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The main goals are the development of a conservation strategy in Benin, to exchange knowledge and information and to promote international cooperation, especially between Benin and its neighbouring countries. The partners are Nature Tropicale from Benin, the Sea Turtle Restoration Project (Pretoma) and the association ANAI, both from Costa Rica.

During a work visit members of Biotopic and Nature Tropicale visited five sea turtle projects in Costa Rica at: St. Miguel, Playa Grande, Ostional, Tortuguero and Gandoca. Each of these projects has its own special characteristics such as: community based conservation, involvement of volunteers, ecotourism and legal egg harvesting. After this visit an international workshop on sea turtle protection in Benin was organised by Nature Tropicale in collaboration with Biotopic and Dr. Jacques Fretey, IUCN-France coordinator for sea turtle conservation in the West African region. This seven day workshop was organised at ‘Grand Popo’ (an important nesting site). Conservationists from Benin and several neighbouring countries were trained in practical and theoretical aspects of marine turtle biology and conservation.

Sea turtle protection in the West-African region is young. For instance in Benin it is not known yet how many turtles are nesting each year. The species found in Benin are the olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Despite the fact that it is legally forbidden to kill turtles or to take their eggs, most turtles that come ashore or that are caught in fishing nets are slaughtered for their meat, eggs and oil. For some ethnic groups, however, consumption of turtles is prohibited or taboo.

During the workshop, a start was made in creating a regional network for sea turtle protection in West Africa, with the main goals of exchanging data, information and expertise. The opening of the workshop, which was covered by the local media, was attended by the General Director of Benin’s Environmental Agency (ABE) and the ‘sous prefect’ from Grand Popo. Much attention was drawn by more than 200 schoolchildren who marched through the village showing many carapaces of previously killed turtles. The workshop was the first of its kind in the West African region. For Benin it means one step more in the development of a national conservation plan for sea turtles according to the recommendations of the Memorandum of Abidjan (CMS/IUCN 1999).