MEKAR on air: Championing turtle conservation on radio
Persatuan Khazanah Rakyat Ma’Daerah (MEKAR) and WWF-Malaysia are proud to announce that a series of public service announcements on turtle conservation will be aired on local radio station Terengganu FM from April until September this year. Throughout this period, listeners across the state will be educated on the importance of conserving Terengganu’s popular icon - the turtle.
Stepping in for conservation
WWF-Malaysia was invited to the Quality Health, Safety and Environment Week 2009 organised by the Institute Technology Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP) from 10 - 12 February 2009. During this event, the WWF team in Terengganu had an exhibition to raise awareness on its turtle conservation efforts in Ma’Daerah and Setiu Wetlands.
Turtle Awareness Programme: From Locals to Locals
In order to instill awareness on turtle conservation among local villagers in Kemasek, Kerteh, and Paka, most of whom have never seen a nesting turtle before, Persatuan Khazanah Rakyat Ma’ Daerah (MEKAR) and WWF-Malaysia developed a structured observation programme from June to August
Awareness Build Empathy
One of the biggest challenges faced by conservationists is engaging local communities to adopt environment-friendly practices. Those who rely on natural resources for their income and survival are often less concerned with saving endangered species; their understandable priority is their livelihood. When these people are already used to exploiting natural resources, behavioural change can sometimes be quite a challenge.
Pilot project: Tracking Green turtles with satellite transmitters
WWF-Malaysia’s Terengganu Turtle Programme, in partnership with the Department of Fisheries Terengganu have successfully deployed satellite transmitters on four female Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) between 17 and 24 August 2008. The deployments were carried out on Ma’ Daerah beach. The research team was also assisted by the local community from Persatuan Khazanah Rakyat Ma’ Daerah (MEKAR).
Turtle awareness roadshow continues to Paka area
The turtle awareness roadshow which started in April in Kemasek, Kemaman district has now progressed to Paka town located in the Dungun district. Similar to the previous roadshow, this event is focused on inculcating the importance of turtle conservation to the local communities living side by side with these turtles.
MEKAR inspires the local community in Setiu
WWF-Malaysia has been working with the local communities in Paka, Kerteh and Kemasek since 2003. In August 2005, a local community group known as Persatuan Khazanah Rakyat Ma’ Daerah (MEKAR), was established. MEKAR’s core mission is to create awareness among the local communities within the areas of Paka, Kerteh and Kemasek on turtle conservation issues through education and awareness activities, with technical advice and support from WWF-Malaysia.
Islam and Turtle Conservation
Recognising that there are numerous sets of discourse on environmental issues in Islam, Persatuan Khazanah Rakyat Ma’ Daerah (MEKAR) and WWF-Malaysia organised the 22 June 2008 “Pemuliharaan Alam Sekitar dan Penyu dari Sudut Islam” workshop in Terengganu to link Islamic teachings to the conservation of nature and turtles.
Turtle Rescue Workshop
Fishermen probably come in contact with marine turtles more than anyone else because of the amount of time they spend at sea. Due to this, the chances of marine turtles getting accidentally caught in their fishing gears are also relatively high. During such occasions, can fishermen do anything to help trapped turtles?
MEKAR Roadshow in Kemasek
It was a fantastic day for turtle conservation in Terengganu. The MEKAR Roadshow with support from WWF-Malaysia which emphasised on the conservation of turtles and their habitats, managed to pull a crowd of over 400 people from the local community in the Kemasek, Paka and Kerteh areas.
