Rip Curl Planet Interview

Your local Surfrider chapter worked with Rip Curl and their environmental program entitled "Rip Curl Planet" at this year's Rip Curl Pro Search 2010 in Isabela, Puerto Rico. What an opportunity to work with a huge sponsor for something local. We tried our hardest to ensure that the dunes of middles beach were protected from people standing on them and smashing the vegetation that keeps the sand in place. As they say, "no dunes, no beach," and we love our beach!

Here is a follow up on Rip Curl Planet and the work they're continuing around the globe to ensure sustainability through their company. I find it interesting that outside sources are investigating what exactly companies plan to do to help. As you may or may not have heard, there is a bit of "green-washing" happening that can mislead consumers into purchasing things with hopes to benefit the planet in some way...and yet that doesn't always happen. Speaking of which, if you'd like to do your own detective work on the "green-ness" of your favorite companies or products, check out www.greenopia.com.

I think this interviewer, Howard, as it states, did a great job of asking specific questions regarding Rip Curl Planet's plans, ideals, and products. See for yourself: Rip Curl Sustainability Interview.

I found this article through an excellent website that I visit often, the Greener Blue.

Surfrider Foundation Rincon Chapter in El Coqui Magazine

There is an article about the work Surfrider did during the Rip Curl Pro Search 2010 Contest up at Middles Beach this past November in El Coqui Magazine. In the January/February issue, located in stores and hotels around town now.

Click on the link, El Coqui Rincon, to read the article or you can read the magazine for free around town. Why not take it to read on the beach?


Here's a shot at a spanish translation. I apologize if it isn't totally correct.

Hay un artículo sobre el trabajo Surfrider hizo durante el Rip Curl Pro Search 2010 Concurso de arriba en el medio de la playa el pasado noviembre en El Coquí Magazine. En la edición de enero y febrero, que se encuentra en las tiendas y hoteles en la ciudad ahora.

Haga clic en el enlace, El Coqui Rincón, para leer el artículo o puede leer la revista de forma gratuita por la ciudad. ¿Por qué no para leer en la playa?

Surfrider Rincon's Big Day Out

Click here to see a pdf. of the story from the Live Ripcurl.com site!  Click here to see the actual link to the site. 

Chapter Event Summary;  Rip Curl Pro Search 2010 at Playa Middles, Isabela


Over the past month, our chapter worked with the Rip Curl Planet Foundation and other local partners including, the Puerto Rico's Department of Natural Resources, Vida Marina at UPRA, Rescate Playas Isabela, Plastic Free Ocean, Coors Light, and ADS (Solid Waste Authority) to implement 4 eco-initiatives in conjunction with the Rip Curl Pro Search 2010, at Playa Middles in Isabela.  The following is a summary of the results from these initiatives.

1.  Coastal and Dune Reforestation -

In total, we planted 462 plants and trees including 60 coconut palm trees, 225 sea grape, 75 emajaguilla, 75 tropical almond trees, and 27 ipomeoa.  These plants and trees were planted at 3 different sites:  Wilderness, Surfers and Middles.  At Wilderness we planted 115 plants and trees, at Surfers we planted 45, and at Middles the primary event site for the Rip Curl Pro we planted 302 plants and trees.  Why were we doing this?  This eco-initiative was done restore the coastal and dune environment by stabilizing the sand, preventing coastal erosion, decreasing sedimentation, and off-setting carbon emissions.

Click here to read more about coastal and dune reforestation.  

2.  Dune Protection

In order to reduce the impact of foot traffic on the sensitive dune environment at Playa Middles, our chapter worked with Vida Marina to build 100' of walkways and install 300' of protective fencing.  This sound a lot more easy than it was.  These features were constructed over a three week time-frame leading up to the event and installed just before the event window began.  Talk about down to the wire!  Just as anticipated, the were a huge success! 

Click here to read more about dune protection.

3.  Recycling

Working on-site with the Rip Curl Planet Foundation, Autoridad de Desperdicios Solidos (the Solid Waste Authority) and Coors Light our chapter helped maintain a clean event site by doing periodic site cleanups, helping to separate and recycle plastic, cans, and cardboard, and transporting the refuse to the proper pickup locations.  Looking back on the effort ways to improve this eco-initiative is to instill an Impact Reduction Strategy by supplying water via a hydration station complete with reusable cups and nalgene bottles.  The cups would need to be provided to all the vendors to be given out as a marketing item and all single-use plastic items would need to be eliminated.  We hope to achieve this at a future event.    

4.  Outreach and Education

The last eco-initiative, and certainly one of the most important was the outreach and education component.  Each of the aforementioned initiatives were done with the help of students, volunteers, stakeholders, the general public, and organizations like Plastic Free Ocean.  For example, the coastal and dune reforestation program included the help of 2 schools from the area:  the Friedrich Froebel Bilingual School in Aguadilla and Escuela Ecológica Niños Uniendo al Mundo from Caguas, PR.  In addition, our chapter had an information booth where we handed out brochures about ways individuals can help to reduce their impact on the planet, ways to help make a positive impact in their communities, about the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve, and chapter driven projects including reef and watershed restoration.  Lastly, the Rip Curl Planet Foundation supplied us with some informative signs that were placed around the event site to raise awareness about why coastal and dune forestation and restoration is important and relayed the same messages via commentary during the event.  In total, between our information booth, the outreach and education events, the signs, and the commentary all of the event partners effectively reached at least a 1000 people with positive eco-messages.  The underlying theme of these message sums up SF's mission; the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves, and beaches for all people through conservation, activism, research, and education.

