Reserva Youth Land Trust is an international non-profit, empowering youth to make measurable differences to threatened species through habitat conservation, science, and education. As a young person, this is an exciting opportunity to engage with philanthropy and make conservation accessible to everyone!
In a new project, young people at Reserva are fundraising to tag turtles and provide vital scientific data on turtle migration in the Pearl Islands of Panama. By helping to purchase satellite turtle tags, for use by the Leatherback project, we hope to inform the Panamanian government on the need for a new Marine Protected Area (MPA). With four species of turtle using this area as a migratory path between foraging and nesting sites, it is an important area for protection, a topic which local Panamanian fisherman are passionate about having witnessed the tangling of turtles in commercial fishing nets.
But the value of collecting data doesn’t end there, because the wider diversity of these waters would also be protected by a new MPA, including Whale Sharks, Blue-footed Boobies and Eagle Rays. The cascade of positive implications this project could have, gives Youth Council members hope in a time where we are constantly challenged with worrying news stories. Therefore they want to share the opportunity to get involved, with all those passionate about the creatures of our seas! They want everyone, for many generations to come, to have diverse and thriving oceans to explore, see, and wonder at.
Dance for the Ocean
Fundraising initiatives, include projects such as Peak Ballet’s dance for the ocean, which aims to highlight the interface between science and the arts, and celebrate the beauty and diversity of the oceans through dance. To donate to this fundraiser, others, or just to find out more about tracking turtles, go to https://give.reservaylt.org/
Leatherback Sea Turtles
Standing as the largest reptile by weight, Leatherback Turtles are a truly impressive and unique species. They have likely inhabited our oceans for over 100 million years, seeing the extinction of the dinosaurs and the rise of humans, and so it is deeply saddening that pressures such as our fishing habits, threats to nesting grounds and plastic pollution are leading to their decline.
They spend all their life stages occupying open ocean and because little is known about their foraging and migratory habits (they can travel up to 35km per day), it is difficult to protect them from the effects of fishing. Amazingly, they can dive to up to 4000 feet, deeper than many whale species are capable of diving.
As a keystone species, upon which the existence of many other species is reliant, conservation of their habitat is crucial to maintaining overall ocean health in areas such as Panama.
Donate Today
To donate to the leatherback turtle project go to the Reserva Landtrust project and credit the donation to Molly Ross & Dance for the Oceans. Thank You!
About the author
Molly Ross is 19 and studying Biology at Oxford University. Prior to going to university she danced with the English Youth Ballet. She combined her love of oceans and ballet for this unique fundraiser. Please donate if you can.
