Workshop presentation of the "National Plan for the Conservation of Sea Turtles in Cape Verde"

"The national plan for the conservation of marine turtles in Cape Verde" will come into force later this year and will be made known in all the islands in the coming months, said the coordinator of the plan, Sonia Araujo, the Directorate-General Environment. 

The plan announced yesterday that the government provides for "ensuring sustainable conservation of sea turtles," providing the means to implement conservation activities and promote the application of the law. 

Cape Verde ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1995 and since 2005 is part of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Regionally, Cape Verde is part of the Regional Programme for the Conservation of Marine and Coastal Zone of West Africa (PRCM) and the Regional Unit Conservation of Sea Turtles of the Atlantic Coast of Africa (URTOMA). 

Although this plan has been ratified, and laws already exist to protect the turtles, enforcement has been problematic and the slaughter has continued, prompting Turtle Foundation's protection project.  Turtle Foundation is working with the government and all stakeholders to help implement the National Plan.

Interestingly, if my google translate is correct, the article states that the loggerhead turtles"are not yet on the list of endangered animals in the short term".  I beg to differ with that assessment; this population is currently listed as threatened and under review for listing as endangered.  

The original article is in Portuguese and may be viewed here: Sistema de Informação Ambiental