The Turing Foundation - Nature Conservation

The Turing Foundation seeks to promote and encourage a sustainable and respectful relationship with nature.

Respect is in the interest of nature itself. Sustainability ensures that the needs of present generations can be met, without reducing the possibilities of future generations to fulfil theirs.

In trying to achieve these aims, the Turing Foundation limits its scope to the following two areas:

The protection and sustainable management of the nurseries of the sea in developing countries, the areas in seas and along coasts that have the highest concentration of life and biodiversity. The Coral Triangle Initiative deserves special mention here;
Sustainable organic agriculture and cattle breeding in the following developing countries: Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Kameroen en D.R.Congo.

More information on submitting an application related to one of these fields can be found in our application procedures.

Below, you will find an impression of previous initiatives by the foundation.

Most recent projects:

March 2010	Regreening Initiative, Niger Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, with three-quarters of its surface covered by desert and 85% of its population being entirely read more...	January 2010	Sustainable fish production, Oueme revier, Benin, 2010-2012 AquaDeD - Aquaculture et Développement Durable is a young NGO from Benin which especially aims to further develop read more...
January 2010	Biological cultivation of red pepper, Igbodja region, Benin, 2010-2011 Since 1993, the Beninese organisation Action Plus is active in the fields of agriculture, environment and read more...	January 2010	Sustainable management of wetlands around Lake Doro, 2010-2011, Mali 9,500 people live in eight villages in the tidal area within the project region in South-West Mali: farmers, cattle-breeding nomads and fishermen. These people read more...
January 2010	The Coral Triangle Initiative There is no place on earth that is home to such great biodiversity as the coral triangle. The Turing Foundation contributes € 3,000,000 to read more...	January 2010	Sustainable agriculture/forestry in the Missahoe Forest Reserve, 2010-2012, Togo The IUCN is recovering part of a rainforest that has been seriously impoverished due to human activities, but still houses read more...

The Coral Triangle Initiative

The Coral Triangle Initiative
No place on earth has such great biodiversity as the Coral Triangle. The triangle covers almost 6,000,000 km2 and stretches out as far as Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, East Timor and Brunei Darussalam. The triangle is a true nursery of the sea, being the home of 75% of all coral species and of more than 3,000 different fish species.

The area is seriously threatened by a range of factors, such as overfishing, destructive fishing (for example by the use of dynamite and cyanide), global warming and pollution.

Here, the World Wildlife Federation is setting up one of its largest and most ambitious projects ever, which aims to introduce a new, long term model for the sustainable management of this wildlife area - before the combination of threatening factors will have left a permanent mark on it, and on the millions of households that depend on it.

The project requires a whole range of simultaneous initiatives that address the various threats. If organised in the proper way, the initiatives will reinforce each other. A specially formed Coral Triangle Team will coordinate the entire project, and will in the coming years revise the strategy if necessary - possibly by developing new initiatives.

The eventual purpose of this project is to save the nurseries of the Coral Triangle, which are of vital importance to the conservation of a healthy ecosystem in the oceans and along the coasts of the Coral Triangle.

In the six years to come, the Turing Foundation contributes € 3,000,000 in total to the six sub-initiatives that are part of the first phase of the programme. These six initiatives are described below.

1. Sustainable Finance for Networks of Marine Protected Areas

A new foundation will be established for the identification and management of protected marine areas in the Coral Triangle, which consist of 50,000 km2 of coral reefs, 50,000 km2 of mangrove forests, and breeding grounds and migration routes of important fish species in 500,000 km2 of open water.

The foundation helps to bridge budget gaps, until the local governments have their financial situations in order. The foundation is also able to offer immediate help should there be urgent needs in the protected areas.

The Turing Foundation will contribute € 600,000 to this foundation.

A 1.5 metre Napoleon fish. These special coral fish are captured alive and then kept in the aquaria of very chic restaurants. Sometimes ten thousand square metres of coral are poisoned by cyanide to stun just one fish, after which the divers haul the stunned animal up between the coral into a mobile aquarium.

2. Managing Tuna nurseries and bycatch

Tuna fishing yields food and income for tens of millions of people living in the Coral Triangle. Besides, tuna plays a crucial role in the ecology of the coral reefs.

The governments in the Coral Triangle acknowledge that their fishing areas can be continuous sources of food and income, as long as they are managed in the right way. Therefore, they have laid down laws for the sustainable use of these areas. However, structural overfishing has been taking place during the past twenty years.

