My Nonprofit Reviews

I first came to know about Sirenian International in 2006, when I was Dr. Caryn Self-Sullivan’s research and logistics summer intern for a long-term project about ecology, behavior and conservation of the Antillean manatee in Belize. The internship turned out to be a life-changing experience; it excelled all my expectations by far, allowing me to develop my own manatee research and conservation project in the Dominican Republic later on. Dr. Self-Sullivan has been the scientific advisor and my mentor for this research project since 2007. I consider Dr. Self-Sullivan an outstanding scientist, as well as an admirable educator and excellent mentor. Throughout over 10 years of the successful manatees in Belize project alone, Sirenian International has positively influenced hundreds of people, working with fellow scientists, graduate and undergraduate students, a wide range of international volunteers from teenagers to professionals in all areas, as well as local teachers and local staff. Sirenian International has promoted extensive work in developing countries in Latin America and Africa, and in challenging environments. This NGO has helped mentor young scientists in different countries, such as myself, and has provided small grants for research and conservation projects on Sirenians around the world. SI has also helped organize and sponsor important international workshops, offering the opportunity for participants to come together from different parts of the world to learn from each other’s experiences. For example, in May 2009 I was one of the many young professionals who received a travel grant from SI to participate in the workshop “Improving the contribution of Marine Protected Areas to the Conservation of Sirenians” during the International Marine Conservation Congress, held in Washington DC. This experienced allowed me to meet with Sirenian experts from all over the world, and gave me the opportunity to share my experiences with manatee research and conservation in the Dominican Republic. Apart from all of the above, SI offers a great deal of resources through their website for anyone who is interested in Sirenians: from general species information for the general public, all the way to invaluable resources for professionals, such as an extensive bibliography, information on internship opportunities and conferences, newsletter, listserv, etc. All these activities and resources serve to show Sirenian International’s long-term commitment to science, conservation and education.

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