The Eco Awareness Initiative was created by Value News Publishing NV on the island of Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean. (www.valuenewspublishing.com)  It’s objective is to distribute a percentage of the company’s subscriber income among Environmental Non-Profit Organizations worldwide. The website provides background information about the NPO’s that receive funding and reports on the conservation projects they initiate.

Environmental Non-Profit Organizations

Project AWARE Foundation


Founded in 1989, Project AWARE was created by a group of environmental advocates at the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), who were concerned about emerging threats to the underwater world. In 1992 Project AWARE Foundation became a separate nonprofit organization.


The Project AWARE Foundation works in partnership with divers and water enthusiasts worldwide to combat challenges facing underwater environments. Project AWARE and dedicated volunteers are committed to conservation initiatives including:

  1. •Underwater Cleanups and Marine Debris Prevention

  2. •Coral Reef Conservation, Monitoring and Data Collection

  3. •Shark Education, Reporting and Conservation

  4. •Improved Management Policies and Marine Protection Efforts

  5. •Environmental Training for Divers and Education Programs for Kids


As a registered nonprofit organization the Project AWARE Foundation relies solely on donations and grants by corporations and individuals. All environmental actions are largely dependent on voluntary participation.


www.projectaware.org



www.sharkalliance.org






































CARMABI


The Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI) was established in 1955 as a marine research institute on the island of Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean.


Registered as a nonprofit foundation CARMABI’s mission is to contribute to the sustainable development and management of the natural resources of the Netherlands Antilles. It is actively involved with scientific research on both marine and terrestrial ecological subjects, the management of local marine and terrestrial parks and environmental education for public schools and interested third parties.


CARMABI is a founding member of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC) and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance ( DCNA ), as well as an active member of IUCN and the Caribbean Conservation Association.


www.carmabi.org





Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire’s mission is to ensure the protection and recovery of Bonaire’s sea turtle populations throughout their range.

Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) aims to achieve its mission by:

  1. •Building a strong case for sea turtle conservation through applied research;

  2. •Implementing proactive management and conservation actions to protect Bonaire's sea turtles and their environments;

  3. •Communicating effectively through education, training and advocacy to enhance awareness of sea turtle conservation issues;

  4. •Developing strategic partnerships and networks to protect Bonaire's turtles locally and throughout their migratory ranges



Why are Sea Turtles Endangered?

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has identified five major hazards to sea turtles: 

 

  1. •Fisheries: Sea turtles virtually everywhere are affected by fisheries, especially longlines, gill nets, and trawls. The most severe of these impacts are death after entanglement, habitat destruction and food web changes.

 

  1. •Direct Take: Sea turtles and their eggs are killed by people throughout the world for food, and for products including oil, leather and shell.

 

  1. •Coastal Development: Sea turtle habitats are degraded and destroyed by coastal development. This includes both shoreline and seafloor alterations, such as nesting beach degradation, seafloor dredging, vessel traffic, construction, and alteration of vegetation.

 

  1. •Pollution: Plastics, discarded fishing gear, petroleum by-products, and other debris harm and kill sea turtles through ingestion and entanglement. Light pollution disrupts nesting behavior and causes hatchling death by leading them away from the sea. Chemical pollutants can weaken sea turtles’ immune systems, making them susceptible to disease.

 

  1. •Climate change: Climate change will increase the frequency of extreme weather events, result in loss of nesting beaches, and cause other alterations to critical sea turtle habitats and basic oceanographic processes. It may impact natural sex ratios of hatchlings and increase the likelihood of disease outbreaks for sea turtles.



STCB is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. We raise funds through conservation and research grants, merchandise sales and from individual and business donors.


www.bonaireturtles.org


The Objective

eco awareness initiative