Conserving sea turtles in Nicaragua

http://www.fauna-flora.org/americas_turtles_nicaragua.php

José Urteaga, FFI's Nicaragua Programme Manager, talks about our sea turtles conservation project in Nicaragua. The project focuses on protecting the critically endangered leatherback and endangered olive ridley turtles, which are threatened by poachers who illegally harvest their eggs along beaches on Nicaraguas Pacific coast.

So far, FFI has trained over 80 community members, many of whom are ex-poachers, in managing sea turtle hatcheries and other protection measures. This has led to an impressive rise in hatching
success on two key beaches, including one at Chacocente Wildlife Refuge.

We are also helping communities to develop alternative income sources, such as handbag production from recycled plastic bags, and implementing national awareness campaigns to reduce demand for turtle eggs. FFI plans to extend protection to both a third, newly discovered leatherback nesting beach called Salamina and to near shore waters to safeguard adult turtles.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Fauna
• Flora
• International
• FFI
• Turtles
• Nicaragua
• leatherback
• Olive
• ridely
• conservation
• eggs
• marine
• coast
• beach