1. Project for the protection of sea turtles through the selection and training of ecoguards
The project is contributing significantly to the enforcement of legislation that prohibits the poaching of sea turtles and their eggs in all coastal villages of the area (recently established Marine Protected Area) and in the fishing port of Grand Béreby.
Ecoguard during nighttime surveillance.
Group of ecoguards.
2. Protection of all nesting females and nests
Eight very simple nurseries have been built using local materials near Roc, Dawa, Mani, Pitiké, Takoro, Ouro, Boupé, and Menolé to facilitate nest monitoring. The nurseries are visited every morning and evening by the project team. The aim of these nurseries is to protect nests placed in inappropriate locations and contribute to raising awareness among local communities, tourists, and visitors.
Turtle hatchery.
3. Surveillance of the nearby fishing port of Grand Béréby by the Naval Police
Currently, there are 25 turtle guards, 5 guitar fish guards, 6 forest guards, 6 trained agents from the Maritime Police, and a fully equipped patrol boat to monitor the marine part of the Marine Protected Area (MPA). Additionally, there is close collaboration with local authorities responsible for law enforcement, such as the Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Water and Forests, and Maritime Police. Daily inspections at landing sites to supervise fish and sea turtle catches have resulted in the release of:
– 08 juvenile green turtles in Dawa
– 3 adult hawksbill turtles and 03 juvenile green turtles in Mani
4. Crafts
A group of about 6 people has been formed, gathering every week to make bracelets, necklaces, etc., to sell to tourists. A complete training and implementation of several women’s groups from the villages have been possible to obtain sea salt by evaporating water with the help of the sun and wind instead of boiling it with mangrove firewood.
5. Guided tours for tourists
Groups of tourists have been organized to witness the nesting and hatching of turtles. Several local tourism agencies are now operating in Grand-Béréby, attracted by the growing reputation of the area as a tourist attraction.
Another example of the importance Grand-Béréby is gaining as a tourist destination is that the village of Mani Béréby (a pioneer in the protection of sea turtles) was chosen by the Ministry of Tourism as the best tourist village in Ivory Coast, making it a candidate to win an international award. Moreover, Grand-Béréby has also been selected to participate in an international competition to designate the most beautiful bays in the world.
Ecotourism activities.
We will stay in contact with the team in Ivory Coast for further updates. We are thrilled to see the winners’ projects yielding results!
