We here so many negative items in what humans do...Here is something promising!
In the South Pacific islands of Fiji, coastal villagers are beginning to reap much-needed financial benefits from conserving the beautiful tropical environment they treasure as a family heirloom.
In a unique project that combines environmental conservation, economic development and drug discovery research, scientists and policy experts led by the Georgia Institute of Technology are collaborating with the villagers of Tagaqe and the University of the South Pacific to explore, protect and generate income for islanders from their coral reef. The project is funded primarily by the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Instead of breaking off pieces of live coral reef substrate – called "live rock" – for sale to the saltwater aquarium industry, villagers planted a crop of synthetic rock that becomes naturally covered by desirable species. Villagers recently harvested it. The project, devised and negotiated by the researchers, is intended to reward villagers now for conserving the reef they need to make a living in the future – including potential income from the discovery of drug compounds in reef organisms. Other Fijian villages are interested in starting similar efforts, researchers said.
Rest of the Article
http://www.eurekalert.org/marinescience/ second article down.
Cheers! 