Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network - WIDECAST NETWORK

Summary: 

WIDECAST is designed to address research and management priorities at national and regional levels, both for sea turtles and for the habitats upon which they depend. In seeking to define and promote a regional capability to implement science-based sea turtle management and conservation programs, WIDECAST is committed to:-Encouraging the active participation of existing institutions, programs and expertise in determining sea turtle conservation priorities, planning and implementation-Strengthening the regulatory framework by assisting governments in the formulation of appropriate legislation, policies, and standards for the management of sea turtles at local, national and international levels-Encouraging integrated resource management by assisting governments in the establishment of mechanisms that ensure a coordinated and collaborative approach to sea turtle research and conservation-Facilitating institutional strengthening by developing and promoting the basic capabilities and skills required to identify, analyze and resolve issues relevant to the region’s marine and coastal resources-Enabling science-based conservation and management by training scientists, managers and policy-makers through academic and field courses, thematic workshops, and peer-mentoring and exchange programs-Supporting the standardization of approaches and methodologies by developing and disseminating standardized procedures and criteria for sea turtle population assessment, monitoring, and recovery-Enhancing public awareness through outreach, and by encouraging the involvement of all sectors of society in the management and conservation of sea turtles-Implementing (and disseminating the results of) basic and applied research that supports environmental policy needs and decision making-Promoting the exchange of information among the region’s environmental agencies and organizations, thus strengthening information management capabilities and increasing communication among stakeholders-Promoting the joint management of transboundary resources by establishing, maintaining and/or strengthening mechanisms for communication, data-sharing, and collaboration-Fundraising to support research, management and conservation actions at local and regional scales

Additional remarks: 

Category of best practice: 

Biodiversity management (e.g. conservation ex situ and in situ, sustainable use and exploitation, rehabilitation, management of invasive species, pollutants, pesticides)
Governance and policies (e.g. interactions science/societies, regulations, decision-makers, networks, international collaborations)

Criteria used to define the best practice: 

Provision of further environmental and socio-economic benefits
Significant contribution to preservation of biodiversity and ecological effectiveness
Applicability/transferability to other regions
Sustainability of projects (i.e. projects remain beyond the given funding)
Adaptive management of biodiversity (allowing to cope with change of environmental conditions, e.g. climate change in time)
Good governance (involve relevant stakeholders and integrate different interests and perspectives and needs in part from local stakeholders)
Generating multiplier/imitation effects

Organisation: 

WIDECAST1348 Rusticview DriveBallwinMissouri 63011 USATel: (314) 954-8571

Contact details: 

Karen L. Eckert (keckert@widecast.org) - Executive Director

Geographic region: 

Caribbean

Location: 

Wider Caribbean