NewsLetter

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Conservation of Leatherback Turtles Capacity Building for the Conservation of Leatherback Turtles in Bloody Bay, Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Project Launch - Union Island Union Island, small in stature, is a place of grand character. Unique in its history and rich in its natural environment, it is the birthplace of heroes, a theatre for revolution and a perfect place for pirates, poachers and pioneers. Then there are the intrepid travelers who arrive surreptitiously to bury and hide treasure on the beaches of the island. Yes, Union Island is also labour room and rest area for the renowned, record-breaking reptile known as the Leatherback Turtle. The National Trust, under the chairmanship of Louise Mitchell-Joseph decided, after consultations with Union Islanders, to create a conservation project related to the Leatherback turtle. The UN, through its Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Program GEF – teamed up with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Trust and thus was hatched a sustainable livelihood project entitled:Capacity Building for the Conservation of Leatherback Turtles in Bloody Bay, Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The project is ongoing and key stakeholders include the Ministry of Tourism and Industry, National Parks Rivers and Beaches Authority, Sus-

tainable Grenadines Inc. the Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry, Fisheries, Union Island Environmental Attackers, the Tobago Cays Marine Park and, of course, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Trust. A number of persons representing these organisations were present on Tuesday March 1, 2011 at the launch of the Project which took place at the Hugh Mulzac Square in Union Island. At this official launching, the Trust declared and explained to the people of Union Island what the project entailed and the value it brings to the community. A segment of that community, including a group of the island’s school children, listened attentively as members of the National Trust-led group all made their contributions, building a platform for the conservation of Union Island’s most valuable visitors, the humble yet magnificent Leatherback Turtle. Of the unfolding environmental campaign in Union Island, particularly as it relates to turtles at Bloody Bay, a large part of the cast is made up of the UIEA, a hardworking group of young people dedicated to conservation. They are leading the fight in

< July Issue, 2011 > Union Island to protect the turtle on this eclectic community 40 miles to the south of St.Vincent. Following the official launch ceremony, the team hiked on a fact-finding mission to Bloody Bay, led by the indefatigable Roseman Adams, a member of the Environmental Attackers and first certified turtle handler on Union Island. According to the Trust Chairperson, Louise Mitchell-Joseph, the group carried out a site analysis at Bloody Bay to more clearly discern what and how much of it needed to be declared a reserve area in order to protect the turtles’ nesting habitat. That event ended the day but the work in the name of conservation continues.

St.Vincent and the Grenadines National Trust / UNGEF Project : Capacity Building for the Conservation of Leatherback Turtles in Bloody Bay, Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This pro-

ject aims to conserve nesting

Highlights:  This Project was lunched on the 1st March 2011, on Union Island, SVG.  Stakeholders include: the Ministry of Tourism and Industry, National Parks Rivers and Beaches Authority, Sustainable Grenadines Inc. the Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry, Fisheries, Union Island Environmental Attackers, the Tobago Cays Marine Park and, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Trust.  Ten persons trained in Trinidad.  A Leatherback named by Tourist

Back page stories: Turtle Training - continued

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Union Island Turtle Watch 2011

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Louise Mitchell-Joseph speaking at the project launch

Turtle Training - Matura, Trinidad & Tobago During the period April 10th to 16th 2011, ten participants from StVincent & the Grenadines were engaged in a sea turtle nesting & beach monitoring workshop in Matura, Trinidad & Tobago as part of activities related to the

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sea turtles on Bloody Bay, Union Island while providing livelihood opportunities for locals through eco-tourism related activities. The training programme was facilitated by Nature Seekers, a non-profit community based organi-

tion, which operates one of the most successful sea turtle conservation programmes in the Caribbean. Participants included representatives from the National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority, Fisheries Division READ MORE ON BACK PAGE


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