Nature Seekers

Description

Nature Seekers is a community-based conservation organization in Trinidad and Tobago that protects nesting leatherback turtles. It was founded in 1990 to reduce turtle poaching on Matura Beach, which then stood at 30 percent of nests raided each night.

The group grew out of a government tour-guide training program and now runs beach patrols, turtle tagging and guided tours for visitors. Poaching on Matura Beach fell from 30 percent to zero through these efforts. It later expanded into reforestation, waste recycling and natural jewelry, while turtle conservation remains its core work.

Nature Seekers takes part in the Matura Turtle Conservation Programme, which includes patrols, a sea turtle tagging project run with the Forestry Division and WIDECAST, and an Adopt a Turtle scheme. It also works with Earthwatch volunteers through the Trinidad Leatherback Project and contributes to national reforestation and watershed rehabilitation. In 2006 it helped found the Turtle Village Trust with government and industry partners to promote Trinidad and Tobago as a turtle tourism destination.