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International cooperation is essential for the successful conservation of marine turtles, given their migratory nature that transcends the jurisdictional waters of many nations.
The staff of the Latin America and Caribbean Marine and Species Program participates actively at international fora to help design policies that benefit the conservation of marine turtles and their habitats.

WWF seeks conservation impact for marine turtles at the level of international treaties such as the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (also known as CMS or Bonn Convention), Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC), the Special Protected Areas and Wildlife protocol (SPAW) from the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention), and the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS).

We promoted the inclusion of climate adaptation of marine turtle habitats at the 4th Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) Meeting of the SPAW protocol and in a resolution of the Fourth Conference of Parties (COP4) from the IAC. We also supported other resolutions from IAC such as the Conservation of Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) (COP 2), the Conservation of the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the Reduction of the Adverse Impacts of Fisheries (COP3). WWF reviewed early drafts of the Regional Marine Turtle Action Plan of CPPS, and strengthened sections on adaptation to climate change and by-catch reduction, which are two priority areas for our work in Latin America and the Caribbean.

WWF contributed to sections on adaptation to climate change in the guidelines for the management of marine turtles in nesting beaches (“Manual sobre técnicas de manejo y conservación de las tortugas marinas en playas de anidación en Centroamérica”) of IAC. Another IAC document, co-sponsored by WWF, provides to professionals who work with sea turtles a collection of concepts and legal tools relevant to the Convention. It is also a reference material that aims to facilitate to American nations, access to the Convention, and to serve as a guide in negotiations with national and international organizations, civil society, scientists and coastal communities. It includes descriptions of the six species of sea turtles that exist in America, with corresponding illustrations, as well as the complete text of the articles of the Convention.

Workshop on Climate Change and Adaptation Options for Cetaceans and Other Marine Biodiversity of the Eastern Pacific

<strong><em> Workshop on climate change and adaptation, San José, February 9-11, ... rel= © Jeffrey Muñoz/WWF CARO

In support of the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) initiatives regarding the impact of climate change on cetaceans, the government of Costa Rica hosted a Workshop on Climate Change and Adaptation Options for Cetaceans and Other Marine Biodiversity of the Eastern Pacific, in Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica, 9-11 February 2009.