Brendan Hurley (2024)
Dr. Hurley’s project seeks to bridge a critical gap in geographic data collection and spatial analysis for sea turtle conservation in Africa. Despite the importance of Important Marine Turtle Areas (IMTAs), a lack of coordinated data collection and spatially explicit information limits effective management. Without accurate geographic data, conservation managers struggle to make informed decisions amid growing threats like habitat degradation, illegal fishing, and climate change.
By developing a GIS-based framework, Dr. Hurley’s team aims to fill these data gaps and improve access to IMTA boundaries, empowering conservation organizations, government agencies, and local communities. This effort will also strengthen cross-border collaboration, linking partners in Tunisia, Libya, and Togo to create a unified approach to sea turtle conservation.
With the support of SWOT funds, the team will achieve three key objectives:
Create a comprehensive spatial datasets to enhance conservation planning in key African regions.
Hold GIS training workshops, equipping local stakeholders with essential skills to independently collect, analyze, and manage geographic data for sea turtle habitats.
Foster regional collaboration by creating a transnational network that facilitates data sharing and knowledge exchange.
By improving access to spatial data and building local capacity, this project will support informed decision-making, ensuring a more cohesive and effective strategy for sea turtle conservation across Africa.