I wanted to follow up with all of
you after the fantastic meeting in Loreto, the 3rd
Annual Meeting of the Sea Turtle Conservation Network
of the Californias (Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias).
Each year the meeting has grown in size
and scope, and this year without a doubt we made tremendous
progress towards our common goal, the recovery of
the sea turtles of the Pacific Ocean. It was particularly
remarkable to see people from so many different "sea
turtle" regions (Hawaii, Baja California, Baja California
Sur, Sonora, Michoacan, and California, USA), at "the
table" together, working on solutions to complex conservation
issues.
From the start, our group has been one
of equal voices, each with something to offer. Students,
fishers, teachers, community members, conservationists,
government managers, and researchers need to work
together like this, discussing the issues openly and
honestly and working towards solutions that we can
all adhere to.
As you know, we signed a letter to President
Vincente Fox. The letter asks for his and his administration's
support for the work our group is doing in the Californias.
We will anxiously await his response, which we all
hope is positive.
Many new initiatives have come out of
this annual meeting. Among them are the proposed protected
areas in BahÕa Magdalena and BahÕa de los Angeles,
as well as a number of educational projects and information
campaigns. Let's all support the progress these two
communities are making to preserve their coastline
and marine resources.
We will complete a summary report of
the meeting shortly and distribute it all of you.
In the mean time, if you have any questions please
contact me.
See you all in January 2002.
Regards, Wallace J. Nichols, Ph.D. Director,
Wildcoast General Delivery Davenport,
California 95017, USA Tel/fax: 650-651-1579
Email: wallacejnichols@earthlink.net
www.wildcoast.net.
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