Sarang Village Turtle Training Report

MAKATA endeavors to save the remaining critically endangered leatherback turtles in Papua New Guinea. Much more can be done if our efforts are supported. If you wish to donate funds or inkind support for this cause, please email me on: magun.wences@gmail.com or call me on (675) 71959665. To learn more about us log onto: maskagintapani.blogspot.com. Your support will be acknowledged!

TRAINING WORKSHOP REPORT
COMMUNITY BASED MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT SARANG COMMUNITY, MADANG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Report prepared by Job Opu for MAKATA Incorporated,
September 2013

MAS KAGIN TAPANI ASSOCIATION
POB 1312, Port Moresby, National Capital District, PNG
Ph. +(675) 3440591 or + (675) 71959665
magun.wences@gmail.com • maskagintapani.blogspot.com

Acknowledgements
We appreciate the fact that the northern coastal community in Madang is taking the lead in marine turtle conservation through the hard work and persistency of the MAKATA Inc. The recent addition of Sarang Community into the training program is an added bonus to the marine conservation efforts and we are so blessed with the outcomes and the number of community members represented at this workshop including female and youth participation as well.
We are very grateful to Pastor Kulang and his family for taking our team in and hosting our team for the duration of the training workshop. We also thank his good wife and her team for making sure we were well fed during our time there.
We also thank the good people of Sarang for allowing us in to run the training and also for their contribution in kind and making us feel so welcome.
We thank our major funders the UNDP-SGP for funding this training workshop

Table of Contents
1. Introduction 4
1.1 Aims and objectives 5
1.2 Expected Outcomes 5
2. Course Contents. 7
3. Outcomes of the Workshop. 8
Day 1. Tuesday 10 September 2013 8
Day2. Wednesday 11 September 2013 9
Day3. Thursday 12 September 2013 10
4. Evaluation of the Training Workshop. 12
5. Follow-up 13
Annex 1. The Training Workshop Program. 14
Annex II. Participants List 19
Annex III. Draft Actions Plan for the Sarang Community 22