Click here to read more about the outreach and education events.

Below is an image of the coastal and dune reforestation at Playa Middles.  All 302 plants and trees are indicated by an icon.  Note; this satellite image is outdated.  

Outreach and Education as part of the Rip Curl Pro; event day 3

Wow!  What a day for outreach and education at the Rip Curl Pro Search happening at Playa Middles, in Isabela yesterday.  Our chapter together with Plastic Free Ocean, Vida Marina, and the Rip Curl Planet Foundation educated over 40 students from 2 different schools about the importance of coastal reforestation, dune protection and restoration, and environmental stewardship.  The two schools that came to visit were the Friedrich Froebel Bilingual School in Aguadilla in the morning and the Escuela Ecologica Ninos Uniedo al Mundo from Caguas, PR, in the afternoon.  As Ernie Alvarez, a representative of Plastic Free Ocean and local surfing charger says to the students, (paraphrasing) "...you are all environmental superheros that can make a difference!  So, lets work together to save la Isla del Encanto!"  Check out the slideshow and group photos from yesterdays outreach and education effort!  Exito! 

The chapter would like to thank all the participating entities and partners for making the outreach and education component of this event truly special.  This includes the Rip Curl Planet Foundation, ESPN Brazil, Dr. Robert Mayer, Tamara Trinidad, and Santos Muniz from Vida Marina, Ernie and Camille Alvarez from Plastic Free Ocean, all of the SF Rincon event crew including Jim Crotty, Justin and Angela Haynie, Shannon Lyons (and her friend Ally), James Sethward, Roger Wagner, Roger Galloza, and everyone else that has helped throughout the past 3 weeks leading up to this event.  Thanks!!!

Rip Curl Pro event days 1 and 2

The past few days our chapter has been working hard in facilitating 4 eco-initiatives (coastal reforestation, dune protection and restoration, recycling, and outreach and education) with a host of different partners in conjunction with the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition at Playa Middles in Isabela.  Tomorrow, together with Rip Curl Planet, Plastic Free Ocean, Vida Marina, and DRNA we will be restoring a dune area just east of the competition site by planting sea grape, palm trees, and an assortment of other native trees.  Local students will be assisting us in this great effort.  

With relation to our second eco-initiative, dune protection, our chapter is very pleased with the walkways that we helped Vida Marina at UPRA build to prevent dune erosion.  Check out the photo below; they are a big hit!
 

 the western walkway

the eastern walkway 

 However, we still need more people to spread the word about the importance of only walking to the beach via these two designated entrances at the event site to prevent further damage to the Playa Middles sensitive dune complex.  These designated walkways are located on the eastern and western side of the main area at Playa Middles.


Our crew is spreading the great word about conservation and sustainability; come visit us at our booth to learn about our chapter's programs and involvement in the communities of northwest Puerto Rico!

Eco preparation for Rip Curl Pro Day 5; SF Rincon and Vida Marina install more walkways

Today a group of 7 volunteers from the chapter of the Surfrider Foundation in Rincon, Vida Marina at UPRA, Rescate Playas Isabella, and the Rip Curl Planet Foundation installed some more walkways on the western side of the Middles event site.  This work is being done to reduce the impacts of pediatrician traffic on the dunes.  The pathways help by reducing dune erosion in a sustainable and aesthetic way.  Check out the photos of the new walkways below!

 James and I getting to work on the first section. 

 

Jim walking down the new walkway.  

The western walkway

The crew the helped with the on-site effort.  

In addition, we roped off an area on the eastern side of the event site in preparation for the tree planting on Monday, November 1st with local students, SF Rincon, Vida Marina, RPI, and the Rip Curl Planet Foundation.

Jonathan moving plants to a safe keeping spot for our Monday event. 




Angela representing

James roping off the planting areas

Eco preparation for Rip Curl Pro Day 4; SF Rincon and Vida Marina prepare more walkways

Scrambling to finish the last walkway, Jim, Santos, and I work late Tuesday night.  We hope to install the western walkway at Middles tomorrow, Thursday October 28th, with a host of volunteers from Vida Marina, SF Rincon, RPI, and the Rip Curl Planet Foundation.

Eco preparation for Rip Curl Pro Day 3; SF Rincon, Vida Marina, and Rip Curl Planet work at Middles

Yesterday, Saturday October 23rd, a group of volunteers from Surfrider Foundation Rincon, Vida Marina at UPRA, the Rip Curl Planet Foundation, and Rescate Playas Isabela worked together to plant trees and plants at Wilderness, Surfers, and Middles, install protective fencing and walkways to prevent dune erosion, and unite on a cause to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the islands precious natural resources for future generations to come.

