SORCE – the Sustainable Oceanic
Research, Conservation & Education initiative was founded in 2016 and
registered as a UK Community Interest Company in May of 2018. In July of 2019
SORCE opened its facility in the Gita Nada Marine Protected Area in Lombok. It
is an initiative providing a climate for ecological awareness within both local
and international communities. Through our projects, we seek to find
sustainable ways to both restore and conserve biological hotspots with the
support of local communities.
SORCE is a Non-governmental
Organisation (NGO) and Community Interest Company (CIC) meaning that all of the
work we do is not for profit. Since we operate as a non-profit
organisation ALL of the money received through fundraising, donations, grants
and commercial activity is funnelled back into our projects and the running of
our research and conservation facility in Lombok which is staffed by local Indonesian
workers. This means that we are able to make the biggest impact possible with
the resources available.
We are a UK registered organisation, however
we are primarily based at our research and conservation facility in the south
west corner of Lombok, in a newly created Marine Protected Area (Gita Nada MPA)
within the Archipelago of Indonesia. This region is within the Coral Triangle
and the Wallacea biodiversity hotspot, meaning that it is a vitally important
priority area for marine conservation. Not only is it highly abundant but it is
also one of the most biodiverse marine regions on the planet.
Scientific research is at the core of
everything we do – it is an essential tool that directs and drives forwards our
conservation work. We believe that a foundation of scientific knowledge is
essential for successful conservation. Not only does this allow us to stay up
to date with the methods we are employing and contribute to the global font of
understanding within this field, but it also allows us to monitor our projects
to ensure that they are as effective as possible. By ensuring that we use
research and scientific application in this way we can make sure that our
conservation projects at the forefront of the marine conservation movement.
Although research and conservation are at the
core of what we do, neither would be possible however without the backing and
engagement of the local community in which we reside. We believe that for
conservation to be effective in the long-term the local community must support
it. It is essential that the local people and their government take ownership
of the conservation efforts so that they can be protected and continued for
years to come. We work tirelessly to bridge the divide in culture so that we
can come together and collaborate with local peoples for the preservation and
restoration of the environment. We have local partners at all levels, from village
schools and small community groups, to larger charities and governmental
departments. Through these relationships we are able to run a number of
outreach, engagement and education initiatives that help to further our mission
here for marine protection. Through our research we gather information that is
shared with local government, stakeholders and community to help inform decision
making for the local MPA and wider area.
Current ongoing projects include:
Coral Reef Restoration - including Coral
ID and biodiversity data collection and analysis, Reef inhabitant ID (including
fish & invertebrates) data collection and analysis, Coral Nursery creation,
maintenance and population, MARS (Modular Artificial Reef Structure) and frame building,
deploying and population, Coral Garden maintaining and community outreach
events.
Mangrove Restoration – including Mangrove
Species ID and biodiversity analysis, Mangrove Nursery maintenance, propagule
and seed ID, collection and planting, out-planting site location and selection,
community out planting events.
Reef Check Surveys, Reef health
surveys, Turtle ID, Shark & Megafauna Abundance Surveys including BRUV (baited
remote underwater) surveying, Nudibranch species directory, waste management
and recycling.
There is also the opportunity to
become Reef Check, Reef Guru and Coral Watch trained and certified on site.