1. INTRODUCTION
Sea turtles of today have changed little from their ancient reptilian ancestors that appeared on earth millions of years ago before humans. For many years, humans have been exploiting turtles for food and decorative ornaments. In the last 200 years or so, the uncontrollable harvests of adults and juveniles and turtle eggs have caused sea turtle population worldwide to drastically decline. The remaining populations are critically endangered and very close to extinction.
Of the seven of world’s marine turtles, six occur in the PNG marine waters. These include the Flatback, the Green Turtle, the hawksbill, leatherback turtle, the loggerhead and Olive Ridley. Of these six, Hawksbill, Green turtle and the leatherback turtle are most common. From previous survey results and anecdotal information, PNG has some of the largest remaining populations of hawksbill, green turtle and Leatherback turtle in the world today. However these populations and especially the leatherback turtle have rapidly declined.
Marine turtles have lived over 100 millions of years. They grow slowly and take between 30-50years to reach sexual maturity. Some live to be over a 100years old.
All marine turtle species are experiencing serious threats to their survival. The main threats are pollution can change to environment – especially reefs and nesting areas. Marine turtles are also killed by entanglement in marine debris, incidental catch in active fishing gear, predation by feral animals, changes to habitat and food sources and indigenous hunting.
Marine turtles migrate long distances of up to 3000 km between nesting beaches and home foraging grounds so that impact on animals in one region have far-reaching implications for populations that spun local, regional and national boundaries.
Marine turtles have traditionally had strong cultural linkages to local communities along the coastal areas of PNG. To maintain these cultures drastic decline in turtle populations must be able to be put to a stop.
Many beaches and near shore reefs along the coastal areas of PNG are home to the marine turtles. While turtle conservation programs have been initiated in a few parts of PNG, large areas although significant in nature lack turtle conservation programs. It is in these areas that local consumption of turtle for eggs and meat go on without saving some of these turtles and eggs.
Mas Kagin Tapani (MAKATA) Inc. a local NGO has been taking a very active role in turtle conservation efforts especially in the Madang Province of PNG. MAKATA has mobilized funds to carry out awareness and basic tagging and monitoring training to the local communities over the last couple of years. Through this initiative over 200 hundred locals have been trained and equipped with turtle tags and tag applicators.
This training workshop is the fourth of its kind and a follow-up of the activities and interests generated so far in turtle conservation and management with the Madang Community. The Sarang community were visited by a female leatherback turtle on their beaches a month or so back and this being the first visit after almost 30 years when the last leatherback turtle was seen, made the locals excited and keen to start conserving their beaches for nesting leatherback turtles.
The workshop was organised by the MAKATA Inc and hosted by the Sarang Community of Madang. The workshop ran from the September 9th – September 13th 2013 and the target audience of the workshop included Madang community members and representatives from Community based organisation. There were 43 participants at this course. For a full list of workshop participants including village names, refer to participants list on Annex 2.
1.1 Aims and objectives
The objectives of the training workshop were as outlined:
• Exposing participants to turtle biology and conservation
• Instructing participants on turtle tagging and monitoring protocols. Theory and Practical
• Developing a simple action strategy and management plan for turtle conservation and management
• Exposing the participants to laws protecting endangered marine species
• Exposing the participants to the use of awareness campaigns to educated communities on the turtle conservation.
• Networking communities with each other and in country turtle specialists so as to progress sustainable management of marine turtles.
The training workshop intended to enhance the capacity of Madang communities’ members who are developing a turtle management program in Turtle Conservation and Management. It specifically introduced participants to turtle tagging, data recording and compiling of basic information to monitor turtles that frequent their shores and near shore marine turtles habitats.
1.2 Expected Outcomes
Expected outcomes of the workshop are as listed below.
• Participants have been exposed to turtle tagging and monitoring protocols and are comfortable to begin turtle monitoring including tagging and documentation of nesting data on their nesting beaches.
• Participants are well versed with turtle and marine issues and are able to articulate through awareness campaigns to the coastal communities of the Madang coasts.
• A turtle conservation and management network is established and information flow and exchange is initiated and maintained.
• Participants of the training workshop complete the training and are awarded training certificate.

2. COURSE CONTENTS.
The training workshop was divided into 6 sessions and presentations and discussions were centered on this. The sessions are as listed below.

Session 1: To introduce marine turtle ecology to the participants that will include:
• Marine environment
• Marine turtle biology / life cycle
• Marine turtle nesting ecology

Session 2: To introduce Marine turtle Species found in PNG waters
• Marine Turtles species in PNG waters
• Marine turtle Distribution in PNG waters
• Status of Marine Turtles in PNG
• Current Turtle programs in PNG

Session 3: To introduce turtle tagging and data collection protocols
• Marine turtle tagging
• Various tags used
• Data sheets
• Satellite tracking
• Databases
• Practical application to turtle tagging and data collecting

Session 4. Developing a turtle Conservation Management Plan
• Strategic planning and workplan
• Management planning

Session 5. Marine Turtle Protection under PNG legislation
• Fauna Protection and Control Act (1978)

Session 6. Education and Awareness on Marine Turtle Conservation Programs
• Education and awareness ..........WHY???
• Methods/ Avenues

The training workshop program is outlined in Annex 1.

3. OUTCOMES OF THE WORKSHOP.

Participants began arriving on Sunday 18th September 2009. Registration was brought forward to Sunday evening and most of the participants registered on Sunday evening. Those who came later on Monday registered in the morning.

DAY 1. TUESDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2013

An opening ceremony was done at 9.00am to open the workshop. Pastor Mark made a few remarks on the importance of creation and followed this with a prayer. This was followed by a few remarks by Wenceslaus Magun, the PNG coordinator for the STRP.

Following the opening ceremony, participants were asked to introduce themselves. Participants’ number at the workshop was about 40 and this included about 10 female participants allowing for gender balance at the workshop.

The training proper began at 9.00am. The participants were introduced to the marine environment. These included the major habitats such as mangroves forests, seagrass beds, the coral reefs and the pelagic or deep waters. Examples of organisms on each habitat were given. There was great emphasis on the “connectivity” of the marine systems and the need to consider this connectivity when designing a management regime for these systems. Water currents playing a major role in disbursement of larvae etc of marine organisms was also highlighted. Turtle migration and feeding was also linked to marine connectivity.

