please make sure you have your vaccinations up to date, including malaria, tetanus, Hepatitis B etc. Please advise the MSc team of any health issues that you may have. These will be taken into account during the field course when developing daily work assignments. Please bring all medication you require for the duration of the field course, as there are no nearby pharmacies/hospitals. Insurance The University of the West Indies students are covered under the UWI insurance policy for the duration of the field course. Students of other partner Universities in the Regional MSc should verify their coverage with their Institutional Focal Point and administrators at their home campus. You will not be covered by University insurance for any travel prior to, or after the official dates of the field course. You may seek travel insurance coverage as a supplement to that provided by the Universities during 5

6 the field course. For this marine field practicum, diving is involved and students will need to have dive insurance and provide proof of this when you register for the course. Proof of dive insurance should be sent to the MSc team. Should you decide to stay beyond the field course to sightsee, you are advised to obtain travel & health insurance to cover this additional time in Belize. Students are required to complete a medical form, which can be found at the following link: Please sign it electronically and it to the MSc team. Safety In the day: Always notify a colleague or staff if you decide to go beach walking or swimming. If you plan to go on snorkel to the reef please inform the station manager or instructor and always go in a buddy pair. Post your snorkelling activity on the dive board at the field station with location, time of departure and expected return and the names of people snorkelling. At night: If you plan to walk the beach make sure to have a companion and do not go alone or without a flashlight. Crocodiles sometimes come near to shore or onshore at night. A Typical Day in the Field Depending on the activity, your day will start anytime between 6am-8am. Field work will continue during the day until 12-1 pm, depending on the survey technique and site of field work. Lunch will be served on return to the field station. Where sampling activities take us far from the field station we will take pack lunches. Night surveys may be conducted on some evenings. It is expected that students will carry out data analysis, and presentation preparation in the afternoon and evenings. Expect to be working in the water for up to 6 hours per day or more, so have dry clothing and a towel to use in between water work and snacks from either the field station (fruits) or your personal supply. Students will be expected to participate in all field activities. Sampling techniques that will be introduced during the field course will include coastal vegetation, seagrasses, coral reefs, fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, BRUV and biodiversity assessments. These sampling techniques will be placed in the context of methods for estimating ecosystem health, species richness and other data analysis approaches that would have been taught to you in previous courses and introduced during the field course. A programme for the field course will be distributed at the start of the field course, to allow allocation of individuals to groups and for selection of daily field survey sites, once students arrive at the field station. How to Behave in the Field Please act in an appropriate manner in the field. Be quiet; you will see more wildlife if you do not make too much noise. Do not handle the wildlife, without 6

7 appropriate supervision and unless instructed to do so. Do not litter. Be aware that other people will be in and around the field station, so please do not spoil their experience with noise and inappropriate behaviour. Useful Links to learn more about the Calabash Caye Field Station and Turneffe. Useful Readings Readings for the course will be posted to myelearning and available upon registration. 7

8 Intermediary Bank BANK OF AMERICA 100 WEST 33RD STREET NEW YORK NEW YORK USA FW Appendix I ST. AUGUSTINE INTERNATIONAL WIRE TRANSFER INFORMATION SWIFT ADDRESS: BOFAUS3N Account with REPUBLIC BANK LIMITED FOREX 59 INDEPENDENCE SQUARE PORT OF SPAIN TRINIDAD ACCOUNT NUMBER: SWIFT ADDRESS: RBNKTTPX US Deposits Beneficiary Customer ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD ACCOUNT NUMBER: 0002/110/10635 UWI CAMPUS BRANCH REASON FOR PAYMENT 8

9 Appendix I (con t) ST. AUGUSTINE INTERNATIONAL WIRE TRANSFER INFORMATION Trinidad and Tobago Dollars Deposits BANK: SWIFT ADDRESS: REPUBLIC BANK LIMITED FOREX TRINIDAD WEST INDIES RBNKTTPX ACCOUNT NUMBER: ACCOUNT NAME: BENEFICIARY: REASON FOR PAYMENT: GENERAL ACCOUNT ST. AUGUSTINE TRINIDAD 9