the
turtle
The largest hard-shelled sea turtle, the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, is also one of the most abundant and commonly encountered species in Indonesia. Unfortunately it is the one most targeted for meat and the population is getting smaller fast.
© WWF-Canon / Martin HARVEY
In the ocean, green turtles face threats from entanglement in fishing gear and from marine debris. On land, turtle eggs are taken for sale and eggs and hatchlings are also eaten by predators.
Did you know? Sea grasses and algae are the green turtles’ preferred food and are amongst the most productive ecosystems on the planet. These food items are quickly digested by the green turtles and become available as recycled nutrients to the plants and animals that live in the sea grass beds. Healthy sea grass beds are nurseries for many species of invertebrates and fish, most of which are valuable for fisheries and communities. Without grazing by green turtles, the sea grass blades grow too tall, and choke from sediments that obscure the light and further promote diseases. Thus, seagrass beds and turtles co-exist in mutually beneficiary ecosystem relations.
The major threats Habitat loss Uncontrolled development has led directly to the destruction of many important green turtle nesting beaches. Lights from roads and buildings attract hatchlings. Instead of finding the ocean, the hatchlings fall prey to predators or die the following day from the heat of the sun. The sea grass beds in Indonesia are damaged or entirely destroyed as a result of sedimentation, nutrient run-off, insensitive tourist development and destructive fishing techniques.
Direct take As a result of adult and egg collection, Indonesian green turtle populations have declined severely over the past decades. Bali used to be one of Asia’s largest markets for green turtles. The turtle trade through Bali peaked in the late 70’s when more than 30,000 were landed each year. Still, in 2002, landings were estimated at 684 green turtles per month.
© WWF-Canon / Jürgen FREUND
Indirect take Each year, thousands of green turtles are trapped in trawl nets used in shrimp fisheries. Also, green turtles get entangled in drift gillnets and in areas with intense coastal gill net fishing, they get caught while trying to reach the beach.
Diseases In some regions, green turtles suffer from debilitating and potentially lethal tumors. The cause of these tumors is unknown but there is suspicion that increasing chemical pollution levels might weaken the turtle’s immune system, rendering them more susceptible to infection by a herpes-like virus.
© WWF-Indonesia
© WWF-Indonesia
Strategy WWF works with governments to develop and enforce implementation of national, regional and international turtle conservation agreements. For example, WWF facilitated Indonesia to sign up for the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their habitats of the Indian Ocean and South East Asia (IOSEA) and now helps build capacity to implement the requirements and strategies required from IOSEA members. Also, WWF with its offices in the region, facilitated the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for conservation of the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Eco-region between the governments of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia since this region is critical for green turtle populations.
© WWF-Canon / Jürgen FREUND
WWF works with local communities to reduce traditional or subsistence take, and where necessary to find alternative sources of income or food. WWF works with members of the fisheries industry to reduce turtle by-catch by training crew members on proper release of turtles from long line and initiating a gear trial to reduce the risk of getting turtles hooked.
Some recent successes The Berau District Islands complex in East Kalimantan, is perhaps the largest green turtle rookery in SE Asia and was recently declared a marine conservation area (here, WWF works in partnership with The Nature Conservancy). The Head of District requested the heads of the relevant sub-districts of Derawan, Maratua, and Batu Putih to support him in ensuring the safety of the eggs laid on the beaches. Participatory patrol of turtle nesting beaches had been established since some years and in the spirit of declaring the conservation area, former turtle egg concession holders agreed to give up their rights to the eggs and join the multi-stakeholder turtle task force in the protection of nesting activities against poaching.
In Bali and beyond For years, turtle traders on Bali justified their illegal activities with one simple, powerful reason: the turtle is an essential component of local Hindu rituals. In the Bishama (religious decree) issued in Denpasar, Bali, August 31, 2005, the Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia, prescribed that the presence of endangered species, such as turtle, tiger, eagle, or any other near-extinct animal in Hindu sacrificial rituals could be substituted with a drawing, cake, or another animal. Alternatively, the council agreed that endangered species could be used in the ritual provided that it will not be killed and will be released back into the wild once the ritual has ended. The involvement of Hindu priests or Pandita in bringing up conservation of the endangered species issues is a major break thru and will most likely contribute significantly to the conservation efforts.
© WWF-Canon / Rob WEBSTER
This was preceded by a raised awareness among the public, improved enforcement of turtle related regulations and even a series of high profile arrests of turtle traders. In 1999, after having a “serious discussion” with many institutions (notably NGOs), the Government of Indonesia issued the decree to formally protect the green turtle; the only species that had not been protected at that time. Shortly after the issuance of that Government Regulation, WWF undertook a multi-stakeholder workshop to help align the existing national turtle action plan with the regulation.
Something else to do People from Derawan, an island in Kalimantan, and from Tanjung Benoa, a Balinese village, have been trained in turtle monitoring and in implementing a turtle-based ecotourism strategy. All are fresh High School graduates and the group in Derawan received two glass bottom boats to support the activities. By taking tourists on little trips over the reefs surrounding the island, they can make some money that they will use to pay for fuel in the community patrol program. The group in Bali, through the recently established turtle tourism center on Serangan Island, talks to visitors about the importance to protect turtles and also sells turtle models as handicraft to raise income to support the turtle rehabilitation efforts of the center. © WWF-Indonesia
Challenges for the future – we need your help!
© WWF-Indonesia
WWF has been working on marine turtle conservation for more than 20 years and is today recognized as a leading organization for marine turtle conservation in Indonesia. To be most effective and have a real impact, we choose to have a very focused program rather than spread ourselves thin over many sites and many species. Over time we gained a lot of experience and knowledge on what works and what remains to be very difficult to achieve, even over a very long timeframe. While successes were booked, the extent of the threats and the growing human population continues to challenge us at different locations and with new stakeholders and law offenders. To tackle this, WWF is constantly improving and adjusting its influence, and now we ask for your support. Our goal and aim for the nearest future is that by 2011, at least the two known critical distinctive turtle populations (Leatherback and Green Turtles) in Indonesia, have their population stabilised or growing, are freed from over-exploitation and their habitats are protected. Please join in!
Visit us at www.wwf.or.id or www.panda.org (WWF-International)
