Community Interest Group - MEKAR #
The involvement of the local community in turtle conservation efforts at Ma’ Daerah is the first of its kind to be carried out in Malaysia. Involvement of the local community is very important because scientific knowledge and research work alone will not be sufficient to ensure the continued survival of the turtles.
There are many human-led activities that contribute both directly and indirectly to a decrease in the number of marine turtles. Turtle eggs have traditionally been considered a delicacy and thought of as a nutritious source of food. In addition to the over harvesting of eggs, there is also an increasing concern on the number of marine turtle mortalities resulting from drowning in fishing nets, boat strikes, destruction of foraging and nesting habitats, pollution, etc.
Therefore, in order to attain success in marine turtle conservation efforts, an awareness programme within the community is imperative. In June 2004, a group comprising members of the local community was set up, known as Persatuan Ma’ Daerah Khazanah Rakyat (Ma’ Daerah the People’s Heritage), or MEKAR. Its members comprise various segments of the community including fishermen, teachers, retirees, villagers, traders, etc.
MEKAR was set up with the following objectives:
- To increase awareness and knowledge within the local community on the importance of turtle conservation;
- To carry out activities that will increase awareness with regard to the natural heritage of Ma’ Daerah and its surrounding area; and
- To lobby for the gazzettement of Ma’ Daerah as a turtle sanctuary.
Among the activities carried out by MEKAR are:
- Interactive power point presentations conducted in schools within Paka, Kerteh and Kemasek on the marine ecosystem with a special emphasis on turtle conservation. This was carried out in conjunction with the Mobile Education Unit of WWF-Malaysia;
- Dialogue sessions with the fishing community and local villagers on turtle conservation efforts in Ma’ Daerah and how to reduce the number of turtle mortalities due to fishing gear;
- Lobbying efforts towards the gazettement of Ma’ Daerah as a turtle sanctuary; and
- Identification of suitable youths within the community to be trained as facilitators during programmes conducted at Ma’ Daerah.
It is hoped that in the long run, MEKAR would evolve to become an independent community based organization able to mobilize the larger community towards action to protect marine turtles and its habitats.