Together with the business community and the government strategies and solutions will have to be designed to prevent the loss of tuna production in the Coral Triangle. The Turing Foundation will donate € 650,000 to this sub-initiative, which will run until 2010.

3. Live Reef Fish Trade Transformation

This programme intends to achieve a recovery of the diverse fish population in the Coral Triangle, and a reduction of destructive fishing methods (such as dynamite fishing). One of the actions is the establishment of a Trade Association in the fishing industry (especially in Hong Kong) to promote sensible trade in the species of fish concerned. Simultaneously, plans will be made to encourage consumers to buy only fish that has been MSC certified.

Analysis of Live Reef Fisg Trade Routes in the Coral Triangle

Analysis of Live Reef Fisg Trade Routes in the Coral Triangle

The Turing Foundation will contribute € 300,000 to the LRFTT-programme, which will run until 2010.

4. Protecting Endangered Turtles

Six out of the seven species of sea turtles we have on this earth live in the Coral Triangle. The animals are threatened most by the accidental bycatch of fishermen and by the loss of breeding habitat along the coasts. These majestic animals do not only play a principle role in the tourist industry; they also have an important symbolic meaning in initiatives and fundraising related to the protection of the Coral Triangle.

The main purpose of this sub-project is to make certain that half of all migration routes, feeding areas and breeding habitats of sea turtles have a protected status by 2010. Moreover, WWF intends to halve the fishery bycatch of turtles, for example by distributing more than 300,000 circle hooks among the fisher fleet for the prevention of bycatch.

Zeeschildpad in de Koraaldriehoek

The Turing Foundation will contribute € 250,000 to this sub-project.

5. Responding to Climate Change through reduction of Tourism and travel footprint

Global warming is bad for coral reefs - the corals will bleach, lose all their colour and eventually die. This is at the expense of marine life; it will limit fishing opportunities and reduce opportunities for tourism (which is an important source of income and an important stimulus for the protection of the corals).

It is possible to help to coral reefs by avoiding any further negative impact of climate change, and by reducing other disturbing effects on their health (such as polluting industries, tourism and fishing).

The Turing Foundation will contribute € 600,000 to this sub-initiative, which will run until 2010.

6. Other projects

The Coral Triangle Initiative is a dynamic programme. It can be expected that extra activities are needed in the years to come in order to guarantee the success of the total project. Extra budget is already being made available for such future activities.

The Turing Foundation subscribes to this realistic viewpoint and commits € 600,000 support to these currently unnamed sub-projects.

see also:
      Miljoenenschenking voor WNF-koraalproject (WWF)
      Donation for Coral Protection (EZNC)
Dr. Lida Pet Soede (WWF) over het Coral Triangle Initiative (Television)
      The Coral Triangle Initiative (WWF website)

Nurseries of the sea

Establishing Lubombo Transfrontier Marine Protected Area, Mozambique/Zuid-Afrika
The Peace Parks Foundation is devoted to protecting those natural areas that are located across the borders between countries. The foundation's main goal is to establish sustainable economic development, biodiversity, peace and stability in the region surrounding the park. The final responsibility for the parks remains with the countries.

The Lubombo Transfrontier Park is located by the coast and on the borderline of Mozambique and South Africa. It offers a wealth of coral reefs, wetlands, whales and tortoises, which give it great tourist potential. Now that the situation in Mozambique seems to become more stable, tourist development is conceivable again - even more so given the fact that the park is located between Mozambique's capital, Maputo and the economic powerhouse of South Africa, Gauteng. It is important that prompt action is taken, so that a sustainable park can be established, with respect for nature. Apart from that, the marine area must be protected against threats such as poachers and large fish trailers.

The area is home to no more than 800 people, who fully depend on the sea for their daily sustenance. They will be trained in sustainable fishing practices, coast guarding and tourism.

In the coming four years, the Turing Foundation donates € 635,000 to the establishment and protection of the first African 'Transfrontier Marine Protected Area'.

