ORP Launches Handbook of Sea Turtles
Photo: ORP
The Olive Ridley Project (ORP), a marine conservation NGO, unveiled the “Handbook of Sea Turtles” at the SME hub yesterday. This bilingual publication serves as a comprehensive guide to the history of sea turtle conservation efforts, legal protections, and practical ways for citizens to engage in conservation and citizen science initiatives.
Funded by the UK in Maldives, the handbook was written in collaboration with the Maldives Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Chief guests present at the launch ceremony included the Director General of the Ministry of Climate Change and Technology, Muhammad Zahid, and the British High Commissioner to the Maldives Caron Röhsler.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Röhsler commended ORP’s conservation and research efforts, adding “I hope (Maldivian youth) find some joy and passion in the beautiful environment that you live in. I know it’s not always the easiest environment for Maldivians to access, but I think it’s well worth the effort if you can.”
Zahid, who led the call to have sea-turtles declared a protected species, highlighted the progress made in Maldives marine conservation efforts. “Sea turtles had become an endangered species by the 1970s due to widespread exploitation – either as local delicacies or tourist souvenirs.”
“If not for the relentless advocacy from a group of passionate conservationists, sea turtles would not exist in Maldives today” he said, adding that the government at the time was unreceptive until they faced backlash from international parties.
This initiative by ORP, in partnership with EPA and the British High Commission of Maldives, aims to empower communities and authorities across the Maldivian atolls with the knowledge and tools needed to protect sea turtles and their habitats. As part of its distribution plan, the handbook will be disseminated to schools and island councils across eight atolls.
The launch of the “Handbook of Sea Turtles” marks a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to preserve sea turtles and their ecosystems, fostering a sense of collective responsibility towards marine conservation in the Maldives and beyond. As such, industry experts report that sustainable and eco-friendly tourism is popular amongst guests arriving into the Maldives.