Marine turtle biology was introduced next. The participants were introduced to the life cycle of the marine turtles. From the nesting behaviour to hatchling going into the sea, growing up on the sea and the migration to feeding sites and returning to nesting beaches as matured adults. Marine Turtle nesting ecology was presented to the participants highlighting nesting behaviours and beaches.

Marine Turtle species of the oceans were introduced and all seven species of marine turtles were introduced briefly. The common 3 species (hawksbill, green turtles and the leatherback turtle) were discussed thoroughly as more time were spend on these 3 species and also the fact that they were very common in PNG marine waters. Current turtle programs in PNG were also presented. This included the Huon Coast Leatherback program and the Milne Bay tagging program.

Marine Turtle Species in PNG waters and their distribution were then presented to the participants. The participants were informed that there has been no systematic update on the distribution of the turtle species in the PNG waters since the last distribution survey done by Sylvia Spring in 1978. Information from Sylvia’s survey indicated that Greens and Hawkbills were common throughout PNG waters while Leatherback was restricted to the northern coast of PNG mainland and occasionally were found in the New Britain’s, New Ireland and Manus Islands beaches during nesting seasons.
For each presentation, discussion time was set aside for questions and comments. There were a good number of discussions and comments. Traditional knowledge was also highlighted by the participants on their knowledge of the marine environment and especially on the marine turtles.

Towards the end of the day there was a recap and a brief evaluation of the presentations and the workshop ended for day at 4.30pm. All in all the participants understood and grasped the presentation well

DAY2. WEDNESDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2013

Day two began at 8.30am with a recap of the previous day’s presentation. This was followed by a couple of presentations on turtle tagging and monitoring protocols throughout the day.

Presentations under this session included: Turtle tagging protocols, various tags that are used, turtle monitoring datasheets, and various turtle databases and turtle management programs in PNG and the region. Under turtle tagging protocols, participants were instructed on the proper application of various tags used including the metal tags, the PIT tags and the satellite tracking systems. Advantages and disadvantages of this various tags were highlighted. Various data sheets were also introduced to the participants including: “turtle encounter and nesting turtle datasheet”, “nest “datasheet, Nesting Beach ground survey”..etc. The participants were informed that the Turtle Encounter and Nesting Turtle Datasheet” was ideal for the purpose of the turtle tagging program that is being initiated along the Madang coast.

The participants were also introduced to the 2 main database in the region including the SPREP database, The Queensland Parks and Wildlife marine turtle database (Col Limpus). It was rather unfortunate that samples of the two databases were not available at the time of the workshop and so could not be demonstrated to the participants.

Later in the afternoon, participants had a practical demonstration session on the handling and tagging of marine turtles and the recording of data. The session went very well and the participants were able to grasp the practical application of tags and documentation of data.

Time was also set aside for questions, comments, and clarifications on the presentations. In general, the session was very constructive and also a lot of information not covered under the formal presentations was covered under this session.

After an evaluation of the day’s sessions, the workshop wrapped up at 5.00pm.


DAY3. THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2013

Day 3 began with a recap of the previous day’s presentation. This was followed by the session set for the day.

Day 3 session was basically introducing the participants to strategic planning of various programs and especially developing a Turtle Management Plan for the marine turtle program for their respective communities.
The following topics were covered under this session:
• Strategic planning (vision, mission...etc)
Work planning
Issues
Thematic mapping of issues
Developing a Mgt Plan

The participants were introduced to basic strategic planning and then taken through a strategic planning exercise using their community oriented turtle program to develop Workplan for their community programs. For most of the participants it was a first time to go through a strategic planning process but they were very enthusiastic and had no problems coping with the exercise.

The strategic planning exercise took half a day.

A couple of video presentations on turtle management were then shown to the participants. At the end of these sessions, questions and comments were invited from the participants. As usual with comments from other previous sessions, comments provided in this session were very constructive and lessons and experiences were shared in this session.

