Conservation
Partnership with the Reef Rescue Network
Our Forfar Education team works closely with staff from The Perry Institute for Marine Science and Reef Rescue Network to set up and maintain coral restoration plots near Forfar. We have had a coral nursery since 2015. In 2025, our team, in collaboration with Reef Rescue, removed, cleaned, coated and relocated our 5 coral nursery domes. In addition to the work at the dome site, we removed and replaced the line nursery which now grants us 10 fragments of elkhorn coral, 30 fragments of staghorn coral and 10 fragments of fused staghorn coral. Finally an outplant plot was established at the prop site where the team was able to outplant 50 fragments of staghorn and 2 fragments of mustard hill coral. To learn more about this most recent conservation project check out our Blog Post.
In addition to this ongoing relationship with Reef Rescue Network, we have recently partnered with them on their Coral is Calling campaign. For more information about the Coral Is Calling campaign and Reef Rescue Network, please visit https://www.intlfieldstudies.org/reef-rescue-network
Giving Back Locally
Androsia Scholarship Fund
IFS is committed to supporting both the local community on Andros and our global community through environmental education, scientific research, and cultural awareness. Beyond our programs, we strive to create opportunities for students and make a lasting positive impact.
A key part of this commitment is the Androsia Scholarship Fund. Proceeds from Androsia products and IFS merchandise sold at Forfar Field Station directly support scholarships for local Androsian students. Since 2015, IFS has awarded more than $21,000 in scholarships. In 2026 alone, five students received a total of $2,500 in scholarship funding.
To hear more about this year’s scholarship recipients please view our Androsia Scholarships 2026 Blog Post.
Forfar Marine Science Program Community Service Hours
As part of our Forfar Marine Science Program (Gap Year), each cohort participates in a service learning project as part of the course work. Students work with our various on-island partners (Bahamas National Trust or Forestry Unit) to give back to the local Andros community. Some of the projects include assisting with local trail maintenance, invasive species control, mangrove restoration, and litter clean-ups. Students in our program have donated 1,430 volunteer hours since 2016 to the local community!
The Dr. Walter ‘Ben’ Bohl Scholarship
The Dr. Walter ‘Ben’ Bohl Scholarship fund directly supports both local and international students ability to attend life-changing field study experiences at Forfar Field Station. The scholarship was established to honor the many years Ben spent working for International Field Studies as the co-founder and Executive Director of IFS from 1970-2015. To learn more, and read about our scholarship recipients, visit our Dr. Walter ‘Ben’ Bohl Scholarship page.
The Bahamas 100K Tree Planting Initiative
In March of 2020, The Bahamas began their 100K Tree Planting Initiative as part of the 1 Million Caribbean Tree Planting Project led by the Cari Phil Alliance. This initiative aimed to encourage climate action, combat climate change, raise awareness on Bahamian plant biodiversity, educate on food security, and more!
Forfar Field Station partnered in this initiative by accepting trees at Forfar and helping with further distribution around Andros. We are honored to have taken part in this project as 240 trees were planted around Andros as part of this initiative. For more information about this project, Click here to read the Sustainable Lifestyle Newsletter highlighting The Bahamas 100K Tree Planting Initiative.