If anyone is interested in helping we need more volunteers to help build more walkways and protective fencing, with upcoming plantings, with the on-site recycling effort, and helping to spread the positive environmental message that this work represents. Contact us at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org

Check out this video from the past 3 events of our effort to help reduce the impacts this event could have on the environment.

Below are some photos from the coastal reforestation effort. This is another initiative inspired by the Rip Curl Planet Foundation and facilitated by SF Rincon. Our chapter is working hard to implement this and many other actions that can help reduce the environmental footprint of this event. These actions transpire into a positive multi-participatory environmental movement to inspire the people of Puerto Rico to work with us towards conservation, protection, and the enjoyment of our oceans, waves, and beaches.
The chapter has put 215 plants in the ground to date as part of our initiative to reduce coastal erosion, stabilize dune habitat, create new habitat, and offset carbon emissions. The next planting is scheduled for November 1st 2010 at Playa Middles at 8 am.

This is a satellite image of Playa Middles with the plants/trees we have planted to date. Note; this satellite images is out dated but still serves as a representation of the exact area we have planted over the past few events. The significance of this is that it reminds us that the morphology of our coastlines are ever changing and necessitates the need for increased dune restoration and coastal reforestation to save our beaches.

This is one of the three planting areas we installed at Wilderness yesterday. These are commonly known as the tropical almond tree or almendra in spanish.

This is one of the groups of volunteers that worked during yesterday's event. This crew planted more than 215 plants in one day! The other crew worked closely with Vida Marina at Middles to install more protective fencing and walkways to deter dune erosion. See photos below.

This is the protective fencing at the western end of the Middles event site. The walkways will be installed later this week in collaboration with Vida Marina and the Rip Curl Planet Foundation.

Here, Angie from Rip Curl, fastens the upper portion of the rope that fences in the walkway. Thanks Angie!


Contact Surfrider Foundation Rincon to learn about ways to help in the upcoming events and during the event window. Email us at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org.
Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Eco preparation for Rip Curl Pro Day 2; Surfrider Foundation Rincon and Vida Marina work at Middles

Today a crew of 13 activists, with the chapter of Surfrider Foundation in Rincon and representatives of Vida Marina at UPR Aguadilla, helped get over 300 plants/trees that the chapter ordered from the Isabela DRNA vivero to UPR Aguadilla.  The plants are going to be used for a coastal reforestation project at Wilderness, Surfers, and Middles.  The first part of the planting will take place this Saturday at 8 am at Wilderness then Surfers, and lastly Middles.

In addition, the chapter installed some protective fencing to minimize dune and coastal vegetative erosion at Middles today and began preparing some planting areas for the November 1st planting that will take place as a multi-participatory event including Rip Curl, Rip Curl Planet, Plastic Free Ocean, Surfrider Foundation Rincon, DRNA, and area schools.  Contact salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org if your interested in helping.  

Angela taking tally of the more than 300 plants/trees that we received in an order the chapter placed from DRNA. The plants are being kept at Vida Marina's greenhouse at UPR Aquadilla.

 

Before and after shots of one of the areas that we are going to plant based on suggestions from a field biologist at DRNA.  We will be planting this bluff, and other areas, on November 1st. 

This is an example of the walkways we helped Vida Marina build and will be placing between the protective fencing we installed today at Middles.  We are collaborating with Vida Marina from UPR Aguadilla to mobilize these resources and put them into action.   

It is tough to see the difference between this before and after shot but if you look closely you can see the fencing that we installed to prevent dune and coastal vegetation erosion in the middle of the picture. 

This is a more clear shot of the protective fencing.  The walkways will be placed in the middle.  We would like to thank Vida Marina for giving our chapter the opportunity to puts these resources into action. 

Here is the crew that helped make Day 2 of our Rip Curl Pro preparation initiative happen. 

Eco preparation for Rip Curl Pro Day 1; Surfrider Foundation and Vida Marina de UPR Aquadilla

This past weekend, Wessley Merten and Roger Galloza, representatives of the Surfrider Foundation Rincon chapter helped Vida Marina of UPR Aquadilla and a host of student volunteers build wooden walkways and discuss an action plan for minimizing the impacts 1000s of fans watching the Rip Curl Pro Surfing competition, scheduled to take place at the end of this month at Middles, impose on the sensitive coastal and dune habitat.  Check the photos below of the volunteers that are making this happen.  The chapter is planning on working with Vida Marina to install all of these walkways by next weekend including some protective fencing to guard sensitive areas in highly trafficked areas.  If you would like to help in this effort contact our chapter at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org.

Dr. Robert Mayer, Director of the Caribbean Center for the Reduction of Aquatic Debris at the Department of Natural Sciences at UPR Aguadilla discusses the work plan with some student volunteers.

Wess Merten cutting 2x4's and 2x6's to be used to build the wooden walkways.

Roger Galloza and Santos Muniz, a doctoral student in the Department of Marine Sciences, take a break from building the walkways to smile for the camera.  

This is just the tip of the iceburg of the resources the chapter will be mobilizing with Vida Marina to protect the dunes from potentially catastrophic pedestrian damage.