The final two sessions were squeezed in to the afternoon session. This included the relevant laws and legislation protecting turtles and how to go about developing an effective awareness campaign on turtle conservation.

Under the PNG laws on wildlife protection, participants were introduced to the Fauna Protection and Control Act (1978), relevant Policies and the Wildlife Management Areas concept under the Fauna (and Flora) protection and Control Act. Various sections under the Act were introduced. Discussion centred on the issue of enforcement. Enforcement and/or rather lack of enforcement of this Act under the Department of Environment and Conservation have been an ongoing issue. It was also noted that regulations under this Act pertaining to endangered, restricted take, and/or protection of endangered species were not very specific in terms local take or harvest of these resources. All in all the discussions and comments brought forward under this session went very well and opened up minds of the participants.
Under the session on “Effective Awareness Campaign”, participants were introduced to Education and Awareness as an effective mechanism or tool that is currently utilised to drive home information and also increase communities and general public knowledge on the issues associated with conservation management. Topics under this session included: why education and awareness?; methodologies; getting the message across; target audiences and effective awareness campaigns. Most participants at the workshop has had previous and varying experiences in undertaking awareness campaigns on environmental and conservation issues out to the general public and communities and are well versed. This session strengthened and somewhat enhanced their capacity to undertake more awareness campaigns. Discussions under this session went well and were again very informative.

An evaluation was undertaken following the session on Education and Awareness followed by a final evaluation of the training workshop.

The training workshop was officially closed at 5.30pm on Thursday 12 September 2013. A small official ceremony was undertaken to close the workshop followed by refreshments.

4. EVALUATION OF THE TRAINING WORKSHOP.
There were no formal questionnaires nor systematic methodologies used in evaluating the training workshop. Daily evaluations were done at end of each day and a final evaluation was done at the end of the last day of the training workshop. Evaluation was done through verbal communication by means of questions and answers (both ways) and comments and observations.
In terms of attendance, there was full Level of participants from the host community and fair representation from other 3 participating communities. There was adequate gender balance of participants. All participants had some form of formal education and hence were comfortable with the language, methods, and level of presentations. The workshop was run in Tok Pisin and English.
In terms of the course content, the organisers attempted to provide an over view of the marine environment, distinguisng from the terrestrial, describing the main habitats in the marine environment, emphasing on the nature of “connectivity” in the marine environment and species, and narrowing down to endangered marine species and in particular touching on the marine turtle species. Under marine turtles, species distribution and status were introduced, common species in PNG waters was highlighted and tagging and monitoring protocols were presented. Community Marine turtle monitoring and tagging and management action plans were firstly presented and discussed then developed for each community. Through daily evaluation and final evaluation, conclusions were drawn in that the course content was adequate given that this was the first kind of training offered to these communities, the presentation covered a very wide range of marine topics in a very limited time, the course/information were presented in a very easily understood and simplified way, and that the participants expectations of the workshop was met. The participants felt that training workshops of this sort should be done more often.
In terms of turtle marine turtle information especially on turtle tagging and monitoring, 2 days were spend on this and the topic adequately covered. Whatever issues raised under this session was also adequate addressed through answers and question time and in specific comments.
All in the entire training workshop was timely, very informative, and addressed marine turtle issues and information gaps that were identified from initial consultations by the STRP/Makata team.

5. FOLLOW-UP
There were several activities that needed to be done as identified through the course and closing of the workshop. These are listed below:

Printing and awarding of course certificates.
o Awarding of certificate of course completion was scheduled to be undertaken during the closing ceremony. However certificates were not ready in time for the awarding ceremony. This is currently being looked into by the workshop logistics person and a later date in November 2013 will be scheduled for the awarding of the certificate.

Distribution of training workshop documents
o Details of presentations are contained in documents. This will be also printed, bind and distributed to course participants. Makata will be responsible for this.

