| 24th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation (San Jose, Costa Rica, February 22-29, 2004) Roderic B. Mast President, International Sea Turtle Society (ISTS), c/o, Center for Applied Biodiversity Science Conservation International Venue and Theme I am happy to announce that plans for the 24th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation are well underway. The Symposium will take place at the beautiful Herradura Hotel and International Conference Center in San Jose Costa Rica, from February 22-29, 2004. A full array of activities are being planned, including pre and post Symposium travel opportunities; a mini-symposium on Costa Rica’s contribution to sea turtle research and conservation; plus banquets, music and cultural shows, a very special auction night and lots of chances to dance, discuss turtles, and enjoy the Latino hospitality for which Costa Rica is famous. This year’s theme will be Sea Turtle Lifescapes. It urges us to consider marine turtles as pieces of greater biodiversity landscapes, to discuss the niches that sea turtles fill in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and to ponder as well their “fit” in Earth’s broader Biosphere. More importantly, the 24th Symposium encourages us to analyze our own niche as powerful human components in the selfsame Biosphere, and to express our thoughts and voice our opinions about the most synergistic actions we can take as institutions, governments, a sea turtle conservation “movement”, and as individuals, to assure that sea turtles thrive. I must express my gratitude and recognize my local Organizing Committee consisting of ISTS Board member, Clara Padilla, Mario Boza (Costa Rican Executive Director of The Leatherback Trust) and Marcos Solano (Executive Secretary of the Inter- American Sea turtle Convention); they have already assisted enormously in smoothing the waves and assuring that local logistics are handled ably. Thanks also to the other Costa Rican partners who have demonstrated their unflagging support for the Symposium, including Costa Rican President, Abel Pacheco, the Costa Rican Sea Turtle Network, Conservation International, and officials from MINAE (the Ministry of Environment and Energy), who are dedicating time and energy above and beyond the call. I am also grateful to ISTS Treasurer, Ed Drane and retiring President, Nicolas Pilcher and his wife Carmen, for having provided useful advice and guidance, not to mention leaving behind some finances from a highly successful fundraising effort that led up to the 23rd Symposium in Malaysia. Why Costa Rica? Long before accepting the ISTS Presidency some months ago, I analyzed what would be my goals for a 24th Symposium were I to accept Earl Possardt’s persistent pleas. I wanted to: 1) host a fabulous, memorable gathering where ideas could be exchanged and valuable networking take place; 2) provide opportunities for Symposium participants to get out into the field and experience tropical Nature first-hand, and; 3) impact the conservation of sea turtles worldwide by encouraging policy shifts and providing an “attraction” for media and communications attention that would getthe- word-out about sea turtles to communities beyond our own. Furthermore, I wanted to be able to offer all this at a venue that was affordable, safe, fun and logistically un-complicated for a majority of Symposium participants. Costa Rica is the epicenter of global ecotourism for a reason. It is a safe, fun, manageable, and relatively inexpensive travel destination. The infrastructure for international visitors is advanced, the airfares are reasonable, and it is very conveniently situated geographically for participants from around the world. There are lots of interesting places to visit post and pre-symposium, including two ocean coasts, and a variety of sea turtle Meccas like Tortuguero, Ostional, Nancite, and Playa Grande, just to name a few. Furthermore, Costa Rica is a showcase for biodiversity conservation. It was among the first tropical countries to really take national parks seriously, the first to adopt “ecotourism” as a national strategy, and first in a handful of other biodiversity and environment achievements from debt-swap, to carbon offset, to bio-prospecting. Costa Rica has not only served as a conservation model for other tropical countries, but perception-wise it is among the first places that comes to the minds of most Northern Hemisphere-dwellers when they think “tropical nature”. Having visited Costa Rica regularly since 1983 when I coordinated the first WATS (Western Atlantic Turtle Symposium) with the late Dr. Fred Berry, I am keenly aware of the important role the country plays as a global leader with respect to sea turtles. Indeed, many consider Costa Rica to be the birthplace of modern sea turtle research and conservation. Famous as the site of Archie Carr’s historic Tortuguero green turtle project, launched in the late 1950’s and still led today by the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, the accounts of Costa Rican turtles in So Excellent A Fishe and other volumes have fueled the imaginations of many a young biologist (myself included). More importantly, they brought sea turtles to the attention of the public for the first time as something other than a soup ingredient – rather, through Archie’s stories, sea turtles became mysterious, beautiful and Excellent examples of the multiple wonders of Nature. In addition to being Archie Carr’s former stomping ground and the site where hundreds of today’s active researchers first learned the ropes of beach work, Costa Rica is currently at the center of what is unquestionably one of the top sea turtle conservation issues of our day, that being the vertiginous decline of the Pacific Leatherback. The Baulas de Guanacaste National Park plays a central role as one of the last remaining beachheads in efforts to conserve the species, and it is indeed an ecosystem anchor in a broad biodiversity landscape spanning several nations from Cocos Island to Galapagos, the conservation of which will be critical to the survival of not only Pacific leatherbacks, but countless other marine species as well. Thus, for the aforementioned reasons alone, one can easily see that Costa Rica is truly a worthy place to host a Symposium focused on the importance of sea turtles. But the clincher came last November, when I was invited by colleagues from The Leatherback Trust to attend a fundraiser in San Jose for FAICO (The Friends of Cocos Island Foundation). I accepted the invitation, and somehow wound-up at the head table (I am convinced that the name cards were accidentally switched), there surrounded by Costa Rica’s