Mareja LOGO, website and on going research permit anxieties

The Mareja website is nearly 10 years old and as the main tool for attracting visitors it needs attention - some would say urgently.  (Containing a very vague map and old email address for Sonya, Dominik's previous girlfriend, poor thing probably gets much unwanted correspondence.)

So at last I am doing it and enjoying the challenge of presenting the project and its many facets in an simple but evocative way -with the superb design aid of Jamie Middleton of WAI. 

We have a logo challenge, Dominik is very attached to the existing one that is figurative with many references - sable, mountain, palms to denote the fragment that was saved, river.  I think it looks like a sand dune in a very different setting, perhaps Eygpt?  He disagrees heartedly and understandably, it is a central part of the history and development of the project.  Here it is.

The question is how much does a brand matter in these settings?  One day when we have many partners, sell products for the community and are a research centre, it may be important.  Or not, the modes of operation are so different.  Would love your thoughts if you have any on the subject. 
But throughout this the ongoing concern of the last two months (and indeed much of last year) has been and is...research permits.  Last year we required two, one for plants and one for insects, for the Oxford University Students and we finally discovered that although a research license must be issued by Quirimbas National Park the research and export permits must come from the national museum in Maputo.

We are now preparing for a visiting scientist Dr Galen Rathbun (California Academy of Science) and Peter Coals (leader of the Ox expedition) and they have been sending requests and reminders to our contact in Maputo since November...as yet to no avail.  They will be coming to Mareja in June to do some exteremely exciting small mammal research but the whole trip depends on gathering these vital official permits.

To Dominik's frustration we may have to reroot our trip to Pemba via Maputo to try to gather the documents in person.  He is very keen to get back to the reserve (Jasper went on holiday a few days ago and the rains are stopping, so the season for poaching will soon begin again). Although there are other jobs that could be usefully done...such as buy a 4x4, ours had to be handed back before we left at Christmas due to an interesting complexity with its paperwork, and mattresses for the new guest rooms etc....

Or perhaps I will go alone to Maputo.  Plans will evolve, dictated by flight prices and other such practicalities.  I have never been to the capital and hear they have rather a good collection in the museum - it could be a fascinating trip.