Conservation Projects 

         This page is dedicated to the different organizations I have worked for. In each section  you will find basic information about them. They are mainly orientated towards sea turtle conservation. I also have included in those pages other small NGOs which I thought were doing a good job on the field and that could interest you. Please visit their website and support them.

 

  

ARCHELON

The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece ARCHELON is a Greek charitable non-profit organization founded in 1983 to monitor and protect all sea turtles and their habitats in Greece.

This includes the endangered Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Two other species, while not nesting can be found in Greece : the Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)  and the Green  (Chelonia mydas).The nesting season runs from June to August. The major nesting beaches in Greece are located in Zakynthos, in Crete (Rethimno, Hania and the Bay of Messara)  and in the Peloponese.

The main conservation issue faced by ARCHELON is chaotic tourism development which endangers both nesting females coming out to nest and hatchlings returning to the sea.

ARCHELON volunteers patrol the beaches very early every morning to locate new nests and protect them by placing a cage over it. Each year they protect between 2700 and 3000 nests all over Greece.

ARCHELON’s work is made possible by support received from people like you who can visit one of the ARCHELON information stations. All funds and donations go directly to sea turtle conservation in Greece.

To find out more about ARCHELON look up : www.archelon.gr and if you want to check out some photos click here.

After working with Archelon for a couple of years I met Lu , she told me about Naucrates and encouraged me to come and work in Thailand.

 

 

NAUCRATES

 Naucrates (from the ancient Greek “rulers of the sea) is an Italian NGO operating in the south of Thailand (Phra Thon island) since 2001. Its main aim is to monitor and protect the endangered sea turtles of Thailand.  Since 2002 it has extended its conservation effort  to mangrove forests and coral reefs.

Naucrates focuses its work on three important aspects :  Scientific research, Conservation and Education.

Volunteers come from all over the world to work with Naucrates. Local students and volunteers also participate to the conservation activities. It is vital for success to involve the local community in our conservation efforts. There are also an important cooperation with local authorities, national and other NGOs.

In 2006 two sea grass areas off the east has been surveyed to collect data on juvenile green turtle feeding ground.

During the rainy season (July and August), a mangove project is set up to study and reforest the mangrove. 

To volunteer or any information :

   Contact Naucrates or visit their website      Click here for some photos

GRUPO ECOLOGICO DE LA COSTA VERDE

This non profit organization ,created in 1993, operates in the town of San Francisco, state of  Nayarit in Mexico.  Its actual director is Mr. Frank D. Smith.

The primary aims of the organization are to protect the environment along the green coast with a special interest in sea turtles, to develop environmental education programs for the community, to gather ecological data, and to support the sustainable development of the community.

Both national and international volunteers patrol the 6 nesting beached every hour to check for turtle activity. Whenever a nest is found it is relocated to the hatchery. The eggs are put in a styrofoam box and placed in the hatchery to incubate. After about 45 days the hatchlings that have emerged from the box are released on the beach.

In order to increase awareness environmental education classes are set up in the schools of San Francisco along with town clean up days.

If you wish to volunteer for this organization out find out more about the Grupo Ecologico de la Costa Verde, please click on the link below.

Grupo Ecologico de la Costa Verde or click here for Photos