Rapa Nui environmental leader to give talk on marine protection
One of the founding forces behind a movement that led to the creation of a marine-protected area on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is to give a presentation.
Ludovic Burns, from Rapa Nui, will present during the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute’s fourth instalment in the Island SOS series on Sunday at 3pm.
Mr Burns is the executive director of a community-led organisation called Te Mau o te Vaikava o Rapa Nui, which aims to prioritise the conservation of Rapa Nui’s local marine-protected area, which covers 286,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean.
A spokeswoman for BUEI said: “Ludovic will share how the people of Rapa Nui rebelled against an oceanic initiative created by their government without their input.
“Community outrage led to the formation of a coalition to ensure the health and wellbeing of the ocean surrounding the island and the culture it supported.
“The coalition identified five goals, encompassing conservation efforts, education, enforcement, marine protection and shared administration efforts between the people and government.”
She said thanks to their efforts, the Rapa Nui marine-protected area was created.
Mr Burns is a part of the council tasked with implementing the five goals of the coalition. He has implemented eco-tourism and water sports projects on the island and was also executive secretary of the Rapa Nui Public-Private Council and executive director of the Mesa del Mar.
Easter Island is a remote island to the west of Chile. Similar to Bermuda, it is a subtropical volcanic island surrounded by ocean.
The BUEI spokeswoman said: “The Island SOS series is intended to inspire members of our community to realise their potential in protecting our local oceanic environment.
“Rapa Nui is a perfect example of how community action and organising can have a significant impact on the environment of an island, conserving and preserving marine environments for generations to come.”
• Tickets can be purchased on the events page of BUEI’s website or by phoning the Oceans Gift Shop on 294-2024
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