NCF and LFZC Sensitize Coastal Communities on Sea Turtle Conservation in Lagos State. Sequel to the sea turtle conservation partnership signed between the Lagos Free Zone company (LFZC) and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), series of activities began in December 2022. The ultimate vision of these activities is to promote the preservation of endangered sea turtles and reduce the impact of human activities on their population within the operational range and surrounding communities around the LFZC. The community awareness and sensitization exercises on sea turtles that were embarked on aimed to achieve the following: support the ecosystem in mitigating the impact of human activities; educate and create awareness within and beyond the surrounding communities; evaluate the behavior of stakeholders towards sea turtle conservation; and promote environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation. Sea turtles play an important role in maintaining marine and coastal ecosystems. Their ecosystem functions include nutrients recycling, maintaining habitat integrity, maintaining the ecosystem of coastal reefs and coastal dunes. Unfortunately, most species of sea turtles are currently threatened according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The decline in the population of these species is largely due to anthropogenic pressures on the species and its habitats. Activities such as commercial fishing, loss of nesting habitat, pollution, harvesting of their eggs, overfishing, direct hunting of sea turtle for meat all contribute to the decline of the species. As their population decline, so does their ability to fulfil vital functions in the marine ecosystems. The awareness program took place at Magbon-Segun hall, Okunraye Baale’s house, and Idotun hall with 115 participants drawn from Magbon-Segun, Okesegun, Ilekuru, Okunraye, Lujagba, Idotun and Itoke communities. Participants were educated on the role sea turtles play in the environment, how human activities have affected their population and the possible conservation actions to mitigate the impact of human activities towards the protection of sea turtles. Some concerns were raised by the attendees, including Availability of Protein Substitutes for sea turtles; Livelihood Intervention; Handling Accidental Bycatches; Accounting for Damaged Fishing Gears; Disagreement on the major causes of Species Decline; Myths and Beliefs; the roles of large trawlers in the species decline; Actions on Captured Species; Compensation for fishers in the case of damaged nets from accidental catch of turtles.
NCF, LFZC Sensitize Coastal Communities on Sea Turtle Conservation in Lagos State. Sequel to the sea turtle conservation partnership signed between the Lagos Free Zone company (LFZC) and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), series of activities began in December 2022. The ultimate vision of these activities is to promote the preservation of endangered sea turtles and reduce the impact of human activities on their population within the operational range and surrounding communities around the LFZC. The community awareness and sensitization exercises on sea turtles that were embarked on aimed to achieve the following: support the ecosystem in mitigating the impact of human activities; educate and create awareness within and beyond the surrounding communities; evaluate the behavior of stakeholders towards sea turtle conservation; and promote environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation. Sea turtles play an important role in maintaining marine and coastal ecosyste...
