1.RESUMEN
1.1. Title: ETHNO-PROGRAM FOR THE SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION OF THE DAHL’S TOAD-HEADED TURTLE (mesoclemmys dahli), IN COLOMBIAN.
1.2. Homonymy: Dahl’s Toad-Headed Turtle, Carranchina turtle.
1.3. Geographic location: 1,800Km2 of habitats in the Zenú indigenous territory, on the banks of the Sinú river, in the departments of Sucre and Córdoba, in Colombia. Geographic coordinates: 8 ° 34 «N and 76 ° 04» W, with 9 ° 12 «N and 75 ° 32» W.
1.4. Project Beneficiaries: 18,000 inhabitants of the riverside of the Sinú River, of the Zenú indigenous community.
1.5. Project Need: The Carranchina turtle is Critically Endangered in all biodiversity red books. The main threats that have annihilated this turtle are all of anthropic origin: poaching, UUI fishing and illegal trafficking; destruction of habitats and climate change. The elimination of the Carranchina turtle is systematic: when it accidentally gets caught in the fishing hooks, it is decapitated to retrieve the hook; It is hunted for food and the shell is used to make handicrafts. The dry tropical forests and wetlands, habitats of this species, are disappearing for agricultural activities and illegal mining. It is necessary to implement comprehensive strategies (conservation, education, communication, monitoring and sustainability) for the beginning of the sustainable recovery of this species, including the indigenous Zenú community, cohabiting with the turtle, who live in the only place in the world where We can get the Carranchina turtle (endemic species): on the banks of the Sinú river. This Project has the support of the Zenú indigenous community, the University of Magdalena and Corpomagdalena.
1.6. Goal: Increase the conservation status of the Carranchina turtle, through the population increase of 66%, mitigating threats and protecting their habitats, on the banks of the Sinú River, in Colombia.
1.7. Specific objectives:
O1: Strengthen the conservation capacities of the Zenú indigenous communities, through the training of 1,000 indigenous people, in the conservation of freshwater turtles, in the 6 months of the project.
O2: Mitigate at least 80% poaching and illegal trafficking; and UUI fishing of Carranchina turtles, at the project site, in the 12 months of the project.
O3: Restore 12Km2 net of nesting riverside, mating areas and foraging zones, of Carranchina turtles, to mitigate the habitat destruction, in the 12 months of the project.
O4: Stimulate conservation in the Zenú indigenous territory by informing at least 25,000 people about the activities and results of the project.
1.8. Main activities
A1. Training of 1,000 riverside indigenous people in the conservation of freshwater turtles.
A2. Creation of 32Km2 of protected natural area with 13Km2 buffer zone.
A3. Creation of a regional office led by indigenous Zenú, to protect freshwater turtles on the Sinú river.
A4. Monitoring of 17Km2 of riverside with nesting zone, with threat of illegal trafficking
1.9. Main outcomes of the project
R1. Decrease in illegal traffic of Carranchina turtle by 80% in the project area.
R2. > 60% of target indigenous communities recognize the importance of freshwater turtle conservation.
R3. 45Km2 of riverside with nesting zones were protected, reforested and cleaned at the project site.
R4. Reduces at least 60% of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices at the project site.