(Above) Three delegates & our intern head out on the Blackwater River.
The October 2009 Project on Parks, Biodiversity, and Ecotourism Management
At the end of October, we received a group of five delegates from Iceland, Israel, Kenya, Nepal, and Zimbabwe. The program we designed for them in northwest Florida emphasized parks management and ecotourism development. The group also traveled to Washington, D.C., Seattle (WA), Denver (CO), and Shenandoah (VA).
We are grateful to the many people who worked together to make this project a success including Jerry Eubanks, Rick Clark, Gail Bishop, Steamer Lockhead, and Nina Kelson at the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and Ed Schroeder and Lori Coppels at the Pensacola Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Ed also presented the group their Honorary Citizenship Certificates which were gifts from Mayor Mike Wiggins and prepared by Elaine Mager.
Amy Baldwin Moss coordinated a great environmental volunteer activity for the group. Many thanks to her, Dick Fancher, and Shawn Hamilton of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and to the volunteers from Boy Scout Troop 10 for a great morning at Project Greenshores.
Anne Harvey with Florida State Parks and David Creamer of the Blackwater State Forest helped the delegates gain an understanding of state-level structures. Canoeing with Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council members Bruno Barros, Jack Kichler, and Simon Vlahovic along with Marshall Shaw of the Blackwater River State Park gave the group further insight on area ecotourism efforts. Thanks also to Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council members Hilda & Ray Jones, Nina & Charles Howard, and Cookie & Jack Kichler for hosting delegates and their interpreters to simultaneous dinners and to the North Hill Preservation Association for including the group in its Fall Festival Activities.
Gulf Islands National Seashore Superintendent Jerry Eubanks explains park structure to the delegates.
Steamer Lockhead explains post-Hurricane Ivan changes at Fort Pickens.
Our delegate from Nepal receiving Honorary Citizenship with the City of Pensacola
Carrying plants to the shoreline at Project Greenshores; photo compliments of Ed Noland
Carrying the plants to the shore; photo compliments of Ed Noland
Our delegate from Zimbabwe volunteering at Project Greenshores; photo compliments of Ed Noland
Explaining Project Greenshores to the group; photo compliments of Ed Noland
The team that planted all 300 plants
Anne Harvey, biologist, speaks at Blackwater State Park
Blackwater State Park
International Cooperation on the Blackwater River
Dinner at the Kichler home; photo compliments of Jack Kichler
The group outside of the Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tasting pumpkin pie at the Fall Festival in North Hill
Exploring Fort George during the area orientation tour
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