Sandwatch Project Presentation NIKAO MAORI SCHOOL 2007

Is this what you call Paradise?

Or this one…..

HEALTHY REEFS MAKE HEALTHY PEOPLE

AIM: Research and investigate ecosystems and understand the relationship between living and non-living features on a local ecosystem. HYPOTHESIS Our beach and lagoon are increasingly polluted by human waste. MAIN FOCUS Run-off from land into the sea affects growth of coral and lagoon life.

MAP OF THE DRAINAGE

Why we chose this area.  This area will give a huge impact to our environment especially polluting marine lives.  TOURIST ATTRACTION – tourist use along the beach for swimming and relaxing. (From Tangee to Black Rock)

WHAT WE DID? First we students predicted what goes in the water in the drainage? ( Classroom activity – Brainstorming) Our predictions were on or about: 1.Mud soil 2.Fertilizers 3.Nutrients (Nitrates) 4.Harmful chemicals (paraquat) 5.Septic fluid waste 6.Rubbish 7.oil

Second prediction: What are the problems we might find out at the sea wall area? (From the mouth of the drainage to the reef ) 1.Dead corals 2.Unclean water 3.Rubbish on beach 4.Less plants

VISIT Visit the drainage system at the Airport site. These are the living things we found in and near the drainage Fresh water silapiaFresh water silapia Fresh water prawnsFresh water prawns

PLANTS SUCH AS…. Mouku A Algae We found lots of algae however these little plants provides food for fresh water fish like silapia

THESE ARE THE THINGS WE FOUND AT THE MOUTH OF THE DRAINAGE. MUD MUD A SACK FULL OF STINKING DEAD FISH A SACK FULL OF STINKING DEAD FISH RUBBISH RUBBISH

We also found lots of algae at the mouth of the drainage.

We found another huge problem at the mouth of the drainage. –Sand slide – EROSION.

Most concerned problems Pollution Pollution Erosion Erosion

LETS LOOK AT HUMAN AND NATURE THREATS AND IMPACTS TO MARINE LIVES. Although it’s not in our practical Hypothesis we looked at the big picture through research in the library, internets and important guest speakers. AND THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND OUT: Building new houses near coastal areas. Building new houses near coastal areas. Leaving destructive fishing materials (plastic) even anchor and fishing methods (ora) in the sea, and ignoring fishing laws like our Raui. Leaving destructive fishing materials (plastic) even anchor and fishing methods (ora) in the sea, and ignoring fishing laws like our Raui. Waste: (fertilizers, sewage, waste dumps. Waste: (fertilizers, sewage, waste dumps.

NATURE THREATS Cyclones – Usually happens maybe every 10 years but now less than 10 years. Cyclones – Usually happens maybe every 10 years but now less than 10 years. Rain water- Flooding Rain water- Flooding Temperature rise – climate change occurring worldwide causing temperature rise. Temperature rise – climate change occurring worldwide causing temperature rise.

Impacts on the Environment High rate of dead fish High rate of dead fish Damage to sea grass beds and coral reefs. Damage to sea grass beds and coral reefs. Heaps of fish disappearing Heaps of fish disappearing Polluting water and increasing growth of algae. Mud and other pollutants get washed into the lagoon. Polluting water and increasing growth of algae. Mud and other pollutants get washed into the lagoon. Dead coral and dirty water. Dead coral and dirty water. Change of physical coastline areas. Change of physical coastline areas.

What does the drainage do to damage our lagoon. Drainage carries substances from inland activities straight in our lagoon such as fertilizers, nutrients, septic fluid waste which obtains bacteria called ENTEROCCOCI. Drainage carries substances from inland activities straight in our lagoon such as fertilizers, nutrients, septic fluid waste which obtains bacteria called ENTEROCCOCI. Heavy flows of soils are mostly carried in the lagoon during hard rainy days. Heavy flows of soils are mostly carried in the lagoon during hard rainy days.

What does the drainage do to damage our lagoon. Drainage carries substances from inland activities straight in our lagoon such as fertilizers, nutrients, septic fluid waste which obtains bacteria called ENTEROCCOCI. Drainage carries substances from inland activities straight in our lagoon such as fertilizers, nutrients, septic fluid waste which obtains bacteria called ENTEROCCOCI. Heavy flows of soils are mostly carried in the lagoon during hard rainy days. Heavy flows of soils are mostly carried in the lagoon during hard rainy days.

Possible ways of Nutrients in our lagoon. Water lens Septic waste Up take by land plants Uptake by planktons. Uptake by marine plants and other marine lives

Measuring Water Quality On the third day of our measurements the water temperature dropped to degrees Celsius due to heavy rains. On the third day of our measurements the water temperature dropped to degrees Celsius due to heavy rains.

Large amount of fresh water dumped into lagoons during heavy rainstorms lowers the salt concentration. On hot days salinity increases. (evaporation of fresh water increases) Large amount of fresh water dumped into lagoons during heavy rainstorms lowers the salt concentration. On hot days salinity increases. (evaporation of fresh water increases)

Amount of Oxygen declined a lot on the third day of our measurements, due to heavy rains. Amount of Oxygen declined a lot on the third day of our measurements, due to heavy rains. A lot of bacteria are being carried in the lagoon through the drainage during rainy days. Bacteria and other marine plants were using up the oxygen in the sea without making any oxygen. A lot of bacteria are being carried in the lagoon through the drainage during rainy days. Bacteria and other marine plants were using up the oxygen in the sea without making any oxygen. This decreases the amount of oxygen in the sea. This decreases the amount of oxygen in the sea.

Conclusion We found out…….. What ever we do on land affects our beautiful lagoon What ever we do on land affects our beautiful lagoon Our environment (beach) can not maintain it’s beauty if we don’t continue looking after it. Our environment (beach) can not maintain it’s beauty if we don’t continue looking after it. Problems are growing each day not only through nature but mostly through human actions and practices. Problems are growing each day not only through nature but mostly through human actions and practices.

Recommendations Growers – plant at least 10 meters away from streams to avoid chemicals flow in drainages and into the sea. Animal farmers – tie animals away from streams for it increases the amount of bacteria in the water. Sewage – Thanks to TNM company for making new septic tanks for waste storage. Get new 3 chambers septic for waste storage. Do not remove plants from beaches or coastal areas. Replant trees along coastal areas for it helps stop erosion. Keep your own rubbish in your pocket. We need to be more informed of our problems.e.g. media coverage, educating us children, village posters and flyers. Environment Police – to keep an eye on people destroying the beach.

End of presentation. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR LISTENING TO OUR PRESENTATION. Before we close down we would like to acknowledge our Sources. Keri Herman from the Environment The Airport Authority – Tangaroa Tangaroa Science Curriculum Advisors Dorothy Solomona and especially Teina Tupou for providing a lot of information on our project and being patient with us during our practical activities.

ROCKS vs HUMANS Rocks don’t have brain They don’t think Rocks don’t have hearts They don’t feel Rocks don’t have hands They don’t grab Rocks don’t have legs They don’t move Rocks don’t have mouth They don’t talk Humans, like me, have brains It can think Humans have hearts It feels Humans have hands It can tab Humans have legs It moves from place to place Humans have mouth It can talk If you want to live in a BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT, join the HUMAN team. TOGETHER WE ACHIEVE MORE