Seacology

“THE ORGANIZATION HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING POLICY:1) The draft of the Internal Revenue Service Form 990 be distributed toall members of the Seacology Board of Directors as a PDF file via email within 5 days of the deadline for submitting the Form 990 to taxing authorities (original or extended deadline); and 2) That the draft of the Internal Revenue Service Form 990 will be reviewed and approved by the Chairman of the Board, the Executive Director, and the Accounting Manager, each acting on behalf of the Board of Directors, prior to submitting the Form 990 to taxing authorities.”

“The following policy has been adopted by the organization: no member of the board of directors shall participate in any discussion or vote on any matter in which he or she or a member of his or her immediate family has potential conflict of interest due to having material economic involvement regarding the matter being discussed. When such a matter presents itself, the director must announce his or her potential conflict, disqualify himself or herself, and be excused from the meeting until discussion is over on the matter involved. The president of the meeting is expected to make an inquiry if such conflict appears to exist and the board member has not made it known.each member of the board of directors, employees and independent contracts (who receive more than $25,000 per year from seacology) shall annually sign a statement which affirms that such person:a. Has received a copy of the conflict of interest policy,b. Has read and understands the policy,c. Has agreed to comply with the policy,d. Disclose the existence of any potential conflicts of interest, ande. Understands seacology is a charitable organization and in order to maintain its federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.f. Seacology is concerned with conflicts of interest that create actual or potential job-related concerns, especially in the areas of confidentiality, donor relations, safety, security, and morale. If there is any actual or potential conflict of interest between you and a donor, competitor, supplier, vendor, or contractor to the organization, you must disclose it to your supervisor. If an actual or potential conflict of interest is determined to exist, the organization will take such steps as it deems necessary to reduce or eliminate this conflict.added by the executive director in september 2023:for employees and contractors (who receive more than $25,000 per year from seacology):conflicts of interest is a situation in which a person has a duty to more than one person or organization, but cannot do justice to the actual or potentially adverse interests of both parties. A conflict of interest arises where an employees personal interests or concerns or an employees immediate family members personal interests or concerns conflict (or gives the appears of a conflict) with the employers interests or concerns. Common conflicts of interest include: use of company information or equipment for personal gain. Self-dealing. Moonlighting. Receiving gifts from persons with whom the company does business. Reporting to a family member (nepotism).”

“The compensation committee reviews the compensation of the executive director. One compensation committee meeting is held per year.”

“The compensation committee reviews the compensation of officers and key employees with the exception of the accounting manager who is listed as an officer in part vii since they are the top financial employee per irs guidelines but otherwise they are not an officer of the organization. One compensation committee meeting is held per year.”

“Financial Reports: Seacology prepares an Annual Report and distributes it to the public via email, mail, and by posting it on Seacologys website. The Annual Report contains an unaudited ending-year statement of financial activites with a note that recommends the public contact the Seacology office mid-year to obtain a copy of audited financial statements. Seacology also distributes the Internal Revenue Services form 990 to the public by posting a copy to the Seacology website.Governing documents, and conflict of interest policy: Seacology distributes policies approved by the board of directors, including the conflict of interest policy, to staff in an employee manual and/or accounting manual, to the board of directors in a board handbook, and stores these policies along with governing documents in a readily accessable area of the main office for staff to provide to the public upon request.”