The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation and resource Area - Mozambique

Ecosystem Management for the Murciellagos Bay, Philippines
Murciellagos Bay is a breeding ground of important and diverse ecosystems. The bay covers 8,000 hectares and is home to rare and endangered fish, shellfish and sea turtle species. The area is threatened by pollution, overfishing and destructive fishing. The Philippine organisation PARTS (Partner for Rural & Technical Service) tries to have part of the coral reefs, mangrove forests and sea grass beds identified as Marine Protected Areas, so as to stop illegal fishing practices and encourage the recovery of the ecosystem and fish stock. The ambition is to achieve a sustainable balance between nature conservation and the local economy, for instance by strengthening the fishing organisations in most of the 24 local fishing villages, and by investing in nature education for the local community.

The Turing Foundation and IUCN Nederland will together contribute the sum of € 90,000 to this project, which runs until June 2009.

Fishing village, Murciellagos Bay, The Philippines

Sustainable management of the biodiversity in the Lamit Bay, Philippines
The Philippine organisation NSLC (Network of Sustainable Livelihoods Catalysts) is devoted to a sustainable conservation of Philippine nature. The rich biodiversity of Lamit Bay is threatened by commercial overfishing and dynamite fishing. The local community, dependent on fishing and on the cultivation of red seaweed, will cooperate in the protection of a network of ‘no-take zones’ covering 350 hectares (in the form of Marine Protected Areas). Expectations are that this protection of coral reefs, sea grass areas and mangrove forests will lead to the sustainable conservation of the entire bay (50,000 hectares). The training of the local community and the tapping of sustainable alternative sources of income play an essential role in this project.

The Turing Foundation and IUCN Nederland will together contribute € 88,000 towards the costs of the project until July 2010.

View on Lamit Bay, The Philippines

more nature conservation projects...

Dungonab Bay and Sanganeb Atoll Marine National Park, Sudan

Sustainable management of wetlands around Lake Doro, 2007-2009, Mali

Sustainable agriculture/forestry in the Missahoe Forest Reserve, 2007-2009, Togo

Sustainable organic agriculture and cattle breeding

Regreening Initiative, Niger
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, with three-quarters of its surface covered by desert and 85% of its population being entirely dependent on agriculture. Both Ends and the VU Centre for International Cooperation, in association with local organisation CRESA, want to help start the natural regeneration of 80 hectares of land by creating a 'green zone', and by doing so recover nature and improve local living standards. A total of 1,200 farmers and 60 technicians will be trained in afforestation and forest restoration, and 40 village committees will be supplied with necessary materials.

The Turing Foundation will donate a total amount of €118,000 to the project that will run until late 2011.

Regreening Initiative, Niger

Sustainable fish production, Oueme revier, Benin, 2010-2012
AquaDeD - Aquaculture et Développement Durable is a young NGO from Benin which especially aims to further develop sustainable fishing in the flood plains of the Oueme river, a recognized nature reserve. The use of whedos - canals filling up during the rainy season, and in which fish remains - and the biological growth of fish feed contributes to the recovery of nature. By training 100 women in a more economical use of wood when smoking fish, this project also plays a role in the improvement of the daily social circumstances of these women.

The Turing Foundation finances this project via IUCN NL, donating € 33,000 from 2010 to 2012.

Duurzame visproduktie, Oueme revier, Benin

Biological cultivation of red pepper, Igbodja region, Benin, 2010-2011
Since 1993, the Beninese organisation Action Plus is active in the fields of agriculture, environment and health care. This NGO is working on a biological agriculture training project for women in Central-East Benin, in the Igbodja region. The aim of the project is to protect the regional forests by using the right crops and production methods for their recovery. This method is called 'agroforestry'. The peppers are in great demand on the local market and can therefore be a welcome source of income for the women.

The Turing Foundation provides funding for this project via IUCN NL by donating € 33,000 between 2010 and 2012.

Biologische teelt van rode peper, Igbodja regio, Benin

Sustainable management of wetlands around Lake Doro, 2010-2011, Mali
The Malinese organisation DONKO aims to improve the sustainable management of Lake Doro and the adjacent tidal areas in the province of Kayes, in the most Western part of Mali. This area is both economically and biologically of great importance. The project area has 9500 inhabitants, living in 8 villages: farmers, cattle breeding nomads and fishermen. In the previous phase of the project several crucial arrangements have been successfully laid down in management agreements with the many users of this area (amongst whom fishermen, farmers, shepherds and foresters). Moreover, investments have been made in sustainable vegetable cultivation, and in more sustainable fishing and forestation methods. The next phase of this project focuses on a further development of alternative sources of income for 300 women by the creation of vegetable gardens, reforestation of 26 hectares of land and by increasing the environmental awareness in school children.

