The Masarang HK Society received funds in 2015 from their work on the SCOLAR project. These funds (HKD140k) have been transferred to the Masarang Foundation in Indonesia to cover the operating costs of the sea turtle conservation work and to help develop the staffing of the project.
We are extremely grateful for the donation from Masarang HK Society. We would like to thank all those involved in the SCOLAR project, especially the Masarang HK volunteers, Chris Durbin, Ross Burrough and the staff from a number of primary and secondary schools in the English Schools Foundation, as well as staff from Discovery College and the Victoria Shanghai Academy.
The funds aim to cover the costs from 07-2015 to 06-2016 for the salaries of the 5 hatchery and patrol staff at Tulap, hire a sea turtle conservation officer (local university graduate) to manage all the activities within the project and expand to the new site at Temboan specifically for protection of the leatherback nesting grounds there.
The sea turtle conservation work is a project of the Masarang Foundation under management of Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue Centre. Activities started with volunteers in 2010 and will full-time staff since 03/2011. The project runs in collaboration with international sea turtle conservation experts, local community and local government. In 2013 the government declared the 30km coastline of Minahasa as an “Essential Ecosystem Area” for the protection of sea turtles and officially listed the Masarang Foundation as an NGO collaborator for this work.
Essential Ecosystem Area: Kombi zone
Due to the historically high amount of turtle and nest poaching at the beach near Tulap, the various activities have been carried out, including:
- Beach patrols to monitor the turtle activity
- Translocation of nests to protected hatchery for incubation under guard
- Talks about nature conservation with community leaders and local officials
- Overseas volunteers assisting patrols and contributing to the community
- Creating jobs in the community through the sea turtle conservation activities
- Education programmes in the schools in several villages in the surrounding area
- Supporting coastal communities with energy, water and sustainable agriculture activities in exchange for their commitment to sea turtle conservation
- Additionally, due to the high amount of household garbage on the beach, Community workshops on waste management have been carried out
Essential Ecosystem Area: LangSel zone
Temboan beach is quite remote, but still accessible by hunters and poachers via the village of Waleinsorit. As soon as we have adequate personnel on board, the following activities are planned for the beach area near Temboan:
- Beach patrols to monitor the turtle activity
- Protection of nests in-situ
- Talks about nature conservation with community leaders and local officials
- Overseas volunteers assisting patrols and contributing to the community
- Creating jobs in the community through the sea turtle conservation activities
- Education programmes in the schools in the surrounding villages
- Supporting coastal communities with relevant sustainable agriculture activities in exchange for their commitment to sea turtle conservation.
As a result of the donation, the core hatchery & patrol staff can be maintained for another year. This will enable us to save more endangered sea turtles. We are still seeking further funds for a number of initiatives for the sea turtle conservation work, such as:
- Hiring and training a local education officer from one of the nearby townships
- Building a small visitor/education centre at Tulap beach
- Building a small volunteer house near Tulap beach to be able to host overseas volunteers for the project
Please consider helping us by donating. We are always grateful for volunteers so if you would like to volunteer at the Tasikoki Centre, and save the turtles in person, please contact the Masarang HK Society volunteers and/or visit our website for more information: www.Tasikoki.org www.Masarang.HK
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