Timor-Leste

Welcome visitors! Families on Ataúro Island establish their first homestay association

| sayloraway

As a long-term nomad, I have stayed in a LOT of different places. One of the most memorable was a homestay on Ataúro Island in Timor-Leste.

Homestay hosts Estavao and Lourdes Marques
Homestay hosts Estevao and Lourdes Marques on Ataúro Island

Families on Ataúro are opening their homes to visitors in an effort to generate a new income stream for their community, which is in the midst of change. I spent two weeks in a homestay on Ataúro while working with conservation NGO Blue Ventures last spring.

Read my story about this experience and meet a few of these pioneering families on the Blue Ventures’ blog Beyond Conservation.

Collaborating to Save Seagrass: Communities in Timor-Leste Embrace Conservation

| sayloraway

Meet Monda Costa… She is one of a team of community members working with marine conservation NGO Blue Ventures to save sea grass habitats on Ataúro Island in Timor-Leste.

Monda Costa recording data during a seagrass survey
Monda Costa helps conduct a survey of a sea grass meadow off the coast of her home, Ataúro Island.

Seagrasses are flowering plants that form meadows in shallow waters. These meadows are ecological superstars. Protecting them is a priority in Timor-Leste, but scientists, community members and decision-makers need more information about the location, composition and use of existing seagrass beds. Community members like Monda are embracing the opportunity to work with Blue Ventures to conserve these habitats.

Read my story about their efforts on Blue Ventures’ blog Beyond Conservation.

A Fisherman’s Journey into Deeper Seas: Scuba Diving and Conservation in Timor Leste

| sayloraway

Amos Da Costa teaching volunteers about a sea plantOn a bright quiet morning last May, a boat and its captain rested patiently on the tropical seas around Ataúro Island in Timor-Leste. A reflection of the island’s rugged coastline glimmered on the water’s glasslike surface as three orange buoys glided silently along, marking the presence of scuba divers from conservation NGO Blue Ventures. As the captain monitored the seas, the divers explored Watu Aii, a sloping reef with a dense flourish of colorful corals and lively fish.

It seemed a sleepy morning, until a riot of hoots and hollers erupted near one of the buoys. One voice rose above the others shouting, “Mola mola! Mola mola!”

This is the beginning of a story I wrote for Blue Ventures after spending six weeks as a volunteer in Timor-Leste. Amos’ family has relied on the sea for their food and livelihood for generations, but he believes they must now look to a new future. To continue reading about his journey of becoming a scuba diver and conservation advocate, please visit the Blue Ventures’ blog.