President, Abel Pacheco, former President Rodrigo Carazo, the current Minister of Environment and Energy and his family, a handful of other Ministers, and a plethora of assorted Costa Rican luminaries. Between their speeches that evening, my conversations with these delightful dinner guests naturally centered on sea turtles, and I was overwhelmed by the support I received from them all for the idea of hosting the 24th Annual Symposium in their country. Most of all, I felt not only honored to have had the opportunity to “talk turtles” with the country’s President, but thoroughly surprised and pleased to find that President Pacheco is himself a turtle enthusiast. He and the others whom I met that evening demonstrated a deep concern for the plight of sea turtles and their habitats, and a strong commitment to help in any way to support their study and conservation in Costa Rica and to assist the ISTS with the organization of the 24th Symposium. What is In Store – A Tentative Schedule of Events The final schedule for the meeting is still under development. The following represents the current thinking of the organizers (regular updates will be posted on seaturtle.org). Friday, February 20, 2004 · 11th Latin American Sea Turtle Specialists Meeting – registration · Other Regional Meetings (to be announced) Saturday, February 21 · 11th Latin American Sea Turtle Specialists Meeting · Other Regional Meetings (to be announced) · Pre-symposium excursions Sunday, February 22 · 24th Annual Sea Turtle Symposium - registration · 11th Latin American Sea Turtle Specialists Meeting · Other regional Meetings (to be announced) · Pre-symposium excursions Monday, February 23 · Opening ceremonies (National Theatre) · Mini-symposium on Costa Rican Turtle Conservation and Research · Afternoon poster and oral sessions · Opening banquet sponsored by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute Tuesday, February 24 · Poster and oral sessions · Lunch session-Fresh Water Turtle Research & Conservation · Tippling Turtle Bar Wednesday, February 25 · Poster and oral sessions · Tippling Turtle Bar · Auction Thursday, February 26 · Poster and oral sessions · Reception and awards ceremony sponsored by Costa Rican Ministry of Environment and Energy · Tippling Turtle Bar Friday, February 27 · Morning poster and oral sessions · Closing Ceremonies · Post-symposium excursions Saturday, February 28 · Special ceremonies and press conference at Playa Grande, Guanacaste (for invited guests) · Post-symposium excursions Associated Events One of the highlights of the meeting will be a minisymposium on Costa Rica and the important role it has played in sea turtle conservation and research; for more information, please contact Committee member, Dr. Mario Boza (E-mail: ecoamericas@...). The 24th Symposium will also serve as host for the 11th Reunion of Latin American Sea Turtle Specialists, to take place either at the Herradura Hotel, or at Ostional National Wildlife Refuge. We will communicate the final venue in our web page and in future communications. The coordinator for this meeting is Dr. Carlos Orrego, Ministry of the Environment and Energy, (E-mail: carlosmarioo1@...). We also welcome meetings of others who may be interested in similar regional or thematic meetings (please contact Roderic Mast to schedule special meetings and events). Call For Papers and Resolutions The program committee will review all proposals received prior to 15 November 2003. Final details are still being worked out regarding the themes and chairpersons for the various sessions. Nonetheless, we would like to provide you now with the information required for abstract submission. We urge all potential presenters to review the Symposium website over the coming months to determine the oral or poster sessions most appropriate for their presentation, and we also request that you consider the theme of the Symposium, as described above – Sea Turtle Lifescapes – as you conceive your topics for presentation. Please use the Symposium web site: <http://www.seaturtle.org/ symposium/> to access guidelines and to make your submission. If you cannot access the web site, you may submit your abstract as a text file attachment to an email sent to <abstracts@...>. If you are unable to submit your abstract via internet or email, then send your proposals by fax to + 1 202-318-4448. A printed copy of the submission guidelines can be mailed to you upon request (contact Roderic Mast). If you wish to submit a Resolution to be considered by the Board of Directors of the ISTS please follow the guidelines presented at the website <http:// www.seaturtle/symposium/resolutions/> or request guidelines via e-mail: resolutions@.... Symposium Registration You must register to attend the Symposium. The preferred registration method is to visit the Symposium’s web site <http://www.seaturtle.org/symposium/>. There you will find everything you need to know about the Symposium in addition to a user-friendly interface for registration. Should you wish to receive a printed copy of the registration materials, please contact Rod Mast. Lodging and Transfers in Costa Rica The Organizers are currently negotiating discounted airfares, as well as a formal relationship with a travel provider that will allow for the purchase of tickets and the arrangement of pre and post symposium travel online. We have reserved a block of rooms at the Hotel Herradura, which can be reserved by calling (+506) 239-0033, by faxing to (+506) 293-2713, or by e-mail to <gventas@...>. The web site of the hotel is <www.hotelherradura.com>. Be sure to make reference to the Sea Turtle Symposium. The Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose is only 15- 20 minutes away from the Herradura Hotel and International Conference Center, and shuttles will be made available at pre-determined times for Symposium participants. Please stay tuned for future articles in the Marine Turtle Newsletter, or check the Symposium website for updates on travel arrangements. Visas Citizens of the USA and Canada do not require a visa for Costa Rica, and indeed only a very small number of foreign countries are required to obtain a visa before entering Costa Rica. A “Public Interest Decree” is presently being negotiated with the government of Costa Rica, that will allow for the provision of special assistance to participants in the 24th Symposium requiring visa services. If you are from Colombia, South Africa or if you envision that you may have difficulty obtaining a visa in your home nation, please seek advice from the Symposium Organizing Committee, c/o Clara Padilla Clarits@...). | |||
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