Research and Environmental Education in Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha is one of the most important Marine Protected Areas in Brazil. Such recognition and potential status is not only due to the archipelago's rich biodiversity and aesthetic value, but also for its popularity as a destination among Brazilian people. Noronha has the potential to sensitize Brazilians about marine conservation as few other places in Brazil can. But Noronha itself faces some conservation challenges too, including invasive species, marine pollution, and crowding.

In 2006, following my first internship with the Humpback Whale Institute, I secured a further internship with the Spinner Dolphin Project. I had the opportunity to spend four months on the island, from November 2006 to February 2007. For two months I was part of the research team monitoring the Dolphins' Bay - a unique place where hundreds of Spinner Dolphins come every day to rest and nurse their young. We monitored the activity of dolphin-watching boats and spoke to visitors about our work and the importance of dolphins as apex predators and highly intelligent animals. These two months allowed me to learn more about the species and to become more familiar with the island and its peculiarities.

My primary mission on the island was to organize the Ecological Vacations program with the local youth. The program, which has been running for nearly thirty years now, teaches children and teenagers (from 5 to 18 years of age) about local biodiversity, conservation challenges faced by species, differences between the archipelago's existing protected areas (the Environmental Protection Area and the Marine National Park) and much more. The program also has a strong social component: it happens during the school vacations, and keeps children and teenagers occupied with learning and outdoors activities during the peak tourist season when many of their parents are most busy.

The program ran for a month and a half. Children and teens were split into different groups according to their age, and each group had one week of activities, that included environmental-themed games, field trips, and cultural activities. Once more, working for an NGO taught me the importance of being resourceful and creative. And I left the island not only in love with marine conservation, but certain that I must work with people to advance marine conservation goals.

I was invited to coordinate the next edition of the Ecological Vacations in Noronha again the following year. I did my undergraduate thesis with the project - assessing its success and impacts - and continue to have strong ties to the project and its team.

Dr. Jose Martins da Silva-Jr, founder and director of the Spinner Dolphin Project became an important mentor, and has helped me to advance many of my personal career goals. He has always been a strong supporter of pursuing science in parallel to environmental and conservation activities. It was with the Spinner Dolphin Project that I presented and published my first academic work. I am grateful to the learning opportunities and for my time in such a special place.

***

Fast forward ten years. It's 2016, I am a Ph.D. student, living in Oregon. On one of my visits to Brazil, I decide to go diving in Noronha. As I arrive in the airport, I am greeted by a full-grown woman, an employee in the airport.

-"Tia Lu?", she asks timidly.

'Tia' is a sweet expression children use to address adults. It literally means 'aunt', but it is commonly used even when no family ties exist. I was Tia Lu back then. And somehow I still am.

She had many other passengers to deal with, so there was no time to talk. But I couldn't help but to ask myself what else she remembers from the Ecological Vacations, and what might be the long-lasting impacts of this program.

***

Photo: José Martins da Silva Jr.

Photo: José Martins da Silva Jr.

.