Bonn/Nairobi,  28  June  2001  -  A life-line has been thrown to endangered turtles in the Indian Ocean and the waters of South East Asia. Countries in the  region have  for  the  first  time  agreed  to a wide-ranging plan to conserve  six  key species at risk from over harvesting for meat and their eggs,  destruction  of  nests  and feeding areas and accidental by catch in fishing operations.

Under the auspices of  the Convention on  Migratory Species  -  an international  treaty  linked to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)  -  countries have agreed to 24 programmes and 105 specific projects designed  to  reverse  the  decline  of  loggerhead,  olive ridley, green, hawksbill, leatherback and flatback turtles throughout the vast region.

Douglas Hykle,  Deputy  Executive Secretary at the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS),  said  the  turtle conservation programme  was  a vital new development for saving these culturally and ecologically important species.

"Having  existed  on  Earth  for  millions  of  years,  sea  turtles are an important component of the marine ecosystem, and serve as indicators of the health of the environment in which they live.  Their aesthetic appeal draws conservationists  and  tourists  from  around  the world to nesting beaches throughout the region, generating income for local communities, " he said.

All is not well though. Levels of harvest are frequently unsustainable, and have led  in  some cases to dramatic crashes  in  turtle numbers. The Memorandum  of Understanding on turtle conservation marks and important milestone in  efforts to reverse the declining fortunes of these important marine creatures.

"The  measures  to  be taken focus on reducing threats, conserving critical habitat, exchanging scientific information, increasing public awareness and participation,  promoting  regional  cooperation  and  finding  funding for implementing this vital conservation work," said Mr Hykle.

A  number of major conservation projects for marine turtles are now already underway or are in the pipeline including ones in India, Pakistan and Iran. Long-term monitoring programmes are well-established in Australia and South Africa. Many countries are working with non governmental organizations such as local and international wildlife groups.

In  Malaysia,  a  husband  and  wife  team have rescued over a quarter of a million  turtle eggs, allowing tens of thousands of hatchlings to return to the  wild.  Dr Chan Eng Heng and her husband Liew Hock Clark, who are based at  the  Sea  Turtle  Research Unit in University College, Terengganu, have bought the eggs off collectors and then allow them to incubate naturally.

The  pair,  who  were  awarded  with  a  UNEP  Global  500  award  on World Environment  Day  earlier  this month, estimate that over 250,000 eggs have been  saved  by  their  project  at  Malaysia's Redang Chagar Hutang beach. Similar  egg  rescue schemes are being piloted elsewhere in Malaysia by the Malaysian Department of Fisheries and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

"This  is  an  example of the kind of pioneering work the nations that have signed up to the new CNS conservation agreement might consider extending to their countries," said Mr Hykle.

Notes to  Editors:  The  comprehensive  plan for conserving turtles of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia was agreed in Manila from 20-23 June 2001. Held  under  the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the Conference  on  the  conservation  and  management of marine turtles of the Indian  Ocean  and  SE-Asia  brought  together  delegates from 21 bordering States.  The Honourable  Heherson T. Alvarez, Secretary of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources  opened the event.

Once  plentiful  throughout  the  region,  many  of  the six species of sea turtles  found  there  have  become  seriously  depleted  due  to excessive harvesting,  destruction  of  nesting  and feeding habitats, and accidental taking in fisheries operations.  Those 6 marine turtles species include the loggerhead (Caretta caretta), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), green (Chelonia   mydas),   hawksbill   (Eretmochelys  imbricata),  Leatherback  (Dermochelys coriacea) and the Flatback turtle (Natator depressus).

Eight  countries  immediately  signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under  the  CMS,  and  others  are  expected  to  do so after review by the responsible  government  authorities.  The  MoU,  which  has  a  potential membership  of  at least 40 countries, will come into effect on 1 September 2001.

The conference approved a proposal to establish a small secretariat to help co-ordinate  activities  under the MoU.  The office is to be housed with an existing UNEP regional office in Bangkok, and is expected to be operational early next year.

The  Governments  of  the United States and Australia, as well as UNEP have all  pledged financial support towards the cost of establishing and running the secretariat.

For  further  information please contact: 

The Secretariat of the Convention on  Migratory  Species,
Martin  Luther King. Str. 8 
Bonn 53175, Germany

Tel:  49  228  815,  Fax: 49 228 815 2409, 

e-mail: cms@cms.unep.de 

or 

Colin Limpus,  
CMS  Scientific Council's sea turtle expert, 
Conservation Strategy Branch,  
Queensland  Department  of  Environment  and Heritage

Tel: 61 7 32277718,   Mobile:   61   438210001,   Fax:   61   7   32276386,  

e-mail: col.limpus@env.qld.gov.au  

or 

Nick Nuttall,
Media Officer at UNEP, 

Tel: 254 2 623084, Mobile: 254 733 632755,

e-mail: nick.nuttall@unep.org