330
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
that their involvement in research and management activities will be critical to the
survival of sea turtles in the region. The project combines traditional knowledge
and law with contemporary scientific methods (Kennett et al., 1997). Activities
have included recording traditional knowledge, a turtle stranding and rescue program, heavy metal analysis, habitat mapping, tagging and nesting studies, satellite
tracking, genetic sampling, studies of temperature and sex determination, and
quantifying indigenous harvests (R. Kennett, personal communication, 2002).
12.3.2.2.4 Brazil
Project TAMAR covers a large portion of the Brazilian coast and has been described
in detail by Marcovaldi and Marcovaldi (1999). The geographic spread of the project
means that many communities are impacted, and their experiences undoubtedly
differ. Nevertheless, TAMAR’s approach to CBC has generally been two-pronged:
environmental education and provision of alternative economic activities. In one
example, TAMAR set up a field station in the indigenous settlement of Almofala,
where incidental catch of marine turtles in fishing operations was a concern. In
addition to extensive environmental education activities, TAMAR assisted the local
community to develop alternative economic activities, including artificial reefs for
fishing, a community vegetable garden, and embroidery and lace making, as identified at a meeting between TAMAR and a community association (Lima, 2001).
Communities and their importance to conservation undertakings are increasingly
included in the dominant culture of sea turtle conservation. The annual Symposium
on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation has expanded in scope over the last 8 years
and now includes several sessions devoted to the interaction of conservation and
communities. Nevertheless, messages about community involvement remain mixed
in official policy. Although the MTSG’s Strategy (1995) calls for local participation
because local people are “a strong force in the depletion of marine turtle populations
and the destruction of their habitats,” the 1999 Techniques Manual includes a chapter
on CBC that depicts local people as potential partners with vested interests in the
continued existence of resources (Frazier, 1999). The recently negotiated InterAmerican Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles has been
criticized for its “top-down” approach and its failure to incorporate CBC (Campbell
et al., 2002). In contrast, the Santo Domingo Declaration resulting from the regional
meeting, Marine Turtle Conservation in the Wider Caribbean Region — A Dialogue
for Effective Regional Management, calls for “greater community participation in
the identification of management priorities and actions, as well as in the development,
implementation and evaluation of activities directed at the conservation of sea turtles
and their habitats” (Eckert and Abreu, 2001). It recognizes that “sea turtles comprise
a unique part of the biological diversity of the region and an integral part of the
cultural, economic, and social aspects of the societies found therein” (Eckert and
Abreu, 2001). In a study of marine turtle experts and their views on conservation,
Campbell (2000) found that although experts were highly supportive of local participation, their definitions of participation were often limited to people being
employed by a conservation program, educated, and listened to. In such cases,
objectives of conservation programs were assumed, and experts were generally
1123 book.book Page 330 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
that their involvement in research and management activities will be critical to the
survival of sea turtles in the region. The project combines traditional knowledge
and law with contemporary scientific methods (Kennett et al., 1997). Activities
have included recording traditional knowledge, a turtle stranding and rescue program, heavy metal analysis, habitat mapping, tagging and nesting studies, satellite
tracking, genetic sampling, studies of temperature and sex determination, and
quantifying indigenous harvests (R. Kennett, personal communication, 2002).
12.3.2.2.4 Brazil
Project TAMAR covers a large portion of the Brazilian coast and has been described
in detail by Marcovaldi and Marcovaldi (1999). The geographic spread of the project
means that many communities are impacted, and their experiences undoubtedly
differ. Nevertheless, TAMAR’s approach to CBC has generally been two-pronged:
environmental education and provision of alternative economic activities. In one
example, TAMAR set up a field station in the indigenous settlement of Almofala,
where incidental catch of marine turtles in fishing operations was a concern. In
addition to extensive environmental education activities, TAMAR assisted the local
community to develop alternative economic activities, including artificial reefs for
fishing, a community vegetable garden, and embroidery and lace making, as identified at a meeting between TAMAR and a community association (Lima, 2001).
Communities and their importance to conservation undertakings are increasingly
included in the dominant culture of sea turtle conservation. The annual Symposium
on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation has expanded in scope over the last 8 years
and now includes several sessions devoted to the interaction of conservation and
communities. Nevertheless, messages about community involvement remain mixed
in official policy. Although the MTSG’s Strategy (1995) calls for local participation
because local people are “a strong force in the depletion of marine turtle populations
and the destruction of their habitats,” the 1999 Techniques Manual includes a chapter
on CBC that depicts local people as potential partners with vested interests in the
continued existence of resources (Frazier, 1999). The recently negotiated InterAmerican Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles has been
criticized for its “top-down” approach and its failure to incorporate CBC (Campbell
et al., 2002). In contrast, the Santo Domingo Declaration resulting from the regional
meeting, Marine Turtle Conservation in the Wider Caribbean Region — A Dialogue
for Effective Regional Management, calls for “greater community participation in
the identification of management priorities and actions, as well as in the development,
implementation and evaluation of activities directed at the conservation of sea turtles
and their habitats” (Eckert and Abreu, 2001). It recognizes that “sea turtles comprise
a unique part of the biological diversity of the region and an integral part of the
cultural, economic, and social aspects of the societies found therein” (Eckert and
Abreu, 2001). In a study of marine turtle experts and their views on conservation,
Campbell (2000) found that although experts were highly supportive of local participation, their definitions of participation were often limited to people being
employed by a conservation program, educated, and listened to. In such cases,
objectives of conservation programs were assumed, and experts were generally
1123 book.book Page 330 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM