The Common Coot in Xemxija and dolphins and whales of Abaco Island

The idea of contributing towards an environmental project at Is-Simar Nature Reserve in Xemxija materialised from my recent experience in the Bahamas, where I took part in an environmental expedition researching whales and dolphins at Abaco Island.

The research field trip to the Bahamas was part of an environmental fellowship that HSBC Bank plc has initiated with three large international charities. The fellowship enables 500 HSBC employees from around the world to join research teams in different continents and engage in scientific research.

Together with other HSBC Malta Earthwatch fellows, we embarked on a project to encourage a particular bird species, namely the Common Coot, to breed and nest at Is-Simar. The assignment involves building rafts that will float in the middle of the reserve's natural ponds. Similar projects have shown that these rafts attract the Common Coot, which will nest among the vegetation that would be planted on the rafts.

My commitment and motivation to help in the project at Is-Simar are a direct result of my experience last year in Abaco. Late in February 2006, I packed my bags and equipment and travelled to the Bahamas for an Earthwatch environmental expedition - an assignment to study the dolphin and whale population surrounding Abaco Island. This expedition was part of the bank's Employee Fellowship Programme, where employees from the bank from all over the world are deployed to actively help different research teams in observation exercises and data collection.

In 2002, HSBC created a $50 million eco-partnership over five years to fund conservation projects around the world. This largest ever single donation meant that three charities - the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and Earthwatch would together breathe new life into rivers, protect endangered species and fund conservation research and education around the world.

Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey

The Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey research team lives in Sandy Point, a tiny fishing village at the tip of Abaco Island - one of the islands of the Bahamian archipelago. A road to Sandy Point was constructed only in the Sixties, enabling the villagers to be fully integrated in the Abaco community. The main industry of Sandy Point, employing 80 per cent of the men, is fishing - mostly for rock lobster, conch and scale fish. The lobsters are processed in Sandy Point and exported to the United States.

Walking around the settlement was a fascinating experience. It enabled me to see the villagers at their everyday tasks. Not many people are seen walking the roads because there is an alternative informal network of pathways throughout the town. There is a particular charm in visiting a native settlement with no souvenir shops and where nobody particularly wants your money.

People will hail you as you pass them, yet they will not trespass on your privacy. On the other hand, as soon as you ask advice or directions, people will go out of their way to help you. Sandy Point people are friendly and want visitors to leave with a good impression of their lovely settlement.

Research

The members of the research team embark on daily boat expeditions out on the ocean where the ocean floor suddenly drops by over a thousand metres. In addition to spotting groups of dolphins or whales on the ocean's surface, researchers also lower a hydrophone into the sea in the hope of identifying the distinct clicks or cries of sperm whales.

The research team logs the time and the position (longitude and latitude) of the boat at the location of each sighting. The sea bed type, depth, quantity of cloud cover, wave height, wind strength, air temperature, sea temperature and the tide state are also recorded at each sighting. The researchers take pictures of the dorsal fins of dolphins at each encounter.

During my two weeks of research, the team experienced five dolphin group sightings. We 'photo-identified' individual dolphins by comparing the field photos to catalogued photos. This meant that we contributed to the identification and documentation of the behaviour of over 30 individual dolphins.

During the expedition, I realised that an individual's contribution to an Earthwatch project may be just a drop in the ocean but all the drops are producing an ocean of findings and are actually bringing about a positive change to the global environment.

Indeed, the researchers made it clear that they value their volunteer teams and I quickly realised that every individual's contribution vastly increased the speed of data collection, allowing the researchers to focus time on identifying trends and implementing conservation initiatives. It is extremely motivating to know that my small contribution to this research initiative will actually make a difference to understanding cetaceans around the world. In this respect, the commitment of HSBC's Investing in Nature programme is laudable.

I am truly impressed by HSBC's significant environmental investment, which I have had the opportunity to experience first hand. This programme has demonstrated the positive impacts of corporate and NGO partnerships, and the important contribution towards a sustainable future for our planet.