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THE ELECTRIC REEF THAT JUST KEEPS GROWING!

 By Michael Cortenbach, Vila Ombak Diving Academy (voda@indosat.net.id or 0370 638531)

 ISSUE:32 (May 2006)

With the recent successful placement of two additional Biorock (or ‘electric reef’) structures off Gili Trawangan, Vila Ombak Diving Academy (VODA) has once again demonstrated that private sector companies can make significant contributions to coral reef restoration. VODA has now placed a total of four of these remarkable coral enhancing structures in seven metres of water, creating not only fish habitat, but also a snorkelling and diving attraction directly in front of Hotel Vila Ombak. The hotel kindly provides the electricity that is necessary for the process to work.

 The financial support of local businesses, along with the collection of coral fragments by Gili Trawangan dive operators enabled the team to build and deploy the two additional structures over just a few days in April 2006. The team was led by Emma Woolacott, who, with the support of partner Jeff, leaves three Biorock structures as a legacy of her time as VODA Manager. SATGAS also provided great assistance, as did Kepala Desa, Raisman Purnawadi, who attached the first coral fragment -- demonstrating the community’s ongoing support and custodianship of the Biorock project. It is hoped that Gili Trawangan’s example of community and private sector cooperation in environmental initiatives will provide a model and motivation for future Biorock installations and other positive projects in the Lombok region.

 Hotel Vila Ombak and VODA recently hosted Tom Goreau of the Global Coral Reef Alliance and one of the founders of the Biorock process. Tom was involved in the installation of both the original structure in December 2004 and the second in 2005. So impressed was Tom with the two original deployments, the attitude of the community and businesses, and the island’s facilities, that he wholeheartedly supported the recommendation by long time Biorock advocate Mr Cody Shwaiko, that the fourth annual Biorock Workshop be held at Hotel Vila Ombak this November 14-20. Gili Trawangan is proud to be selected as the location for the workshop, which will include presentations by the inventors and architect’s of the world recognised and award-winning Biorock project in Pemuteran, North Bali.

 Experience of previous Biorock workshops in Pemuteran suggests Gili Trawangan can anticipate an influx of scientists and students from many foreign universities and organisations. Strong participation is also expected from Indonesian scientists and students, and it is hoped students from Lombok will be well-represented. Special discounted rates for students will apply, and accommodation packages will be created to suit a range of budgets. Participants can expect to leave the program with a complete understanding of the Biorock benefits, and sufficient practical experience to enable them to apply the technology independently in projects of their own.

 Not only will there be lectures and training, but with the aid of the local businesses, more Biorock structures will be placed around the island. In the future, it is hoped that visiting students and divers will become actively involved in designing and building their own structures. With commitment and enthusiasm from all, we could see Gili Trawangan become  the first island in the world to have Biorock structures placed regularly around the entire island perimeter.

 A website with full details of the forthcoming workshop and articles about previous workshops will be launched soon at http://www.biorockworkshop.org. Sponsors are invited to get involved in this unique opportunity to promote Gili Trawangan, Lombok and Indonesia as environmental learning destinations. For more information, contact Mr. I.G. Beratha at reefreborn@yahoo.com, (0361) 7421165 or (0361) 261240. You can learn more about Biorock and how it works by visiting www.globalcoral.org.