Janan Behzad, Secretary General and Director of Programs and Activities at the Kuwait Environment Protection Society, confirmed that the visit of Ms. “Nimoto Mikako”, a researcher at the Japanese Embassy, to the Society aims to coordinate and prepare for the 26th season of the «Sea Turtles» operation to clean the Kuwait Towers beach, on Friday, November 8, which is organized by the Society in cooperation with the Embassy and the Japanese Society, with the participation of many government agencies, civil organizations and students of schools included in the Green Schools Program in its 15th session for the current academic year.
Behzad explained in a press statement following the meeting with the representative of the Japanese Embassy that “the sea turtle rescue campaign aims to promote environmental awareness of the importance of preserving endangered species and protecting natural habitats on the Kuwaiti coasts,” adding that “this initiative comes within the efforts made by civil society in supporting environmental sustainability and protecting biodiversity, as it highlights the historical and environmental importance of sea turtles in the Arabian Gulf.”.
She stated that “the campaign aims to encourage community participation in preserving marine life, and to invite volunteers, citizens, and residents to participate in field activities that include cleaning beaches, monitoring turtle nests, and raising awareness of the importance of the coastal ecosystem.” She noted that “this initiative is an example of international cooperation between the Kuwaiti Society, the Embassy, and the Japanese Society in the fields of environment, education, and volunteering, reflecting the commitment of both sides to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals and protecting marine life for future generations.” She pointed out that “last year’s event saw the participation of approximately 1,000 participants and volunteers, which reinforces its awareness-raising goals in instilling the values of volunteering and environmental community participation in the country by citizens and residents.”.
In the same context, she explained that ”historical records indicate the presence of sea turtles in the region for more than five thousand years, and they appeared in the inscriptions on Dilmun seals made by the ancient inhabitants of Dilmun between Kuwait and Bahrain, reflecting the deep relationship between humans and the marine environment in this region.” The Secretary-General of the Environment Protection Society also highlighted the types of turtles that live in Kuwait, saying, “The Kuwaiti environment is home to several types of turtles, including the green turtle, the loggerhead turtle, the hawksbill turtle, and the leatherback turtle.”.
However, urban development and changes in coastal geomorphology over recent decades, in addition to the damage caused by the Gulf War and oil spills, have led to a decline in natural nesting sites and the degradation of coastal habitats upon which these creatures depend. Janan Behzad explained, ”Recent environmental studies have confirmed that green turtles have begun to recover their nesting activity at rates close to those before the environmental damage, while hawksbill turtles still face challenges in their natural hatching rates.“.
However, the reappearance of turtles in Kuwaiti territorial waters is a positive indicator of the recovery of the marine environment in the northern Gulf thanks to ongoing local and international efforts in the field of environmental protection.”.
