On the evening of Tuesday, December 3rd, over 20 divers and interested individuals gathered at Duikcentrum de Aalscholvers to hear presentations on Global Underwater Explorer’s central conservation initiative called Project Baseline. Project Baseline is creating a web-based platform that allows organized teams of highly skilled divers to upload underwater images in the form of images, temperature, visibility and depth to the Project’s database. Teams share their work and observations with the public to created a broad base of awareness and support for their diving environments. Vanessa Belz, Program Manager of Project Baseline and Rich Denmark, Marketing Director for Global Underwater Explorers are spending almost two weeks in Europe learning more about two teams that are central contributors to this conservation initiative, PB: Belgium and a number of PB: Netherlands teams before attending the Global Diving Conference in early December.
 
Twan van den Hout, volunteer Project manager for PB: Nionplas, provided the audience a detailed explanation of recent team efforts, including the installation of 5 visibility monitoring Stations in Nionplas Lake, an expansion of volunteer participation in the Project, and the development of comprehensive outreach materials which includes a new website and internal database that currently manages the teams observations.
 
Vanessa Belz offered a brief overview of Project Baseline’s global presence, which is currently, comprised of approximately 37 volunteers teams creating a permanent, positive presence in local communities in 19 countries. Her presentation also provided the audience with a conceptual overview of “shifting baselines” in aquatic environments and discussed how images and basic numerical data can support public involvement and political action.
 
PB: Nionplas is is a well-organized team of volunteers who are off to an incredible start to their Project and PB Global is eager to support their efforts as their project gains traction over time.

Vanessa Belz

Program Manager Project Baseline