The Regional Partnership for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Zone of West Africa (PRCM) officially launched the book Sea Turtles of West Africa – Ecology and Conservation at the Regional Coastal and Marine Forum (FOMACO). Produced as part of the regional Sea Turtle Survival (STM) project, this work is one of the key reference publications dedicated to sea turtles in the sub-region.
The book, richly illustrated across approximately one hundred pages, takes readers on a journey into the fascinating world of sea turtles. Readers will discover their natural history, their biology, their extraordinary trans-oceanic migrations, their nesting and feeding sites, and the various species found along West African shores.
The work provides an assessment of the threats to their survival, including accidental capture in fishing activities, habitat destruction, pollution and the growing effects of climate change. It also highlights the essential role played by these marine reptiles in maintaining the balance of coastal and marine ecosystems.
Throughout its chapters, the book also presents the many research, monitoring and conservation initiatives developed in the region. It shows how scientists, protected area managers, local communities and conservation organisations are joining forces to better understand and protect these emblematic species that know no national borders.
The book is available in French, English and Portuguese and can be downloaded free of charge from the PRCM website, so that as many people as possible, researchers, students, decision-makers, protected area managers and the general public, can access up-to-date knowledge on sea turtles in West Africa.
