Nature Briefs
Sitka deer rely on Alaska’s old-growth forests, and rare Amargosa toads depend on a short stretch of river in the northern Mojave Desert.
The sight of sea turtles gently paddling through sparkling blue water can be calming and meditative. Yet their existence is threatened by many stressors.
They are hooked by fishing boats, entangled in nets and suffocated by ocean plastic. Hawksbill turtles have a unique challenge: Their populations have been severely affected by poaching. Their alluring, mottled shells are sold to adorn sunglasses and other luxury items. Climate change is fueling sea-level rise and fiercer storms, eroding the beaches where turtles nest and, according to a recent Nature Conservancy tagging survey, sweeping leatherbacks off course.
Since the 1990s, TNC has supported local people working to improve the outlook for sea turtles around the volcanic archipelago and coral atolls of the Solomon Islands. One significant example of this impact is the expanding scope of conservation efforts led by local women. From protecting hawksbill nests at the largest sea turtle rookery in the South Pacific to launching an initiative to promote sustainable tourism, they are safeguarding special places and redefining the role of women in their communities.
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