All species of marine turtles are experiencing serious threats to their survival and some are now considered endangered, including the Green turtle in the Mediterranean region. International marine turtle expert Monica Aureggi discussed the latest in global marine turtle conservation efforts at a talk organized by the USAID-funded Supporting Activities that Value the Environment (SAVE) program on October 31, 2007, at the J.W. Fulbright Center in Nicosia.

Pulling from her over thirteen years of experience in Southeast Asia and various sites throughout the Mediterranean, Aureggi explained that threats to marine turtles include pollution, predation and habitat destruction. She emphasized that effective conservation must protect turtles at all stages of their life cycle, including nesting and hatching and provided suggestions on ways that Cyprus can continue to ensure the survival of these ancient reptiles.

Cyprus is privileged to provide nesting beaches for two species of endangered marine turtles—the loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas). As part of its efforts to build local capacity to protect the turtles and their habitat, SAVE worked with local communities and experts throughout the summer 2007 season to clean beaches, raise public awareness, improve monitoring and data gathering and promote conservation efforts.

SAVE works to build local capacity to better protect and manage Cyprus’ valuable natural and cultural resources. SAVE combines work on environmental protection with cultural heritage conservation, preservation, and restoration. Like all U.S.-funded programs in Cyprus, SAVE is aimed at improving the conditions that will foster a durable Cyprus settlement.