Foundation  |  Peace Parks  |  Programmes  |  Colleges  |  Maps  |  Donate  |  Partners  |  news  |  Contact

PEACE PARKS PROGRAMMES

The programmes differ from the projects in that they encompass more than one peace park and rather include many, if not all southern Africa's TFCAs.  The Climate Change Programme, TFCA Veterinary Programme and Ecosystem Services are run by Peace Parks Foundation, whereas Boundless Southern Africa was launched and is run by nine southern African countries.  They all set out to achieve the best not only  for the region's TFCAs, but also for the partner countries and its people.
 

Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation and Resource Area

Turtle Monitoring Project

---

All marine turtles are recognized by the IUCN as priority species. It has long been known that the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and the loggerhead (Caretta carettea) marine turtles lay their eggs on the east African coastline, with an exceptional high density along the pristine beaches of the Maputo Special Reserve, just north of the South African border. Both of these two species are listed as critically endangered, but research and conservation has been complicated due to the transfrontier nature of the populations and related breeding areas. Up until 1994, no useful records were available. This stretch of coastline adjacent to the Maputo Special Reserve acts as a sanctuary for the leatherback and loggerhead turtles to lay eggs during the breeding season. As Mozambican law protects the marine turtles, it was decided to expand the turtle monitoring and conservation programme that has been running in South Africa for over four decades, to southern Mozambique, based at Ponta Malongane.

Previously the marine turtles were killed for food and nests were dug up and eggs taken for food and traditional medicine.  The turtle monitoring project is being assisted by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife that provided the initial supply of tags, tag applicators and training. The Ponta Malongane turtle monitoring and surveys have contributed greatly to filling the gaps in knowledge of turtle species composition, abundance, egg laying success and mortality in the area. This has led to improved conservation and an increase in awareness within the local communities of the possible tourism opportunities and associated benefits.

External research was encouraged within the Lubombo TFCA to contribute to existing research programmes. After consultation with several research authorities and programmes such as Ocean Research Institute (ORI), TRANSMAP, Ezemvelo KZN wildlife and WWF, a coordinated turtle monitoring programme was established with nine partners from both the commercial and NGO sectors. Presently 85 km of coastline is being monitored for turtle breeding status, with important management and scientific consequences. The marine manager, appointed by Peace Parks Foundation, pulled the various commercial operators together in the area where turtle monitoring is conducted and restructured the efforts to create a bigger coordinated programme between Ponta do Ouro and Santa Maria. The onset of the Lubombo TFCA and it's sub-component, the Ponta do Ouro-Kosi Bay TFCA has therefore been instrumental in creating the necessary environment and the spirit of cooperation that has supported the impetus behind the success of the turtle monitoring project.

During 2007 six local community members were appointed as turtle monitors, funded by the Foundation. Annual training is provided by the Centro Terra Viva to community monitors who conduct daily patrols at Ponta do Ouro and Milibangalala between November and March when turtles are breeding. This approach creates awareness within the communities and also empowers the local community members with additional skills, while the presence of these monitors on the beach also acts as a deterrent to possible turtle hunters in the area.

Data collected is channelled back to the marine manager and in 2007/8 was used to compile a first ever comprehensive report on the distribution and status of the turtle population along this stretch of coastline. Marcus Perreira and Eduardo Videira of AICM together with Christine Louro of Centro Terra Viva were responsible for this report that included results of the monitored sites in Mozambique - with a chapter dedicated to the Lubombo Turtle Monitoring Project.

A pre-season meeting takes place before the commencement of the turtle breeding season in preparation for the season and individual monitoring programmes have been instituted form the Mozambican border to Ponta Malongane; Ponta do Ouro (Maputo Special Reserve) and Milibangalala to supplement the initial programme.

Monitoring comprises of checking and measuring turtles, and tagging them. In the 2007/8 breeding season 80 turtles were tagged, of which 6 were leatherbacks and 74 were loggerheads, compared to 78 being tagged the previous season of which 12 were leatherbacks and 66 were loggerheads. In the study area 2 111 loggerhead nesting attempts have been recorded during the last 13 years and a fairly consistent distribution pattern is emerging.

A major hazard for these turtles is that beach driving has direct and indirect impact on the turtle emergence and breeding success. There is a continuing increase in tourism development and related human activity along the coast, which in turn causes an increase in beach driving, even though it is illegal. Tourists are now taken on turtle monitoring trips in order to create awareness and to obtain some revenue. Generally there is great interest and support from tourists and tourism developers in the marine turtles and the related monitoring thereof. Many tourism operators are trying to link tourism benefits directly to the turtle protection. Toyota SA has sponsored a vehicle, with Total, Kosi Bay, that sponsored fuel used for survey work during the 2007/8 season. A television documentary, produced in December 2007 on the research work at Ponta Malongane, was broadcasted on Supersport and greatly assisted with the creation of awareness and education on the marine turtles and marine conservation in general.

The proclamation of the Marine Protected Area in Mozambique and the development of a management plan for the marine area will also provide the necessary framework and policies for management of behaviour that impacts the turtle populations and habitats in the area.