Mobilizing of distribution of awareness materials
o All workshop participants mentioned the need to have awareness materials with them when they are talking to the community and school children in their communities. The first point of contact will be the SPREP marine turtle program. Request will be made to the SPREP marine officer(s) for posters, brochures, Turtle DVD to be send to an established NGO in Madang who will in turn make sure that awareness materials mobilised will be send to appropriate community members to be distributed during their awareness campaigns.
o Other marine turtle programs throughout especially in Australia, the Asia and the Hawaii turtle projects will also be approached to supply the Madang community with awareness materials.

Further Training Workshops on Marine Turtles (and other marine related issues)
o The training workshop was the first of its kind along the Madang coastal communities and has generated alot of interest among different communities. Informal requests have been provided to the workshop organisers to run similar kind of workshops in the near future to continue raising awareness along the coastal communities.
o Makata will look into this and develop proposals etc to mobilise funds to continue the training to other communities along the Madang coastal areas.


ANNEX 1. THE TRAINING WORKSHOP PROGRAM.

1. LOGISTICS
1.1 Venue:
1.2 Logistics
Wence
STRP – PNG Focal Point
Port Moresby
Ph: (675) 71959665

Wence is the Program Manager for Turtle Program and will be responsible for all logistics and coordination. Wence will put in fulltime for this training program taking care of all logistics and support.

1.3 Participation
• Selected Community Members of Madang
• Local NGO representatives

1.4 Key Personnel / Trainer
Job Opu
Marine Species Specialist
Port Moresby
Ph: (675) 71668746
Email: j_opu@hotmail.com

Job has been involved in marine species program in PNG and the pacific region and is well versed in community based turtles conservation and management.

Job’s input into this program will be i) Developing the training program, ii) preparation of course material, iii) running the course itself and iv) writing up the final report.

2. Training Workshop Goals

The training workshop seeks to enhance the capacity of Madang communities’ members who are developing a turtle management program in Turtle Conservation and Management. Its specifically seeks to train the community members in turtle tagging, data recording and compiling of basic information to monitor turtles that frequent their shores and near shore marine turtles habitats.

The expected outcomes for the training workshop are:

Session 1: To introduce marine turtle ecology to the participants that will include:
• Marine environment
• Marine turtle biology / life cycle
• Marine turtle nesting ecology

Session 2: To introduce Marine turtle Species found in PNG waters
• Marine Turtles species in PNG waters
• Marine turtle Distribution in PNG waters
• Status of Marine Turtles in PNG
• Current Turtle programs in PNG

Session 3: To introduce turtle tagging and data collection protocols
• Marine turtle tagging
• Various tags used
• Data sheets
• Satellite tracking
• Databases
• Practical application to turtle tagging and data collecting

Session 4. Developing a turtle Conservation Management Plan
• Strategic planning and Workplan
• Management planning

Session 5. Marine Turtle Protection under PNG legislation
• Fauna Protection and Control Act (1978)

Session 6. Education and Awareness on Marine Turtle Conservation Programs
• Education and awareness ..........WHY???
• Methods/ Avenues

3. Training Workshop Program

Time Program Key Person(s)

Day1.
8.30 – 9.00am Registration Wences

9.00 – 9.30am Opening and Introductions Wences/Community Chairman
• Opening Prayer
• Opening Remarks (Wences)
• Address by Community Rep
• Opening of workshop
10.00-10.30am Refreshments

10.30am – 12.00noon Session 1: Introduction Job
• Marine Turtle Ecology
o Marine environment
o Marine turtle biology / life cycle
o Marine turtle nesting ecology

12.00 – 1.00pm LUNCH BREAK

1.00pm – 1.30pm Review of Session 1. Job

1.30pm – 3.00pm Session 2: Marine Turtles’ species in PNG Waters Job
• Marine Turtle Species in PNG waters
• Marine turtle Distribution (nesting..etc)

3.00 – 3.30pm TEA BREAK

3.30 – 4.30pm Session 2. Continued
• Status of Marine Turtles in PNG
• Current Turtle Programs in PNG

4.30pm Wrap up. / Evaluation Job/Wences
5.00pm End of Day 1.

