Treat coastal communities as partners in sea turtle conservation – Dr Agyekumhene
Stakeholders working to protect sea turtles have been urged to recognise coastal communities as active partners in conservation rather than merely beneficiaries of environmental programmes.
Ghanaian conservationists have been urged to view coastal communities as active participants in sea turtle preservation, rather than passive beneficiaries of environmental programs, according to Dr Andrews Agyekumhene. The Executive Director of the Wildlife and Human Resources Organisation (WHRO) Ghana emphasized meaningful community involvement as crucial for achieving enduring results in marine conservation.
Speaking at the 5th Ghana National Sea Turtle Conference in Accra, Dr Agyekumhene called for full engagement of coastal residents in conservation planning, decision-making and monitoring. He argued that community stewardship entails treating coastal communities as partners, guardians and active players in conservation, not merely as beneficiaries or individuals in need of education.
Dr Agyekumhene, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, noted that the survival of sea turtles is intrinsically linked to the activities within coastal communities where nesting takes place, fishing occurs and coastal developments occur. He stressed that conservation efforts would be more sustainable if locals comprehended the value of sea turtles and received direct benefits from initiatives aimed at protecting them.
Empowering communities to partake in monitoring and decision-making can help sustain conservation efforts beyond the duration of individual projects and their funding, he added. Threats identified by Dr Agyekumhene include coastal development, light pollution, human activities and climate change. He advocated for intensified collaboration among researchers, conservation practitioners and coastal communities to tackle these challenges.
He urged participants to utilize the conference to devise innovative methods and reinforce partnerships aimed at safeguarding sea turtles and their habitats in Ghana. The Ghana National Sea Turtle Conference, established in 2018, serves as a platform for researchers, conservation groups, government bodies, coastal communities, students and volunteers to exchange knowledge and devise solutions to issues impacting sea turtle conservation.
Held under the theme "Sea Turtle Conservation in Ghana: Strengthening Community Stewardship for Lasting Impact," the 2026 conference was organized by WHRO Ghana in partnership with the University of Ghana’s Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
