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Community Based Sea Turtle Conservation in Sri Lanka
by Turtle Conservation Project of Sri Lanka (Non-governmental organization (NGO))
Objective:

Conservation and management of sea turtles and their habitats through community incentives.

Methodology:
We employed all turtle egg poachers as turtle nest protectors and they patrolled the beaches 24/7 to protect the turtle nests in-situ. Then we trained these local nest protectors as tourists guides. We also promoted turtle night watch nature tourism programme in Rekawa village. We formed a community based organization called "Nature Friends of Rekawa (NFR)" consisting all the nest protectors. We transferred some funds to NFR to provide a hands on training in project management. Furthermore we developed many partnerships with government institutions, media institutions and NGOs to implement various community based projects in Rekawa village. We introduced several alternative livelihood projects such as Batik, Sewing, Coir mat and Ornamental fish breeding to support the community members. In 2006, this un protected beach was officially declared as Sri Lanka's first marine turtle sanctuary. In 2012 the entire project was handed over to the community members and since then Rekawa Turtle Conservation Project became a financially sustainable community driven project.This project received several global awards and thousands of tourists visit the project site each year benefiting the local communities.
Progress reports
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
Type of commitment
PLASTICS
  • Coastal clean-ups
  • Plastics product bans or restrictions
  • Plastics recovery/recycling/reuse
SHIPPING
  • Reduce invasive aquatic species introduction
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Type of commitment
  • Community or Locally Managed Marine Areas
  • Integrated Coastal Management
  • Ecosystem-based Adaptation
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
Type of commitment
  • Compliance, monitoring and enforcement
  • Science-based fisheries management plans
  • Reduction of fisheries by-catch and product waste/losses
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
Type of commitment
  • Multiple use marine protected area
  • Locally or community managed marine areas
  • MPA management and/or enforcement
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
Type of commitment
  • Economic benefits from sustainable tourism
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
Type of commitment
  • Scientific, socioeconomic and interdisciplinary research
  • Research capacity development
  • Data access and sharing
  • Training and professional development
  • Scientific cooperation
  • Actions that support SIDS and LDCs
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want
Type of commitment
  • Activities to raise awareness of the comprehensive legal and policy framework for the sustainable development of oceans and seas, in particular UNCLOS, its Implementing Agreements and other relevant ocean-related instruments and promote their effective im
  • Activities to develop the capacity of States towards broader participation in and effective implementation of UNCLOS and its implementing Agreements
  • Strengthening ocean governance, for example through the development of a national ocean policy or regional ocean policy
May 2006
unprotected Rekawa beach declared as a Protected Turtle Sanctuary
September 1996
All nesting marine turtles Protected on the beach
September 1996
All sea hatchlings released to the ocean
September 1996
All turtle egg poachers converted to conservationists
Other, please specify
100000
Staff / Technical expertise
200000
In-kind contribution
300000
Financing (in USD)
500,000 USD
Basic information
Time-frame: September 1996 - August 2012
Website
Partners
Turtle Conservation Project, Department of Wildlife Conservation, UNDP GEF SGP, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Sri Lanka Police, Ministry of Environment Sri Lanka
Ocean Basins
  • Global
  • Indian Ocean
Beneficiary countries
Other beneficaries
Beneficiaries include community members, school children, university students, researchers, tourists, media institutions, tour operators, service providers such as transport and food, policy makers and environment
Contact information
Thushan Kapurusinghe, Project Leader, kjthushan@yahoo.co.uk, +94 777810509
Panadura, Sri Lanka
Other SDGs
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