Help to establish a rural community based sea turtle nest survey and protection program on Moso Island, Vanuatu!
Sea turtles are one of those animals that hold a fascination for many of us but are understood by very few. For centuries, the turtle has been a key figure and symbol of Pacific island cultures and traditions. Its antiquity symbolizes the durability of Pacific island customs and traditions; its spirit the subject of many myths and legends and part of Pacific history passed down through generations.
But, despite the traditional controls on turtle use in many Pacific countries, the last 50 to 100 years have seen a marked increase in the killing of all age classes of turtles for their eggs, shells, and meat. Hawksbill turtle populations have been severely depleted and as a result have been listed as a critically endangered species by the IUCN.
In Vanuatu a grassroots effort to stop this decline has sprouted up in rural communities across the country. The Vanua-Tai (meaning of land and sea) Natural Resource Monitors is a national network of community members that are working within their communities to institute bans on the harvest of turtles and their eggs. Coordinated by Wan Smolbag Theatre, in the capital of Port Vila, this network has been growing, both in size and accomplishments, since it’s inception in 1995.
One community involved in this effort is Tasiriki Village. Located on the shores of Moso Island Tasiriki is home to a nationally significant nesting beach and foraging grounds for Hawksbill turtles. The people of Tasiriki have realised the importance of their turtle populations and are interested in learning more about the turtles they co-exist with and ensuring they are still there for future generations.
As a volunteer with this project you will have the opportunity to work side by side with community members as they conserve their turtle population and conduct a long-term nesting survey that they started in conjunction with Wan Smolbag and GVI in November 2006. Please keep in mind that this is a community based survey and conservation effort rather than a research institute run project. So while the science may run a bit on the low-tech side the pride the community members have in their project is off the charts.
In addition to helping with the nesting survey you will also get the chance to try your hand at many other activities that occur in the village (e.g. reef surveys, teaching at the village school, collecting and cooking local food, paddling a dugout canoe, etc.). And in your spare time you might get a chance to snorkel on tropical reefs, learn to dive, or just sit and ‘storian’ with your new friends in the village.
Financial contributions cover food, accommodation, and funding for the Ni-Van Tasiriki community to continue with their volunteer turtle research program.
The next start date is September 29th 2008, and volunteers are required for a minimum duration of 4 weeks Please apply through our website www.gviaustralia.com or contact Josephine Bradley Scott for further information at:info@gviaustralia.com, or 1300 795 013
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