Anita Gardner returned to her birthplace, the Philippines, from England to create educational programmes that connect nature with art for marine conservation. She tells Fiona Childs why and how she got into the passionate pursuit of ensuring low impact tourism on coral reefs and marine life.
Anita Gardner (left) shares with Gaia Discovery how she works with conservation organisations using with her creative inputs and garnering support and involvement from local communities.
Port Barton, Palawan. January 2020. Anita Gardner, Creative Director at Atelier Aquatic was born in the Philippines and lived there until she was seven years old. Her dive instructor father imbued her with an enduring love of the sea and marine life. She is a divemaster and has trained in sustainable diving (Green Fins) and reef monitoring (Reef Check). But it’s not all seaborne passion for Anita; her other passion is art. She has an Interactive Arts degree and Qualified Teacher certificate in Art and Design, and a Diploma in Arts and Therapy in Education. After working as an artist and a teacher in the UK, Anita has returned to make the Philippines her home. “I’m like a turtle returning to its place of birth!” she jokes.
GD: Where are you based in the Philippines and why?
Turtles are important for the tourism industry in Palawan. Courtesy F. Childs.
AG: I’m at Port Barton in Palawan, it’s an area of outstanding beauty, both terrestrial and marine and is recognised as UNESCO biosphere. The community are receptive and already engaged in conservation. In the past they established a 10,000 hectare marine park and local stakeholders are enthused to re-establish effective management of it. Local livelihoods have changed from being dependent on fishing to marine tourism due to the collapse of the fishing industry; this development brings both threats and opportunities. Palawan has been chosen by WWF under the Coral Triangle Initiative to focus on developing marine stewardship and conservation through sustainable low impact, nature-based tourism.
GD: How did Atelier Aquatic come about?
AG: I wanted to do a project combining my passions, creativity, personal and professional development with the underwater world; using art to engage people in marine conservation. Art is able to communicate emotions and connect yourself and the wider world in a way that other academic subjects cannot. Atelier Aquatic helps to address issues that arise with increased tourism through projects on things like waste management, recycling, water refills, establishing mooring buoys, reef monitoring and awareness and education workshops. And it uses art to help do this too!
GD: What does Atelier Aquatic do?
AG: We undertook surveys to compare coral cover in marine protected areas and were able to show that the well-managed area was healthier - encouraging for private funders.
A local works on an underwater sculpture. Courtesy F. Childs.
Likewise we did a comparison of fish populations on a degraded and an artificial reef which showed the interventions were having a positive impact. We are currently monitoring reef health in various sites in Palawan. The results of these surveys including data and interpretation is shared with local dive shops, the coastguard, marines, local governments, local universities, DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and local NGOs. In addition, Atelier Aquatic is training local Filipinos in the Reef Check process so they can join surveys or undertake them independently if they want to.
GD: What is the key driver for Atelier Aquatic?
AG: Community participation is at the heart of our conservation work. We have at least one all-inclusive community event per year, where locals who have expertise in a specific area are invited to run info education sessions. For example, last year an expert on eco bricks came from Cebu and ran a three day workshop and put plastic bottles around the village for people to put waste plastic into. When they were full, they were used to help build a hand washing station at the elementary school. The remaining bottle/bricks will be used for a Recycling Facility they are setting up.
Local schoolchildren help with marine-based murals as part of the AA projects. Courtesy F. Childs.
And in 2019, the community project was ‘Art on Barton’, based on turtle conservation. Most visitors go to Port Barton for island hopping snorkel trips, and turtles there are a big attraction - Hawksbill and Green turtles are common and Olive Ridley turtles are occasionally spotted. The idea of this project came from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which was keen to see turtle awareness being promoted in the community. Businesses offered their walls for murals to be painted by local and international artists, volunteers and local children. Film makers from the UK and Manila were hosted to document the event. Art on Barton was designed to use education, community engagement and creative participation to connect people to the marine world via public art, and to inspire the desire to respect and cherish marine.
GD: How does Atelier Aquatic get support for its work?
Art on Barton educates as well as decorates. Courtesy F. Childs.
AG: Atelier Aquatic received funding from Sculpt the Future Foundation for community participation in the Art on Barton event in December 2019. Information, Education, Communication workshops were delivered by WWF Philippines, DENR, Western Philippines University and Be Green, a privately funded marine education initiative from nearby El Nido. The event also involved the local elementary and high schools, boat owners association, resort owners associations, dive community, local residents and tourists. Profits from Atelier Aquatic programmes and The Overlook accommodation go back into community and marine conservation projects.
GD: How do you see Atelier Aquatic developing in the future?
AG: Following recommendations from WWF that we create nature-based marine tourism initiative, we would like to expand our creative, volunteer and training programmes. The Atelier Aquatic SEA Change Volunteer Programme, (SEA stands for Scientific research, Environmental education and Aquatic action), is a month long residential programme. Volunteers follow the focus areas of scientific research, community engagement and creative participation.
GD: How else can people get involved?
AG: In addition to the four week programme, we run Reef Check Eco Diver Training, where participants can gain certification in less than a week. We also run Printmaking in Paradise day courses which are available through Airbnb experience. At these courses, visitors can learn about the art of the ocean, and create a series of screen prints and an eco tote bag to take with them on their travels to further promote sustainable tourism. Our place has multiple uses as accommodation for guests and volunteers, creative and educational workshops, and retreats. Please get in touch if you are interested in visiting us - we would be happy to welcome you to our little piece of paradise.
Atelier Aquatic visitors and participants can stay at The Outlook, overlooking a slice of equatorial heaven. Courtesy F. Childs.
GD: What are the key foundations for Atelier Aquatic?
AG: We apply permaculture principles wherever possible: earth care, fair share and people care. We are trying to create a welcoming space, where people can connect with the beauty of the landscape and enjoy our breathtaking views of the ocean, Mount Kapwas, pristine native jungle and the village. We are very lucky to be here and want to share this special place with people to enjoy, relax and experience the heart-warming community of Port Barton.
All the Atelier Aquatic programmes are based at The Overlook, Port Barton where Anita and her partner Sam Sharland live alongside their two dogs Uwe and Domino and BB the cat. Sam is developing The Overlook with low impact and environmental sustainability in mind, and trying where possible to use energy and resources most effectively.