Extinction? We just can't see it.

Travelling around Belize, a country that has protected 40% of it's land from development and created numerous national parks, it's hard not to make a comparison with where we live.  A country that is similar in size and equally rich in biodiversity but has a paltry number of protected areas. 

Coincendentally I read an article in The Times by Simon Barnes that really hit a chord.  He states that 'Species are going extinct because humans can't see it happening.  It is as simple as that.  Believing the elephant will no longer be around is like believing that one day the sun will rise in the west and the stars will fall as rain.'

It's exactly like that in Cabo Verde.  Turtles have been coming to these islands for generations and it seems that very few people believe that will ever change.  On Sal around 20% of nesting loggerheads are illegally killed each year, so based on the estimated total that means we will see the end of nesting turtles in only SEVEN YEARS.

Extinction is a happening thing and it is happening all around us and right on our doorstep.

Positions for 2010

Apply any time for a position with SOS Tartarugas Cabo Verde by following this link

Turtle conservation jobs with SOS Tartarugas Cabo Verde

How light affects turtle hatchlings

A very good report on how to minimise light disturbance to turtle hatchlings published by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute.

http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=2156

Cape Verde to be entirely wind powered.

Britain is to spend £26 million building a wind farm to power the entire Cape Verde.

Telegraph: Cape Verde Wind Power

Jobs, Voluntary Positions & Holidays working with turtles

We are accepting applications for positions and voluntary opportunities for the 2010 season.  Please follow this link:

More information about positions

Thanks for the mentions!

It's  great to get positive feedback from people who have visited the project.

Turtle Conservation and Eco-tourism in Cabo Verde

SOS Turtles really are getting the tourists involved in conservation and education

Community turtle conservation in Cape Verde

Just back from Mindelo where a seminar brought together representatives from community turtle conservation programmes from five islands for the first time ever. The seminar was organised by INDP (National Fisheries Institute) as part of their initiative PCTM (Projecto da Conservação das Tartarugas Marinhas). The project has been running since 2006 and involves communities from Santo Antão, São Nicolau, São Vicente & Fogo. Participants have various backgrounds but include ex-turtle hunters, fishermen, local government employees and youth groups. All the projects presented results for last year, including number of tracks and nests and hatching success. Many lively debates ensued including ways in which hunting can be prevented, reasons for hatching failure, the need for national coordination between projects and institutions and most importantly, ways in which projects can be financed.

Limited funds available from local and national government and lack of tourism in the majority of islands is severely limiting expansion and success of these important local activities.

One of the most important conclusions was the decision to form an NGO that will be responsible for grant applications and gathering funds on behalf of all the projects.

SOS Tartarugas & CVSTN (Capeverdian Sea Turtle Network) will play a part in this programme by providing technical assistance through financing field visits by international and local biologists, supplying equipment and assisting with grant applications.

INDP/PCTM Community project