Outline of Presentation:Background to Wan Smolbag Theatre (WSB)Background to Vanua-Tai Resource monitorsWhy conserve Turtles? Why Communities?Cultural significance of turtles – conservation of

turtles and preservation of local traditions

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Introduction to WSBWSB was established in 1989 as a Community

Theatre group and a registered NGO in Vanuatu.

• 20 years after - a large and vibrant civil society organization in Vanuatu with programmes on Education, Environment, Health, Youth and governance issues.

Community Workshop, Nakalou Village, Viti Levu

WSB addresses issues through :

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...DRAMA...DRAMACreative way of information Creative way of information disseminationdissemination

EntertainingEntertaining

InformativeInformative

EducationalEducational Community Workshop, Nakalou Village, Viti Levu

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...VIDEO...VIDEO

DVDsDVDs

TV programmesTV programmesVideo showsVideo shows

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...RADIO...RADIO

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Radio seriesRadio series

Radio spotsRadio spots

Talk-back showsTalk-back showsCommunity Workshop, Nakalou Village, Viti Levu

...IEC MATERIALS...IEC MATERIALS

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BooksBookscomicscomicsPostersAudio CDs

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Vanua-Tai Resource MonitorsEstablished in 1995 as a Turtle Conservation

Network known as ‘Turtle Monitors’

The Network is community-based – monitors are local villagers

2001-Roles of the turtle monitors have expanded to cover the conservation and management of other marine and terrestrial species

A nation-wide network with membership of around 400 resource monitors

Community Workshop, Nakalou Village, Viti Levu

Activities

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Activities…

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Why conserve turtles, Why communities, and

Cultural aspects in Vanuatu

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Prepared by George Petrofor the Community Workshop.

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Why Communities?

• Regional campaign to save turtles• Turtles have existed in the world about 150 million years ago – Existence.• Shrinking turtle population – Extinction.• Food source – protein• Income generation• Cultural significance

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• WSB being a community-based NGO• Communities :

- have turtle nesting beaches- have turtle foraging sites- eat turtle meat and eggs- cultural links with turtles

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Community Bottom – Up Approach

Community:

• Small – easy to work with• Specific audience• Resource owners• Resource users• Community ownership• Conservation outcomes impacting other communities

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Cultural Significance -Conservation of turtles = Preservation of local

traditions

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Turtle Traditions from Vanuatu

Maewo IslandPlant a ‘small garden’ for turtles to prevent your root crops from resembling turtle eggs when you consume turtle meat/eggs.

Ambrym IslandIt is forbidden for a certain tribe on the island to eat turtle meat/eggs as the turtle is their totem. Doing so will cause their body parts to resemble those of the turtle.Maskelyne Island

Turtle meat is supposed to be eaten with the ‘new yam’ during the new yam feast. Efate Island

It is forbidden to attend to your yam garden after eating turtle meat/eggs. Your garden will produce small yams resembling turtle eggs, if this is not followed.

Tanna IslandThere is a turtle tribe living inland on the island that another tribe on coast has to present its chief with a turtle to exchange it for root crops from the inland tribe. Aneityum Island

The turtle sympolises the the pig. In custom ceremonies turtles are caught by the turtle tribe and presented to the chief.

???what if…

i) …the turtle pop. is not conserved?

ii) …the use of turtles in our

communities is not managed?

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• Imposing turtle tabus for a period of time (10 yrs – north Efate)• Use of quota system (Maskelynes)• Use alternative source of meat for new yam feasts (Maskelynes) • Turtles to be harvested only for special occasions (whole network)• Observe national Fisheries regulations on turtles - Turtle Moratorium (Whole network)

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