(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 |
|
|
To see more delegation photos, go to www.flickr.com/photos/gccdc.
To view upcoming events, visit our calendar or become one of the "Fans of the Gulfcoast Citizen Diplomacy Council" on Facebook to see how you can become involved.
|
|
