Community Participation in the Conservation of Endangered Sea Turtles in venezuela

Five species of sea turtle are found in Venezuela, two of which are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN - the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Although Venezuela has ratified international treaties and created laws to protect sea turtles and their habitats, public awareness and understanding of sea turtles as endangered species is limited. Sea turtles are still captured while nesting and in the open sea, their eggs are poached and their habitats are degraded by pollution and insensitive development. There is an urgent need to enhance sea turtle conservation and to bring about greater local support for, and participation in, sea turtle conservation efforts. Together with regional sea turtle network WIDECAST, the Centre for Sea Turtle Research and Conservation (CICTMAR) has worked for 10 years at the most important nesting sites for leatherback sea turtles in Venezuela. Now with support from IUCN-NL and the local government of Arismendi Municipality, CICTMAR will share its experience and knowledge with local coastal communities. In line with the objectives of EGP it will raise public awareness of endangered sea turtles, it will work to reduce man-made threats to sea turtles, and it will train local people to participate in sea turtle protection. For the first time in Venezuela, CICTMAR will help local people to develop sea turtle watching tours and art and craftwork associated with sea turtles to help generate income for their communities, sharing EGP’s vision of poverty alleviation going hand-in-hand with ecosystem conservation.