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 Following another successful MAM bookfair, we were able to donate 168
euros to the Archelon Project, which works to protect the Loggerhead
turtles (Caretta caretta) which nest on some of Greece's beaches every
summer. Very many thanks to everyone to came to the Fair and brought
items and bought them!
We thought you might like to hear more about Archelon in action, so we
spoke to Ross Clifford, the Project Manager for Archelon in Koroni.
Brought up in Devon, Ross has always been intrigued by the marine
environment, and spent a year working for Conservation Volunteers in
Australia, where he learnt to dive, before going to study marine
geography at Cardiff University. He came out to Greece initially to
work on a year-long project studying the ecology of an area in Eastern
Greece which it is hoped will become a marine park - a protected area.
He was about to return to the UK when the project ended when he was
told about the job with Archelon.
 Ross working at the kiosk
The local staff and volunteers' primary task is protection of the nests
on the beaches. Baby turtles are very susceptible to light pollution,
which disorientates them as they try to move from the nest to the sea,
so Archelon tries to dissuade night time visitors with torches, as well
as daytime disturbances of nests by sunbeds, tramping feet, beach games
and so on. They protect the nests, often using old beachmats to form a
barrier around them. Beach bars/clubs are potential problems for the
nesting turtles especially with their lights and music after dark, but
many have now been persuaded by Archelon to be more turtle-friendly.
 Kiosk at Koroni
Evaluation of the success of the project can be difficult; female
turtles only nest every 2 to 3 years, so counting the number of nests
and eggs needs to be done on a long-term basis to see if numbers are
changing. Each female returns to her place of hatching to lay her eggs,
and will also nest 2 or 3 times in the year in which she breeds, which
makes counting even trickier! Some turtles, however, have now been
fitted with tracking devices, which makes it easier to know their
nesting behaviour, and also allows the Project to track them during
their winter migration to the seas off Italy and North Africa. Althoug
it's easy to keep track of the number of visitors to the information
kiosk and school parties spoken to, it is more difficult to evaluate
the long-term effect of such awareness-raising work. Ross would like
to see greater municipal involvement in turtle protection, such as
signs at beaches warning of nesting activity. Hopefully changes in
public attitudes in Greece will be the result of Ross and his
colleagues' efforts, making the sight of turtle nests on Greece's
beaches one that will continue for the foreseeable future.
Ross's work with Archelon will finish at the end of October. He would
enjoy working for the project again, but feels he will need further
qualifications to progress his career in marine conservation, so he may
be going back to study . And the best thing about his job? Watching a
turtle lay her eggs - up to 120 on average each time! Mock turtle nest
For general information about Archelon and their work please visit their website at www.archelon.gr
Readers have left 3 comments. No.1 Er...?
Slightly confused here.
You mention in your main article that you donated 168 euros to the Archelon Project but you say in the editorial on the side here that you raised 242 euros.
Unlkely typo or ridiculous overheads? No.2 Er....?
Two different Book Fairs, Xerika. The one in Methoni in July donated 168 euros to Archelon. The one held in Agios Andreas on October 10th raised 242 euros. Sorry for the confusion. No.3 Er...ror
Hi Xerika Yep, a little confusing I know. The editorial on the side has been used recently to let people know our latest news, as we have had difficulty in updating this website. I am not sure the last time you were on our website but we had another book fair recently as Soo mentioned. As for the overheads, we pay all of them ourselves and take nothing from the money given to charity by our members. Make sure you check our website often so you know when a book fair has gone and the next book fair is coming up.  |
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