More than 20,000 species are threatened to become extinct in the near future. We focus on species that have endangered today. Their ecosystems or habitat as a whole are a crucial component of our conservation strategy. The survival of these ‘species’ has always been a priority for APOWA and great strides have been made to protect the habitats and remaining populations of these species, but much remains to be done to assure their future. A number of threatened species are benefiting from APOWA projects.
APOWA’s ACTION:
- Monitoring of nesting turtles along the coastline
- Protecting nests and nesting beaches.
- Protecting nesting females from predatory hazards.
- Protecting from human poachers and human interferences.
- Protection and rescue of baby turtles, hatchlings.
2. Community involvement in the conservation programme:
To form, train and dedicate volunteer of the community to take up monitoring and protection of nesting beaches, eggs, and protection of hatchlings on the beach from disorientation within their respective geographic locality. To enhance effective patrols and protection of sea turtles through monitoring units formed in nesting sites.
3. Integrated Management for Sustainable Sea Turtle Populations:
Adequate, appropriate management of sea turtle populations, their associated habitats, and coastal ecosystems are resulted in the recovery of sea turtle populations and lead to their sustainability. Adequate, appropriate management of sea turtle populations, their associated habitats, and coastal ecosystems will result in the recovery of sea turtle populations and lead to their sustainability.
3.1. Develop and run beach clean up projects to remove debris that impedes turtle nesting. The nesting beach cleaning programme will be initiated at the beginning of the sea turtle season. Safe and clean beach will result in increase of nesting numbers in the area.
3.2. Manage nesting beach habitats with regard to beach lighting, beach/dune use.
3.3. The development of appropriately trained local personnel, professionals, and local institutions along the project site to effect sea turtle conservation, research and management.
4. Community Awareness and Education Programme: Sea turtle awareness has been created in the coastal villages of nesting sites.
5. Sea Turtle Education Program in Schools: 
Students and teachers play a key role in helping sea turtle populations recover. The school outreach program is help teachers and students (and through them, their families) not only learn about sea turtles, but to inspire involvement in conservation efforts.
6. Sustained campaigning with mechanized and trawler associations for the use of TED (Turtle Excluder Devices): We have been creating awareness among the fisheries communities regarding uses of TED. They have been sensitized the need of turtle for a balanced eco system in the sea.
7. Alternative livelihood for traditional fisheries communities:
APOWA focuses on providing alternatives to the fisheries communities during nesting season, skill development and capacity building on sustainable use of coastal resources.Here it is worthwhile to mention that in these areas under the project, the livelihood of the fishermen is mostly fishing in the sea which has been effected by the ban imposed for the turtle conservation for which the fishermen population have lost their livelihood for about nine months in a year and are the right person to be given alternative livelihood for their sustenance.
8. Scientific Research on the Sea Turtles:
Determining the population status and distribution of olive ridleys is probably critical to this
endangered species' survival in the wild, and would provide opportunities to focus protection in remaining habitat. Key Research Objectives are :
I. Gain a greater understanding of the biology of Olive Ridley sea turtles.
II. Determine hatching and emergence success for each species – measure carapace length/width and weight
III. Determine incubation temperature of nests and temporal distribution of sand temperature for analysis
IV. Identify sex ratio and species of hatchlings found dead
V. Establish small research team to undertake a research study into olive Ridley populations and make scientific assessment.
VII. Facilitate information transfer from research study to various agencies, Govt authorities in a manner that is both timely and in a format suitable to meet decision-making needs
