TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT, SRI LANKA

Finalist Conservation Award 2008

Destruction of the coastal eco-systems is a substantial problem in Sri Lanka. Due to poverty, coastal communities of Sri Lanka, a third world developing nation, have to depend on their surrounding natural resources for their survival. As a result, very important coastal habitats and coastal fauna such as the coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangroves, marine turtles and other coastal vegetation are under serious threat of extinction.

The Turtle Conservation Project (TCP) of Sri Lanka was established in 1993 as a Sri Lankan non-governmental organization. The vision of the TCP is "Sustainable level for sea turtle populations in Sri Lanka" while its mission is to "conduct research, surveys, education and awareness programmes as well as community based conservation and management programmes to achieve a sustainable level of sea turtle populations in Sri Lanka". In doing so, it works closely with a number of agencies including the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka Tourist Board and Coast Conservation Department, providing valuable information in order to help them in prudent decision-making, policy development and strategic planning.

The TCP realised the chain connection between the coastal communities and coastal resources, which heavily depend on each other. As a solution, TCP has developed an innovative technology/concept which is referred to as the Community Based Ecosystem Conservation Approach (CBECA) to address the problems.

When TCP decided on a community based approach, it meant the direct and indirect involvement of the community in the implementing process and gaining benefits from the project. In this case, local community is benefited through various community livelihood development projects, infrastructure development projects, education and awareness programs, capacity and skills development programmes, etc. In addition, TCP's programmes are community-driven with community ownership.

TCP employs ex turtle egg poachers as turtle nest protectors at the Rekawa and Kosgoda beaches where community based in-situ turtle nest protection and research programmes are run. TCP organises nocturnal Turtle Watches for tourists providing employment for ex poachers as tourist guides. In addition, TCP engages in improvement of livelihood and infrastructure development programmes to support local communities.