Roldán
Valverde
The Annual
Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, hosted every year by the
International Sea Turtle Society (ISTS), is a unique event that draws
participants from around the world, from across disciplines and cultures to a
common interest and objective: the conservation of sea turtles and their
environment. The Symposium encourages discussion, debate, and the sharing of
knowledge, research techniques and lessons in conservation to address questions
on the biology and conservation of sea turtles and their habitats. The 34th
Annual Symposium will be held on 10-17 April 2014 in the City of New Orleans,
Louisiana, before the beginning of the hurricane season.
The City of
New Orleans is located on the coast in the middle of the northern rim of the
Gulf of Mexico and is easily accessible by land via the interstate highway
system (I-10, I-55, I-59), Amtrak South Train Route, and by air through the
Louis Armstrong international Airport (MSY). New Orleans is physically located
in the southeastern end of the Pontchartrain Basin, a 10,000 square mile
watershed, which constitutes one of the largest estuarine systems in the Gulf
of Mexico. Although the State of Louisiana does not feature robust sea turtle
nesting populations, its state waters are known to serve as important foraging,
developmental, and migratory habitat.
The theme
of the New Orleans Symposium is "Cultures," in
honor of all the cultures that have interacted and continue to interact today
with sea turtle populations around the world. During the Symposium we will also
honor the Culture of our Society, which focuses on the conservation and study
of sea turtle species and their environments. The City of New Orleans is the
perfect place for such celebration given its rich heritage; indeed, the region
was first inhabited by Choctow, Houma, and other pre-Colombian native cultures.
Later, the City was also influenced by French, Spanish, English, African and
Cajun cultures. As a result, the multi-cultural life of the unique City of
"Nawlins" (New Orleans) is dominated by festivals (two of the largest
being Mardi Gras and the Jazz & Heritage Festival) and its amazing food.
This rich cultural heritage and relative proximity to major southern cities, in
addition to the exciting scientific program, likely will contribute to attract
over 1000 attendees from nearly 80 countries to the Symposium.
Besides the
regular sessions normally held at past Symposia, the Nawlins Symposium will
feature special sessions on Collaborative Fisheries and on the Biology and
Conservation of Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Mexico and on the eastern US
Seaboard. Among the topics included in the program are marine turtle ecological
interactions, linkages among scientists, coastal communities, turtles, humans,
consumptive and non-consumptive use, collaborative research, community-based
conservation, policy-makers and managers. On 11-13 April we will convene and
host several regional meetings and special workshops that will enrich our
knowledge and complement our capacities for reaching our conservation goals. On
14-17 April we will have the themed oral and poster sessions, an outstanding
group of returning and new Exhibitors and Vendors, as well as traditional Symposium
activities.
Evidence
indicates that sea turtles evolved well over 100 million years ago; some
evidence suggests that the early forms may have evolved over 200 million years
ago, before dinosaurs. As a group, these reptiles have withstood various extinction
events. However, current species are under significant stress, mainly as a
result of technology and industrialization. Indeed, data show that current
populations are only a fraction of historical levels; this awareness and
reality is what gave rise to our Society, to our Culture of conserving and
understanding sea turtle species. This is the culture that together we will
celebrate and renew in New Orleans.
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