Social media video featuring the project.
Brothers for Life , a story of whales and men
Marina Fastigi
Other projects
6 Dec 2012
Critically Endangered Leatherback & Hawksbill Turtles Conservation through Nesting Monitoring & Raising Awareness of Biodiversity & Small Island Ecosystems, Carriacou, Grenada, West Indies
25 Jun 2014
Critically Endangered Leatherback & Hawksbill Nesting Turtles Conservation & Advanced Youth Environmental Education in the Island Of Carriacou, Grenada, West Indies
29 Jun 2016
Community Based Conservation of Critically Endangered Nesting Sea Turtles, Habitat Restoration, Youth Environmental Education, Carriacou, Grenada, W. I.
12 Jun 2018
Critically Endangered Nesting Sea Turtles Conservation, Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration and Youth Environmental Education & Conservation Activities in Carriacou, Grenada (W.I.)
The aim of the project is to protect two critically endangered sea turtle species & their nests via conservation activities, increasing awareness and economic benefits among local communities.
Emmanuel and Camilla Bethel with a post-nesting hawksbill in Petit Carenage beach
Nesting sea turtle monitoring-tagging:
A two-person team (trained local guide and overseas volunteer/research assistant) monitor at night the beaches in Carriacou, within and adjacent to High North Nature Park, for Leatherback & Hawksbill nesting activities.
Sea turtles are tagged after nesting, using flipper tags and standard morphometric data are recorded:
Nest location is recorded for monitoring hatchlings and overdue nest excavations; anti-poaching strategies are applied disguising nests and tracks in such a way that poachers cannot detect the nest location.
The team operations in the field are essential to prevent the destruction of Carriacou’s nesting sea turtle population.
Nature Guide Training:
The four-day training sessions, for local youths and fishermen willing to convert their activities to ‘Nature Guide’, includes:
-Small island ecosystem conservation education (sea turtles, beaches, mangroves, reefs, sea grass, MPA)
-Information on health hazard risk by consuming sea turtle
-Sea Turtle Monitoring guidelines following “Monitoring-Tagging Procedures Manual”, produced by Kido/WIDECAST
-Mangrove restoration guidelines following “Mangrove planting/monitoring manual”, produced by Kido/ Dr G.E.Moore (UNH).
-Practical training on the beach in nesting sea turtle monitoring and mangrove restoration, planting and monitoring techniques.
This basic training has the purpose to introduce neo-Nature Guides to the skills of conservation/restoration techniques in order to protect the island’s critically endangered species and threatened habitats and to qualify them, after a full season, for employment opportunities in the ecotourism sector.
Education Session in Local Schools:
In Carriacou primary and secondary schools (8), a total of 24 visits (three for each school) are scheduled, including:
-Small island ecosystem conservation education (sea turtles, beaches, mangroves, reefs, sea grass), following UNESCO SANDWATCH program.
-Information on importance of MPAs, preservation of wildlife, risks of health hazards by consuming sea turtle products
-Edu-tainment (children under 15): DVD projection of original Kido Puppet show on Sea Turtle Conservation, recorded with local children.
-Formation of Environmental Youth Clubs (age 14 -18) for involvement in sea turtle protection, mangrove tree restoration and beach erosion/sand mining monitoring, reporting and beach cleaning.
The purpose of these sessions is to promote/maintain the youths' interest in wildlife and nature conservation and to involve older students in conservation activities training them as stewards of the island’s natural environment. Some of these students may decide to pursue environmental studies and/or to be directly involved in sea turtle monitoring and ecotourism.