>Glover's Reef Marine Research Station
>Wildlife Conservation Society
>P.O. Box 2310
>Belize City, Belize
>Belize City Tel/FAX: 501-2-33855
>Glover's Reef Tel: 501-1-48474
>E-mail: [log in to unmask]  or [log in to unmask]
>
>WWW http://www.une.edu/glover/glovindx.html
>
>Glover's Reef atoll and marine reserve is located approximately 50 km off
>the coast of central Belize. It is considered to be one of the most
>pristine and  important coral reef sites in the Caribbean.  Due to the
>isolation of Glover's Reef atoll,  there is little influence from coastal
>sedimentation or pollution. It is  considered to be one of the most ideal
>sites in the world to conduct coral reef research (Dahl, MacIntyre &
>Antonius. 1974. A  comparative survey of coral reef research sites. In:
>Marie-Helene Sachet and Arthur Dahl. Atoll Research Bulletin. 172: 37-75.).
>Consequently the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in cooperation with the
>Government of Belize has established a permanent research station at  Middle
>Cay  located on Glover's Reef. WCS along with the Government of Belize would
>like to invite  scientists and  graduate level students who are interested
>in working at Glover's Reef to contact James Powell at  [log in to unmask]  or
>Jacque Carter at [log in to unmask] for more information.
>
>The marine reserve at Glover's Reef atoll  is a major component of a general
>comprehensive program for  coastal zone management for Belize, Central
>America.  In a broad sense the reserve was established to  maintain
>ecological processes, preserve genetic diversity, achieve sustainable yields
>of its resources  through wise management of species and their habitats,
>maintain natural areas for education and research  and provide social, and
>economic benefits through ecologically sensitive recreation and tourism.
>Keenly  aware of the need to protect this world class resource, the Wildlife
>Conservation Society (WCS) purchased  the island of Middle Cay, situated at
>the southern end of the atoll, for the purposes of  providing  a marine
>park headquarters for the Government of Belize and to establish a marine
>research field station. WCS has  completed construction of this facility and
>now provides a base of operations for park rangers and scientists  alike.
>
>WCS's over-arching mission is to provide for the long-term conservation and
>protection of Glover's Reef  atoll. To accomplish this goal, WCS is working
>in close collaboration with the government of Belize to  develop a
>coordinated research and management program for the atoll. WCS's primary
>responsibility in this  partnership is scientific research. In the coming
>years, we hope that the research on Glover's Reef atoll will  lead to a
>better understanding and management of this coral reef.  The Comparative
>Investigations of Tropical Reef Ecosystems (CITRE) program identified
>Glover's Reef as  the most preferred site  in the Caribbean for "long-term,
>multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional investigation of  coral reef
>ecosystems" (Dahl, MacIntyre & Antonius. 1974. A  comparative survey of
>coral reef research  sites. In:  Marie-Helene Sachet and Arthur Dahl. Atoll
>Research Bulletin. 172: 37-75.). The authors reported,  "In contrast to the
>other reefs surveyed in the Caribbean area, Glover's Reef atoll appears to
>offer the  greatest variety of reef types, and the optimum reef development
>in terms of population density and species  diversity of reef corals and
>associated organisms". In addition to Glover's Reef, Belize's extensive
>barrier  reef is 30 km away.
>
>The WCS research station on Glover's Reef atoll is located on Middle Cay.
>The present facility includes a  ranger station and visitor's centre, a dry
>laboratory and work area, dining and cooking facilities (meals are
>provided) and housing for eight scientists and/or students. There are
>boats, air compressor and SCUBA  tanks for researcher support. Flow through
system aquarium facilities are available. The station is completely self-
>sufficient with full-time electricity (110 vac) provided by a complementary
>system of wind and solar power.  Fresh water is available through a (soon to
>be installed) de-salination plant and rain-water catchment.  Refrigeration
>is available. Toilet facilities are state-of-the-art pollution-free,
>containment composition type.  One aim of the station is to utilize
>non-polluting and energy efficient technology.
>
>WCS invites any scientists or students interested in using the Glover's Reef
>Research Station   to please  contact: Glover's Reef Marine Research
>Station, P.O. Box 2310, Belize City, Belize or  Tel/FAX: 501-2-33855 ,
>Glover's Tel: 501-1-48474.  E-mail messages can be sent  to: [log in to unmask]
>or [log in to unmask] .
>
>Please also take a look at our new and "evolving" home page:
>http://www.une.edu/glover/glovindx.html for more information, charges and
>application instructions.
>
 
*************************************
James A. Powell
Wildlife Conservation Society
Glover's Reef Marine Research Station
P.O. Box 2310
Belize City, Belize
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel/FAX (501)2-33855 or
Middle Cay Tel: (501)1-48474