Wildlife & Human Resources Organisation (WHRO)

“Fishing communities whose livelihoods depend on the ocean are vital in its conservation,” said Dr Andrews Agyekumhene of Wildlife & Human Resources Organisation. “They must be involved at every stage of decision-making through information sharing and participatory management approaches.” 

Wildlife & Human Resources Organisation works to inspire people to achieve a healthy environment that promotes sustainable resource conservation for enhanced socio-economic development.

The coastal waters of Ghana serve as feeding and migratory habitat for five species of sea turtles (leatherback, olive ridley, green, hawksbill and loggerhead). The populations are declining due to direct harvesting of nesting females, collection of eggs by humans, predation of nest by dogs, erosion of nesting beach, plastic pollution, and accidental capture in fishing nets. The threats are increasing lately due to high fishing pressures.  

Wildlife & Human Resources Organisation’s sea turtle conservation project in Ningo-Prampram, Ghana aims to protect sea turtles through improving habitat quality (beach and coastal waters) by empowering fishing communities through capacity building and enhanced economic benefits through the introduction of new livelihoods and enhancement of existing livelihoods to reduce pressure on sea turtles for food and income.

The funds from the PADI AWARE Community Grant mark the beginning of a long-term conservation effort in the local community. For the first time, a sea turtle conservation project has been initiated in the community despite the many threats that the species face.  

The PADI AWARE support allowed Wildlife & Human Resources Organisation to engage various members of the community about conservation and sanitation issues, from opinion leaders and womens’ groups to youth groups and school children. The project also built capacities for waste management by collaborating with the national waste management company (EcoZoil) to undertake sanitation and waste management awareness in communities and schools.  

Want to see more of Wildlife Human Resources Organisation (WHRO) in Action?

You can follow along with Wildlife Human Resources Organisation (WHRO) and their sea turtle conservation initiative on their website, Instagram, Facebook, or on https://www.padi.com/aware.