In 2010, the Turing Foundation provides funding for this project via IUCN NL, donating € 33,000.

Sustainable management of wetlands around Lake Doro, 2010-2011, Mali

Sustainable agriculture/forestry in the Missahoe Forest Reserve, 2010-2012, Togo
The local organisation Les Compagnons Ruraux works hard to recover the Missahoe forest reserve in Togo. Based on positive results of earlier forest recovery programmes, 7000 people of five villages will be involved in a project of 'analogous planting'. New plantings will have almost the same function as rain forests but will in part consist of economically interesting species, such as coffee, pepper trees and certain fruit trees. In the third phase of the project, which will last one more year, another 50,000 trees will be planted, 10 information campaigns will be launched, the production of cocoa - which has by now started - will be certified and 12 volunteers will be trained in forest fire fighting.

In 2010, the Turing Foundation provides funding for this project via IUCN NL, donating € 44,000. Earlier, the Turing Foundation financed the construction of two schools in this area.

Missahoe forest reserve, Togo

Communal management of grazing land and forest restoration in Ségou - Mali
The agricultural region Ségou frequently suffers from food shortages caused by the exhaustion of agricultural and grazing land. Forests are chopped down for fire wood and frequently disputes arise about the scarce wells and between nomadic herdsmen and landowners. In order to stop the advancing desert, this project teaches the local population to grow their own trees for replanting or for sale, wells are being dug for the livestock and trees are being planted, such as the baobab that is threatened with extinction. In order to restore the ecological balance, at least 50 hectares of forest are to be planted every year. In addition, members of the local authority and other people involved are trained in communal environmental management.

The Turing Foundation supports the Malian organisation ALPHALOG through the development organisation ICCO (a total sum of € 110,000). The project runs until mid 2011. ALPHALOG collaborates with the Malian Turing partners OMAES, AMSS and GRAT.

Well dug by ALPHALOG

Introduction of organic gardening and 'night paddocks' - Cameroon
Njamnjama is a vegetable similar to spinach. In Cameroon the traditional production of this vegetable has not been able to keep up with the huge demand. It grows extremely fast and can be grown all year round. Today the farmers increasingly use artificial fertilizers and pesticides for the production, causing water pollution and conflicts between villages. By training 150 women and 20 men, and by setting up 6 hectares of organic gardens, the Maingai AGRO-VET Group aims to introduce a tried and tested sustainable agricultural method in the northwest of Cameroon. In between the gardens there will be 'night paddocks', where the manure is collected to improve the soil. Eventually this project should lead to a fivefold increase in revenues.

The Turing Foundation finances this project that runs until 2012 through IUCN NL (€ 33,000). The Maingai AGRO-VET Group collaborates with ANCO, another partner in nature conservation of the Turing Foundation in this region.

Night Paddocks

Protection of natural resources in Timbuktu - Mali
In ten villages in the Timbuktu region primarily women will be trained in organic market gardening and small livestock farming and in the use of wood-saving ovens. One hundred of the poorest women in these villages will receive a micro credit for 2 goats, 1 male and one female, and seed to grow fodder for the animals. Two hectares of forest will be planted per village. To accomplish this, the villagers are provided with seed, and they are trained in growing trees for their own use and for sale. The establishment of an agreement on protecting the environment between various local authorities forms the basis of this project (Conventions Locales). This is even a resolutive condition for receiving this grant.

The Turing Foundation supports the Malian organisation AMSS through the development organisation ICCO (a total sum of € 106,000). The project runs until mid 2011. AMSS collaborates with the Malian Turing partners OMAES, ALPHALOG and GRAT.

Wood-saving oven of the AMSS

Ecological sustainability and the promotion of (small) livestock farming - Burkina Faso
In this project Heifer and the Louis Bolk Institute collaborate in the neighbourhood of the villages Gonsé and Kampala. The Burkinan organisation ASUDEC gives 'living loans' according to the Heifer philosophy: families receive chickens, goats and sheep and the loan is paid off by passing on the offspring of the livestock. The manure of the livestock is used as organic fertilizer in agricultural farming and market gardening. The families are trained in sustainable agricultural methods and the production of more varied and productive crops. In order to restore the ecosystem, 15,000 young trees and bushes are being planted.

The Turing Foundation finances this project of the Burkinan organisation ASUDEC through the Heifer/Louis Bolk Institute (€ 35,000). The project runs until 2010.