Time Program Key Person(s)
Day 2.
8.30 – 9.00am Review of day 1 Job
9.00 – 10.30am Session 3. Turtle Monitoring Protocols Job
• Marine Turtle Tagging Protocols
• Various Tags Used

10.30- 11.00am TEABREAK

11.00 – 12.30pm Session 3 Continued
• Turtle monitoring datasheets
• Turtle databases

12.30 – 1.30pm LUNCH BREAK

1.30 – 3.00pm Session 3 Continued
• Practical Application to tagging
• Data collecting and documentation

3.00pm TEABREAK

3.30 – 4.30pm Session 3 Continued

5.00pm WRAP UP / Evaluation – end of day 2 Job/Wence

Time Program Key Person(s)
Day 3
8.30-9.00am Review if day 2 Job

9.00 – 10.30am Session 4. Turtle Conservation Mgt Plan Job

• Strategic planning (vision, mission...etc)
• Work planning

10.30 – 11.00am TEABREAK

11.00 – 12.30pm Session 4 Continued – Mgt Planning
• Issues
• Thematic mapping of issues

12.30 – 1.30pm LUNCH BREAK

1.30 – 3.00pm Session 4 Continued –
• Developing a Mgt Plan

3.00 – 3.30pm TEABREAK

3.30 – 4.30pm Video Session on Turtle Cons & Mgt Job

4.30pm. Wrap up and evaluation Wences/Job
5.00pm End of Day
Time Program Key Person(s)
Day 4
8.30 – 9.00am Recap of day 3

9.30 – 10.30am Session 5: Wildlife Legislation Job
• Fauna Protection and Control Act (1978)
• Relevant Policies
• WMAs

10.30 – 11.00am TEABREAK


11.00 – 12.30pm Session 5 Continued

12.30 – 1.30pm LUNCH BREAK

1.30 – 3.00pm Session 6. Education and Awareness
• Education and Awareness – Why??
• Getting the message across
• Methods

3.00 – 3.30pm TEA BREAK

3.30 – 4.30pm Session 6 Continued

4.30pm Evaluation and Wrap up

Time Program Key Person(s)

Day 5
8.30 – 10.00am Review of Weeks Session

Next Steps

11.00-12.00noon Closing Ceremony
• Speeches
• Awarding of certificates
• Closing speech

12.00 Noon LUNCH /Departure

Annex 2. The Training Workshop Program.

Total of 43 Participants


Annex 3. Draft Sarang Local Marine Management Plan.
Mission
Vision

Thematic area objectives Expected outcome activity timeframe resources budget
1. education and awareness
• Increase the knowledge of community members Community knowledge is increased
1.1 workshop training 9-12/09/13
Plane tickets x2 pom-mad-pom; food/lodging/transportation; workshop materials, consultancy service/flex card
1.2. prepare materials
9-13Sept13ongoing Posters, videos, awareness materials, See partners for suppose

Wwf, brg, tnc, upng.
1.3 conduct awareness
9-13Sept13
Turtle Training makata
1.4 monitoring and awareness

1.5 monitoring and evaluation

1.6 drama and talk back show

Resource person
2. conservation area establishment • To establish conservation re
• • Conservation area established and running
• Increase in marine resources • Do one Planning workshop
• Establish conservation committee by community elders
• Survey area

• Formally establish conservation area

• Community announcement • 15th march 2014

• 1t October 2013

• 11th September 2013
• June 2014

• July 2014 • NGO partners

• Communities

• Surveyor / bot

• NGO, DEC, Environment Lawyer 500

350

500

8000

3.turtle tagging and monitoring

To tag monitor and protect breeding ground To have more turtles on our beach
1. Community leaders to appoint turtle team
2. Train the team
3. Mobilise of equipment
4. Field work By the end of October 2013

By mid- December 2013
By mid- December 2013

From December 2013 to march 2014 Trainer and materials
Tag application
tape measure
torch
rain coat
data sheets
stationary

K5000.00

K1500.00

K1000.00http://www.facebook.com/n/?groups%2F210718705711207%2F&mid=6c3525eG20735b4fGb104cdbG15&bcode=LNVAbcrL_1.1348031792.AaSvo9N3YuUm0lzr&n_m=magun.wences%40gmail.com