u Virginia Herpetological Society Volume 7, Number. 1 NEWSLETTER Catesbeiana Co-editors President Paul Sattler Paul Sariier R. Terry Spohn Mike Pinder - Pres. Elect Newsletter Editor Secretary/Treasurer Mike Pinder Mike Havslett A COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO TURTLE CONSERVATION Submitted by Michael W. Klemmens, PhD, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY 10460 Over 100 of the world's approximately 260 species of The Testudinidae, or true tortoises, number over forty tortoises and turtles are in need of some form of species, all characterized by a long reproductive life span, conservation action. Moreover, our knowledge of the low egg output, and low juvenile survivorship. Tortoises are distribution and current status of approximately half of these among the most sought-after turtle species in the species is so fragmentary that detailed conservation international wildlife trade. In some areas, tortoises also assessments are precluded. Apart from a few critically serve as sources of protein for indigenous peoples. Their imperiled species that have global populations of fewer than long reproductive life span is predicted on habitat stability. a few hundred individuals, there are several high risk groups. Tortoises are biologically ill-equipped to cope with the Declines in these groups are well documented and accelerated loss of adults due to human activities. Some of attributable to a myriad of inter-dependent factors. More the most destructive trends have been habitat fragmentation, than 75% of the turtle species threatened with extinction elevated predation levels from species that are commensal over the next 50-100 years fall into the following categories: with humans, and over-collection for the wildlife trade. - * ■ L . * ’ • 3 i I • ! .; ^ . Groups At Risk- Many semi-aquatic turtles share life history traits of Oceanic and river turtles are harvested for food; both the tortoises, i.e., a long reproductive life span, low egg output, eggs and adults are exploited. Sea turtles are threatened by and low juvenile survivorship. They suffer from habitat loss of their nesting beaches through development, loss, degradation, and over-collection. Inadequate beachfront replenishment and armoring, oceanic pollution, protection of their wetland habitats is a major problem. and harvest for tortoiseshell and leather. River turtle nesting Examples include wood, spotted, and bog turtles (Clemmys), beaches are also being lost, and riverine habitat is degraded Blanding's turtle (.Emydoidea), and many of the South by dams, sand mining, channelization and pollution. American and Asian Batagurmes (e.g., Rhinoclemmys, Oceanic and river turtles are the most economically Pyxidea, Geomyda, and Cuora). important species, therefore, more attention has been focused on them, specifically interventionist techniques such Causes of Decline- as headstarting, ranching, and proposed sustained harvest Loss and alteration of habitat is the major cause of turtle programs. decline around the world. Habitat fragmentation is an 2 VA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER increasing problem, many species have complex contributing factor in the decline of tortoises and habitat requirements and use a variety of different many freshwater turtle species. Usually, threats to habitats. For example, spotted and Blanding's turtles turtles work in tandem, habitat destruction is often often use a series of small wetlands over a season. followed by increased human pressures, resulting in They may hibernate in a marsh, move early in the further destruction of the habitat infrastructure (i.e., spring to vernal pools, which are warmer and contain fragmentation), followed by introduced species and abundant food in the subsidized predators and form of tadpoles and commercialization for salamander larvae, as Virginia's Turtles In Peril food and the pressures the vernal pools dry wildlife trade. Disease is up, they move into becoming a major issue in wooded swamps, and Common name S ta tu s the management of turtles as the weather cools, Atlantic green sea turtle Federally tkreatened and tortoises. Outbreaks they move back into B o g tu rtle State endangered of disease in turtle more open, warm Eastern ckicken turtle State endangered populations is increasing. habitats, before Hawksbill sea turtle Federally endangered Epidemics have already hibernating. Spotted Kemp's Ridley sea turtle Federally endangered decimated certain turtles may move onto Leatkerkack sea turtle Federally endangered populations, such as the land and burrow into Loggerkead sea turtle Federally tkreatened desert tortoise in southern leaves for several days Wood turtle State tkreatened California. Many of these or even weeks. These outbreaks are attributed complex habitat needs UW.I > -•* to captive animals that require the protection have contracted various of habitat blocks, a mosaic of different wetland types diseases while in confinement, and then are released with intact upland habitat joining them - a landscape into the wild where they rapidly infect free-ranging condition that is not factored into most development tortoises. Outbreaks of tumors on sea turtles may be plans. Instead, wetlands are individually protected, caused by depressed immune systems resulting from without maintaining ecological connectivity needed chemical and heavy pollution of marine habitats. for many wetland-dependent species, including turtles. Increasingly, veterinary issues are becoming a major Developed habitat is further compromised by component of management programs of wild turtles introduced species such as dogs, cats, rats, and purple and tortoises, as well as any program that releases, loosestrife, as well as native species that flourish and repatriates, or relocates chelonians. increase in disturbed habitats, known as subsidized species, that include raccoons, crows, skunks, and the Solutions- giant reed (.Phragmites). Conservation programs must be firmly rooted in "good science", but good science alone will not by Turtles and tortoises have been over-harvested for sufficient to conserve turtles and tortoises. Science food, both by local inhabitants, but increasingly for and conservation must interact, and wildlife managers export to urban centers. Although the bulk of the be able to access the types of scientific information to harvest occurs in developing countries, there are enable them to develop sound recovery and active freshwater turtle "fisheries" in the southeastern management strategies. What are the risks of acting United States. Although there has been much with incomplete data versus the risks of not acting at promotion if the concept of sustainable management all? Risk assessment is an integral part of of species, there are many, myself included, that conservation, yet it is rarely recognized as pivotal part question whether such long-lived animals as turtles of the conservation planning and implementation and tortoises can be managed on a sustained yield process. basis. The wildlife trade has been implicated as a VA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER 3 There has been an over-emphasis on interventionist turtle requires habitat protection plans far beyond the management, including captive breeding, regulatory scope. This can only occur when the translocation, and headstarting. Headstarting is useful owners of the land are convinced that it is in their own only if used in tandem with a strategy that will reduce best interests to develop their land in a manner that the loss o f adults. Clearly, if turtles have become will maintain the upland habitat that links small scarce because of overharvesting, throwing more wetlands. It is vital that these choices are seen as hatchlings into the rivers and seas, without clamping voluntary decisions, decisions that not only conserve down on the exploitation of adults, will not meet with wildlife, but benefit the local community's economic success. Yet, it is exactly these type of measures that well-being and quality of life. The major difference in have been, and are still being used, to "conserve" these "bottom-up" conservation strategies, as opposed turtles. These measures have an intrinsic appeal to to more traditional "top-down" approaches, is that many institutional bureaucrats as they require visible they originate and are supported locally, not imposed infrastructure support, such as hatcheries, that serve a by federal, provincial, state, or even county tangible proof that they are "doing conservation". government. Wildlife managers gain the hands-on control over nature that seems to be so deeply imbedded in human In conclusion, if turtles are to become beneficiaries of psyche. Hatcheries produce fairly predictable, such community-based conservation enterprises, the consistent results - eggs are gathered, incubated, and following measures must be implemented: hatchlings released, often as part of a "media 1) Building conservation partnerships to conserve opportunity". turtles by integrating turtle and tortoise conservation into larger multi-disciplinary efforts. In contrast, addressing the loss of adult turtles -• & ’ ' requires making hard, often politically unpopular 2) Linking conservation initiatives to public policy choices, which have the potential to pit turtles against issues-especially in the spheres of regional land-use the perceived economic interests of the local planning, watershed management, landscape communities. These choices can include evaluating preservation, and the sponsorship of legislation to impacts o f proposed economic activities, such