Creation of a network 𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚃𝚄𝙴𝚂 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙴𝚂 𝙿𝙰𝙲𝙸𝙵𝙸𝚀𝚄𝙴 𝚂𝚄𝙳
As part of the TE ME UM companionship project, our founder and Director of Conservation Strategy and Programs Dr. Cécile GASPAR went on a week-long mission to New Caledonia to meet local partners with the aim of creating a network for sharing knowledge and data on Pacific marine turtles.
In particular, she had the opportunity to meet the Association Bwärä Tortues Marines chaired by Dominique Lafage, in charge of scientific monitoring, its coordinator Océane Minster and their teams of volunteers? It was also an opportunity to meet the Aquarium Des Lagons Nouvelle-Calédonie teams in charge of “Turtle Watching”
As part of a mission to monitor egg-laying sites on the beach at Bourail, from the sea, the square and by microlight, and also a microlight overflight), 3 loggerhead turtle ascents were observed. It was also an opportunity to discuss our scientific protocols and objectives with the Bwärä Tortues Marines teams.
A conference for the general public was also organized by Turtle Watching at the Tourist Office. Poe gave Cécile the opportunity to share her work on monitoring green turtle nesting sites on Tetiaroa atoll over the past 16 years.
The event was attended by the Caledonian government’s Minister for the Environment Jérémie Katidjo Monnier, his assistant Théo Miloche, the President of Bwärä Tortues Marines, the association’s revegetation project manager Sébastien D’Avignon and lagoon coordinator Julie Safourcade.
A parallel meeting was organized with Carole Bernard, Director of New Caledonia environmental initiation center (CIE), to discuss new and innovative ways of raising environmental awareness.
We would like to thank all the participants for their time and the information they shared with Cécile.
We would also like to thank the French Office for Biodiversity for its financial support for this crucial mission for the conservation of Pacific turtles.
