Course strengthens partnership with community members in the management of sea turtles at the Atalaia Natural Monument in Salinópolis
The course aimed to train community members to act directly in monitoring and protecting the nesting areas of sea turtles in the region
Residents and fishermen from the Ponta da Sofia community in Salinópolis, northeastern Pará, participated in the course "Participatory Management of Sea Turtle Nesting Sites at the Atalaia Natural Monument and its surroundings." Promoted by the Institute for Forest Development and Biodiversity of Pará (Ideflor-Bio), with a workload of 15 hours, the course aimed to train community members to act directly in monitoring and protecting the nesting areas of sea turtles in the region.
The training was conducted at the request of the residents themselves, who identified the need to protect the nests of sea turtles that concentrate on Atalaia Beach, one of the main resorts in the State. The initiative represents an important step in building participatory management, actively involving the local population in caring for the natural resources of the territory where they live. The program included theoretical content, exchange of traditional knowledge, and practical field activities.
On the first day, participants learned about the ecological importance of sea turtles, their migratory routes, and the five species that occur along the Brazilian coast. Biologist and environmental management technician at Ideflor-Bio, Lorena Lisboa, who led the initial part of the course, highlighted the contribution of local knowledge to the success of the training. "Listening to the community is essential for this process. They know the territory, they know when the turtles arrive, and they have an irreplaceable role in the daily monitoring of the beach," she stated.
In the afternoon, the activities were led by biologist and environmental management technician at Ideflor-Bio, Márcia Segtowich, who addressed the reproductive habits of sea turtles and presented the principles of reproductive management. In dialogue with the fishermen, a work plan was developed to guide the participatory monitoring of the nesting areas during the next reproductive cycle. "Our goal is to turn this knowledge into concrete action, with the engagement of residents from planning to direct care for the nests," explained Márcia.
Field - On the second day, participants put the knowledge acquired into practice, carrying out field activities such as identification, marking, and translocation of nests. At night, they accompanied the monitoring of nesting with the technical team from Ideflor-Bio, experiencing all stages of reproductive management. The practices reinforced the importance of community involvement as an effective strategy for biodiversity conservation.
The course concluded with activities in the auditorium of the Gibi Saúde Ecobiblioteca and later on the beach. At the end, residents expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of actively contributing to the preservation of the species. For the director of Management and Monitoring of Conservation Units at Ideflor-Bio, Ellivelton Carvalho, the initiative strengthens co-responsibility in the protection of territories. "When we train local communities, we create a permanent environmental monitoring network. The partnership with residents is essential to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of management both within and outside the boundaries of the Atalaia Natural Monument," he concluded.