“Seacology's 2023 projects funded a variety of community benefits in return for various protections, including: 1. Restoration of the threatened queen conch in dutch caribbean, bonaire in lac bay.2. Conservation, patrol, and sustainable management of 2,916-acre mangrove ecosystem for 15 years in dominican republic in san lorenzo bay in exchange for rebuilding of office and support for ecotourism and sustainable fisheries.3. Protection of 1,230 acres of old-growth forest for 15 years and mangrove planting on four acres in fiji near uma village in exchange for new community hall/kindergarten and renovation of small historic building.4. Permanent protection of 108 acres of land and marine area as nature preserve in federated states of micronesia on pisiwi island in exchange for new visitors center/ranger station.5. Mangrove replanting (25 acres) and patrols of 450 acres in indonesia near medan mas village in exchange for coastal learning center for environmental education and livelihood trainings.6. Conservation of 3,700-acre marine area, including coral reef and 450 acres of seagrass, for 10 years in thailand near ban bagunyai village in exchange for youth environmental center.7. Permanent conservation of 37 acres of mangroves, habitat of endangered bat in philippines on suyac island in exchange for repairs to watchtower and ranger station to support locally managed nature-based tourism.8. Restoration of about 12 acres of wetland wildlife habitat in scotland in baron's haugh.9. Funding for the lanka mangrove museum located in kakkapalliya, sri lanka for one year. The lanka mangrove museum is the world's first museum devoted exclusively to mangroves dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of mangrove forests, their vital ecological functions, and their cultural significance.10. Extend the protection of a 4,000-acre forest area by 15 years and additional mangrove planting in fiji near qumusea village in exchange for construction of a new classroom.11. Protection of four endangered species of marine turtles in el salvador on montecristo island in exchange for turtle egg hatchery maintenance and improvements; waste management; children's sea turtle awareness activities; turtle festival; ecotourism; artisanal fishing and handicraft training.12. Permanent protection of two marine protected areas totaling 207 acres in federated states of micronesia near the walung community in exchange for renovation of community youth center.13. Protection of 124 acres of coastline as no-take zone for 20 years in honduras on exposicin, inglesera, and pacar islands in exchange for solar panels, lobster sheds, sewage and solid waste management education.14. Protection of about 7.5 acres of biodiverse mangrove/wetland habitat in india on chorao island in exchange for interpretive center, roofed observation platform, wildlife murals, education and training for landowners and fishers.15. Protection of 618 acres of forest for 10 years in indonesia near elang cot girek in exchange for support of coffee growing, native tree planting, and small-scale ecotourism.16. Protection and replanting of 74-acres forest corridor for 30 years in madagascar near ecovision village in exchange for primary school and furnishings, with restroom block.17. Protection of 124 acres of forest for 15 years in malaysia in gana village in exchange for shade structures for artisanal organic farming.18. Protection of 1,165 acres of forest watershed for 15 years in malaysia near peneng trusan village in exchange for renewable energy from micro-hydro system.19. New 110-acre no-take intertidal area for 10 years in mexico on guadalupe island in exchange for fresh water from new desalination plant.20. Environmental education, mangrove protection and restoration in philippines in exchange for sports equipment and training for youth.21. 272-acre marine protected area, including 64-acre no-take zone, for 10 years in tonga near manuka village in exchange for infrastructure for new ecot”

“Dr. Ratsimbazafy, whom a colleague calls a force of nature for conservation in madagascar, grew up as a city boy. But the first time he saw one of his islands iconic lemursthose big-eyed, long-tailed primates that dance through the treesit was love at first sight. On the forest treks where he first encountered lemurs, he also saw traps set by people hunting them for meat. He also saw that lemur habitat was rapidly being destroyed, and that many species faced the very real possibility of imminent extinction. That led him to his lifes goal: i feel a personal responsibility towards ensuring no more lemurs go extinct.dr. Ratsimbazafys conservation efforts take several forms. His research contributes to the store of knowledge about lemurs, providing information necessary for effective management. He is also an outspoken proponent of policies that will save madagascars lemurs. That makes him unpopular with corrupt politicians, powerful mining and timber interests, and criminal enterprises. His life has been threatened more than once.finally, he is a tireless grassroots campaigner for madagascars precious ecosystems. He could have a job anywhere, but he returned to madagascar, one of the worlds poorest nations, to work on community conservation. He wants the malagasy people, not outsiders, to take responsibility for protecting the islands unique biodiversity. The ngo he established, which now has more than 20 malagasy staff, works with desperately poor communities to explain conservation and teach alternative livelihoods. He talks to young schoolchildren (lemur puppets in hand), university students, and illiterate farmers to convince them of the need to act nowbefore its too late.”