Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well for all of you out there that love my posts (!), I thought I'd show you all my new project website. The aim is to ultimately improve fresh water quality in the Dominican Republic (and consequently the coastal areas), and also to monitor aquatic invertebrate diversity.

As part of the two year project I have developed a key to the aquatic inverts, made a documentary, and trained two local scientists. Hopefully our work will have a major impact in the D.R. and improve the lives of many.

The site still has some problems but most of it works.
Biodiversity of Aquatic Invertebrates and Water Quality

very interesting, and educational. Great web design also. How long has this been going on, and when will your project be completed? Loved your herp pictures I understand now where you are coming from in your political posts. Although I may be conservative in many ways, the environment is of the outmost importance to me. I find it heartbreaking to see some of the damage we humans have caused. I find your work most admirable and I hope what you are striving for comes to fruition.

Thank you,

gail

Thanks for your kind words Gail. And we got off on such the wrong foot!

Well the project itself has now finished actually, although we have some reports well overdue! The two local scientists I trained have been taken on by a different project, still looking at aquatic invertebrates, but concentrating on the 'montane' species. It is very rewarding to see these two go and and get a job through our training. That is in fact the major objective of the Darwin Initiative (the training of local scientists to leave behind a 'legacy' - most research projects of course go in, do there stuff, and leave, taking all scientific material with them. Al of our specimens will remain at the Nat.Hist. Museum in Santo Domingo)

I made the website myself and it was actually much better. The 1st version didn't work so I had to hack this one together quickly. When I get time all the photos will be in sections, so you can see the spectacular herps in full size. I'll also have a downloadable version of my video. I can send you a copy on CD if you drop me a line.

The environment is foremost in my political outlook. Alas, not in most politicians!' Working in Colombia and the DR has shown me the difficulties surrounding conservation in practice. It has been a great experience though. I got my PhD last week actually for my study on Amazonian lizards and boy, what a feeling! My aim is to bring the environment to the forefront of everyone's minds, and to hopefully improve our heritage for generations to come. I figure I probably won't make huge waves yet a ripple is at least a start!

Thanks again, Ian

You might think that you are just a pebble in a giant pond, but what you are doing will most definitely leave its mark on the environment. Training people in other countries is critical to saving the environment. People in third world countries don't have an easy route to getting an education.

How exciting....getting your PhD is quite an accomplishment....Congratulations

Do you plan on going to the reptile Expo in Daytona this August? My husband and I have a table at the expo, if you do make it there, please stop by and say hello.

Regards,
gail

Wish I could be down there *sigh*
Back to class work in another month--no exotic rainforest, interesting expiriments, or any such. But hey, I like my history
Love the page, I'd definitly like to herp (and see that area!).Good luck on the water issue; it's probably the most under-noted enviromental problem. Can even save habitat, but if water and air aren't clean enough, doesn't matter.

Paul
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Cornsnakes and kingsnakes and gophers oh my!