MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION AND AWARENESS

Biodiversity Conservation
MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION
AND AWARENESS
Through Community Participation in Maharashtra
Ministry of Environment &
Forests (MoEF), India

Project Background
This project has been implemented for Marine turtle
conservation in five coastal villages in Ratnagiri district of
Maharashtra. The project aims to increase community
participation in marine turtle conservation and also
develop livelihood activities to promote the well being of
the locals involved in conservation. Marine Turtles are
endangered species throughout the world and their
population is drastically declining. Out of 7 species, 5
species occur in Indian Ocean and 4 species breed in the
area.
Turtles are listed under Red List of International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
The local NGO Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, Chiplun,
approached the GEF/UNDP Small Grants Program (SGP),
to promote the conservation practices through community
ownerships for turtles (local name KASAV). The marine
turtle plays an important role in Marine Ecosystem and it
helps to keep the sea clean. Their, population decline will
disturb the marine ecosystem, hence it is desired for all to
protect the marine turtles.
Geographical Area :
5 villages in Ratnagiri District
No. of Beneficiaries :
300 HHs (1000 Community
Members)
SGP Grant :
Rs. 14,01,000
Co Financing :
Rs. 700,000
Project Time Period :
June 2007 to December 2009
Project Objectives
Creation of model project for Marine Turtle Conservation
through community participation. Efforts for better
standard of living of local community involved in
conservation practices. Nature education through school
eco clubs.

Project Activities
Kasav Mitra Mandal (KMM), Velas, is a local club of individuals who support turtle conservation in
Velas. They provide lodging and boarding to tourist and save certain amount for turtle conservation
in Velas. They also guide and make arrangements of screening of film regarding turtles. A group of
20 households have been institutionalized into a society. Norms on the management and operations
have been developed for having sustainable practices. The daily charges range from Rs 150 to Rs
300 per person. A fees of Rs 25 is given to the KMM on per day basis. this is building the corpus for
the KMM to continue the ongoing activities once the GEF/UNDP SGP project finishes. The NGO
has held more than 100 village meetings with the locals at 05 different sites to institutionalize the
process. This has been done only at one site and the process is continued in other sites..
Turtle Booklet
Marine Turtle Protection - Conservation a small booklet has been published and issued free of cost
to volunteers who are working in Marine turtle conservation. Mr. Ram Mone and Mr. Bhau Katdare
compile the booklet with available literature and there field experience for last 16 years. The
booklet also translated in Gujarati language by Mr. Parthive Singhavi and published. English version
is in progress.
Turtle Only For You
A DVD having complete information about lifecycle of Olive Ridley has been published. It is having
good photos of local activities as well as species of turtles in project area.
Turtle Friend Award
The NGO has instituted a Turtle Friend Award (Kasav Mitra Puraskar) for individuals and for
organization who have done outstanding work in turtle conservation. This award constitutes Rs.
5000/- in cash, trophy & certificate. This is met from the funds raised by the NGO. More innovative
approaches are used by the NGO in the selection process for the award.

Marine Turtle Knowledge Information centre (MTKIC).
The MTKIC, has been developed in 400 Sq.ft. hall having entire lifecycle of Marine Turtles current
status and threats to the species. The NGO has established and explained all conservation activities
going on charts. All the presentation is an attractive and informative. Good photographs and
technical information is used. This centre is free to all visitors. The land has given by the communities
to the KMM. More than 1000 visitors have made a visit to the centre. The NGO has lied up with
Schools/Colleges regularly from Mumbai.
Community Capacity Efforts
In regular partnership with GEF/UNOP SGP, CEE, the NGO has focused to develop a group of tourist
guides from locals at two different villages. Regular exposure and trainings have been imparted to
them. The links have been ably set up by the NGO with the Forest Department. Locally in VELAS, a
committee has been established by the NGO for the conservation practices.
Sr.
No.
Marine turtle conservation at a
Glance before and after the GEF/UNDP SGP project
Activities 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10
1 No. of Villages 01 04 10 15 20 30 36 36
2 No. of Nest 50 35 31 36 62 164 198 295
protected
3 No. of Hatchlings 2734 1687 1565 1624 1890 4180 5600 6700
released

Livelihood Activities (Turtle festival)
Turtle festival is a unique event which gives tourists real nature view on the conservation and have a
greater livelihood activity. this is an annual action based program now institutionalised by the NGO
in VELAS one of the more prominent site. The Director Bhau Katdare has won the Wildlife Services
Award 2008.
Details of Turtle Festival before and after the
GEF/UNDP SGP project
Sr. No. Particulars 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10
1 No. of visitors visited1 50 250 334 459
2 No. of Students 50 60 70 110
3 Approx. total income (Rs) 10,000 50,000 100,000 145,000
4 HSG 2 4 6 9
5 Youth club 1 3 3 4
6 No. of Stalls 1 5 7 9
7 No. of Families given 10 18 20 35
Lodging boarding

Kasav Nitra Mandal
Rules
Every one who is interested to participate
may become a member of the Mandal.
l
Entrance fee is Rs. 100/-
l
Member must agree to undertake Turtle
Conservation Practices at Velas.
l
Members who are providing Lodging and
Boarding will charge Rs. 225/- per person
per day.
l
Out of Rs. 225/- Rs. 25/- will be saved as
turtle conservation fund for Velas Mandal.
l
The Kasav Mitra Mandal will make
arrangements of expenses for turtle
conservation at Velas.
l
Mr. Prakash Joshi selected as a President and
Mr. Mohan Upadhye as Secretary.
l
Visitors register has been printed and kept
with each member and asked them to fill
regularly.
l
Visiting cards were printed of each member.
l
The boards were printed and fixed in houses
of each member displaying charges,
available things, rules etc.
l
This club holds monthly meeting and discus
regarding development practices.
l
Bank account will be open in the name of
President and Secretary of Mandal.
l
All the collected amount will be deposited in
bank on monthly basis.
l
lProper accounting systems with be kept.
Community Guards and Guides
If tourist wants to see film on turtle
Mr. Mohan will make arrangements and
he will charge Minimum Rs. 100/- and if
Members are more than 10 then Rs.10/- per
person.
l
If tourist wants a guide on field then he will
charge Rs.100/-
l
From both charges Rs, 10/- will saved as
Turtle conservation fund.
l
Three cell jeep torch were distributed to all
guards.
l
Public Relations and Publicity T-Shirts made.
l
Identity cards issued for the Volunteers.
l
Further plans
Establish permanent
turtle conservation centre
at 4 places in district.
l
To establish Marine turtle
Conservation, research
and rehabilitation centre
at Velas.
l
To train youth so as to
become tourist guides
l
Text : Prabhjot Sodhi and Bhau Katdare
Colours 9810037571/SGP/MAY/10
Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra
Bhau Katdare, Director
Near Laxminarayan Temple Chiplun,
District Ratnagiri, Maharashtra-415 605.
Phone: 02355 253030 (O), 9423831700
Fax: 02355–253030
E-mail: snmcpn@rediffmail.com,
Website: www.snmcpn.org
Regional Co-ordinator
Centre for Environment Education
Flat No 10, Garden Estate, 167/1,168/1,
New DP Road, City International School,
Aundh, Pune Tel: 020-5887009
Email: ceecentral@ceeindia.org
National Co-ordinator
GEF UNDP Small Grants Programme
CEE Delhi,
C-40 South Extension Part-II,
New Delhi-110049 Ph.: 011-26262878-80
e-mail : sgpdelhi@ceeindia.org
www.ceeindia.org