Ecological sustainability and the promotion of (small) livestock farming - Burkina Faso

Sustainable Agricultural Programmes, Burkina Faso 2009
The Hunger Project is a global organisation that takes action against hunger and chronic poverty. The foundation works together with communities from so-called ‘epicentres’ in Burkina Faso on the improvement of social circumstances, especially in agriculture, because 80% of the population is fully dependent on it. The agricultural programmes focus on the improvement of sustainable agricultural techniques, the protection of affected parcels of forest, the establishment of food banks for times of scarcity, and the provision of micro credits to women.

Just like in 2008, the Turing Foundation adopts the entire agricultural programmes of The Hunger Project in Burkino Faso in 2009, for the sum of € 62.000.

The Hunger Project, Burkina Faso

Forest conservation on small-scale cacao plantations, Wassa Amenfi District, Ghana
The Rural Environmental Care Association (RECA) focuses on the sustained use of land combined with forest conservation. In the Ghanaian District Wassa Amenfi the organisation teaches 800 cacao farmers agro-forestry techniques in order to make their cacao production sustainable, so it no longer has a negative impact on the tropical rain forest. In addition, 100 women are trained in forest conservation and sustainable firewood collection.

The Turing Foundation adopts this IUCN project for a sum of € 41,000. The project will run until the end of 2010.

Forest conservation on small-scale cacao plantations, Wassa Amenfi District, Ghana

Sustainable management of the forest of Koubaye - Mali
This project aims to protect and restore 7,700 km2 of forest by making environmental agreements between the authorities of four local communities. Environmental education will be given to 8,000 adults and children. A thousand wood-saving ovens will distributed and village blacksmiths will be taught how to produce them. The local people will also be trained in growing trees, both for replanting in the forest and for sale. Women will be trained in organic market gardening (seed will also be made available) and livestock farming (micro credits will be given for goats, male and female). GRAT will also dig 15 wells.

The Turing Foundation supports the Malian organisation GRAT through the development organisation ICCO (a total sum of € 63,500). The project runs until mid 2011. GRAT collaborates with the Malian Turing partners OMAES, ALPHALOG and AMSS.

Blacksmiths who have been trained by GRAT at work

Introduction of the organic production of 'Niebe' - Burkina Faso
The floodplains around Lake Darkoye in the northwest of Burkina Faso are in the poor Sahel region, where malnutrition and hunger are still prevalent. The farmers use traditional agricultural methods in combination with strong pesticides. As a result the scarce agricultural land and nature have become exhausted or even poisoned. This project trains 375 farmers in ten villages in the organic production of 'Niebe' (a native type of pulse with a high market value), it invests in storage silos and it teaches farmers sales techniques in order to structurally increase their revenues.

The Turing Foundation finances this project of the Burkinan organisation AGED through IUCN NL (€ 32,450). The project will run until August 2012.

Lake Darkoye during the rain season

Developing organic vegetable gardens and orchards - Séguénéga, Burkina Faso
The Burkinan organisation ADECUSS will teach 300 women in the extremely poor and dry northern region of Burkina Faso modern market gardening and agricultural techniques (such as how to make compost and how to graft fruit trees) and sales techniques. This way the women can generate income and a sustainable investment is made in soil improvement and biodiversity in this region. A total of 2000 fruit trees will be planted, one well will be dug and three fenced organic vegetable gardens and orchards covering 1.5 hectares will be set up.

The Turing Foundation finances this project of the Burkinan organisation ADECUSS through IUCN NL (€ 33,000). The project runs until October 2012.

Developing organic vegetable gardens and orchards - Séguénéga, Burkina Faso

Restoration and protection of local ecosystems, Région des Savanes, Togo
In the Région des Savanes in Northern Togo, a very poor region, the ecosystem is deteriorating at an alarming pace as a result of uncontrolled (over)exploitation of soil and wood (especially firewood). Animal species are becoming extinct and the forests no longer meet the needs of the people. Local organisation RAFIA (Recherche Appui et Formation aux Initiatives d'Auto Développement) assists rural and other communities in improving their living conditions, for example by the sustainable management of natural resources.

The Turing Foundation donates € 44,000 towards a RAFIA project to construct four 'galeries forestières' and to educate people in sustainable agriculture techniques, using more varied and more productive crops, thus helping approximately 900 households in nine villages. The project will run until August 2010.