Tangalle resort joins IUCN to protect marine turtles in surrounding coastline
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Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort has joined forces with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to implement methods to protect and conserve the globally threatened marine turtles. The project was officially launched on Saturday, May 6.
The project will enhance conservation of the various species of marine turtles that visit the beach at Anantara Tangalle and will extend to over 100 kilometres of surrounding coastline. Additionally it will recreate a conducive healthy coastal habitat within the resort premises by improving the physical landscape with environmentally acceptable interventions that will also attract native coastal species. Lastly the project aims to raise awareness of marine turtle conservation among the hotel’s guests, its staff and the local community with the construction of an ecological education and visitor centre.
The conservation project is funded by the Anantara “Dollars for Deeds” programme, which engages guests in the spirit of giving back and matches each guest’s donation dollar for dollar to raise funds for worthy causes. By choosing to donate USD 1 per night, Anantara guests not only enjoy a luxurious stay, rich in discovery, but take away wonderful memories of their experiences knowing that they made a positive difference to the local environment and community.
“We are delighted to have this incredible opportunity to work closely with IUCN to kick start this milestone conservation project. Out of the seven species of marine turtles recorded around the world, five visit the shores of Sri Lanka for the purpose of reproducing. With our resort beach being a prime nesting ground for the turtles, we are in a fortunate position to have the ability to support these endangered turtles by all possible means and also to have the chance to educate our guests, team members and the local community about our conservation efforts,” commented Ross Sanders, General Manager of Anantara Tangalle.
Dr. Ananda Mallawatantri, Country Representative, IUCN said, “while providing local and global conservation benefits, this project will serve as a model to enhance Sri Lanka’s nature, culture and heritage based tourism potential.”
Located on the island’s southern coastline, the resort is set on a secluded stretch of beach amidst a 21-acre coconut plantation.