* Educating local communities on the importance of sustaining nesting sites for leatherback turtles is a way to save them. ALISON ANIS writes. * TO SAVE the remaining species of the endangered population of giant leatherback sea turtles in the Western Pacific, sending the right messages to local communities on the importance of conservation and in sustaining the nesting population could be a useful remedy. This is true especially for communities living along the north-coast of PNG which holds one of the largest traditional nesting sites for the leatherbacks in the country. Here, more than 40 km of pristine black sandy beach stretches along the north-coast of Madang province. The beach where the local people once slaughtered female leatherbacks for protein is gradually becoming a safe haven for this critically endangered species. Community members are now locked in hands in one last desperate attempt to save the depleting stock of leatherback population from near extinction. The villagers from Karkum, Mirap, Yadigam, Tokain, Malas, Dibor, Magubem, and Sabente who once hunted and feasted on the excess meat from nesting leatherbacks are now trying to right their wrongs to save them after realizing how their actions may have contributed to the decline in the nesting population. The Sea Turtle Restoration Project (STRP) in the Western Pacific has been responsible for the successful transformation of the mindset and attitude of villagers towards preserving these rare turtle species. STRP western pacific campaigner Wences Magun and his group of trainers after several consultations visited the villages in January 2007 and spread the message about the leatherback’s precarious situation. Before that villagers were unaware of leatherbacks’ status as an endangered species as designated by IUCN (World Conservation Union). However, the alarm bells may have been sounded a little too late. In 2004, three years before the project was established, it was reported that villagers in the area slaughtered and feasted on more than 100 leatherback turtles that came to nest there. The reports were alarming and have caused widespread remorse among many community members after learning of the plight of the turtles. With the help of Mr Magun the communities have learnt much about the sea turtles and rather than harvesting the turtles and their eggs as they have traditionally done, are now taking steps to save and protect them. The villagers have embarked on a community-driven conservation program. In 2007, Mr Magun under STRP developed and facilitated a yearlong series of Conservation Deed workshops in villages. With the deed Mr Magun said he and his team were able to set up a pilot project purposely to create awareness and educate traditional communities in Madang on the leatherback turtle, its significant link to the country and the need to protect and preserve them. “More than 3500 people from six communities successfully took part in this project. The communities include Karkum, Mirap, Yadigam, Magubem, and Sabente,” said Mr Magun. The locals through the project learnt about destructive human activities (such as over fishing) toward the leatherback turtle and other marine resources and how their actions towards these marine resources and especially the leatherbacks would affect them and their children in the future. Mr Magun said communities responded really well under the project and for the first time were able to appreciate the importance of their marine resources and the need to protect them. “We only helped in establishing the project and providing guidance but the communities took ownership of the project, making their own policies, rules and penalties for conservations and management for marine resource areas,” said Mr Magun. He said villagers along the coast had traditional links with the leatherbacks and after the training some of them even visited their nesting place and try to identify with them. “We also ran building capacity trainings for each member of the communities to understand issues affecting their resources and lives. The idea was to change their mindset and to value more their resources.” “We told the villagers that if they continue to slaughter the turtles they will not continue to enjoy the same benefits they have today because one day these animals will become extinct.” “After much awareness and training the locals knew better and were taking whatever necessary actions they can at the community level to protect the rare turtle species.” The community is also involved in carrying out its own boundary survey for nesting and breeding sites for leatherbacks using the latest GPS monitoring system. They have just completed the boundary survey between Mirap and Karkum and work is to extend to other communities in Madang. Mr Magun is focused on working with coastal communities where critically endangered leatherbacks nest. Regular travels between his base in PNG’s capital, Port Moresby and areas in Morobe and Madang provinces on the north coast of PNG where villagers are located. Villagers are now in the process of establishing “conservation deeds” through which they promise to protect sea turtles for 10 years. Trainings organized by Wence also deal with other development and environmental issues affecting communities and have motivated them to protect and use their resources to improve their lives. Six communities have now taken the lead towards establishing their own conservation deeds and mark out land for marine protected areas. They are Karkum, Mirap, Yadigam, Tokain, Magubem and Sabente. According to Mr Magun some of these communities have already established conservation deed marine management areas and rules and penalties under the conservation of marine resources including sea turtles. “I some cases penalties include a fine of K200 and 6 months community work if you kill a leatherback. The same applies if someone is caught harvesting leatherback eggs.” The villagers conservation efforts have so far save more than two hundred leatherbacks hatchlings and ten adults. Conservation Deeds are a relatively new innovation in PNG, spearheaded by the work of the Bismarck Ramu Group (BRG). It is result of a community-driven process that creates a locally managed conservation area, and a long term community stake in the protection of natural resources in ways that also meet the economic and social needs of the community. “An informed and educated community will take active roles and be prudent guardians of their resources. The efforts STRP is investing in with coastal communities in the region are priceless.... We hope to help transform people’s minds and attitudes to become active stewards of creation,” says Mr Magun.