- Turtle Island Restoration Network
Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) is a
United States 501(c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 1999 whose mission is:"To take swift and decisive action to protect and restore marine species and their habitats and to inspire people in communities all over the world to join us as active and vocal marine species advocates.cite web | title = Sea Turtle Restoration Project, TIRN Mission | url = http://www.seaturtles.org/article.php?list=type&type=98 | date = 2008-07-24] "
Overview
TIRN provides the umbrella organization to a number of projects including the
Sea Turtle Restoration Project (STRP),Got Mercury? andSPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network) . In order to achieve their goals, TIRN uses a combination of grassroots education and organizing, legal pressure, hands-on conservation, innovative use of the media, research, and policy advocacy.cite web | title = Sea Turtle Restoration Project, TIRN Mission | url = http://www.seaturtles.org/article.php?list=type&type=34 | date = 2008-07-24] TIRN has offices in theUnited States ,Costa Rica andPapua New Guinea and is currently supported by over 10,000 members.TIRN states their vision as:
"Foreseeing a time when a critical-mass of people in communities all over the world share a common understanding of the intrinsic value of biodiversity and a permanent commitment to acting as wise, willing and able stewards of life in the earth's oceans and on its lands".
History
TIRN was founded in 1999 to provide an umbrella organization for the Sea Turtle Restoration Project. This had at the time been an affiliate organization of the
Earth Island Institute since 1989, focusing on the international protection of endangeredsea turtles . In 1999, the project broke off from its parent group, and re-incorporated as the Turtle Island Restoration Network.Since its founding in 1999, TIRN has diversified and expanded its programs. The project now includes offices in
California ,Gulf of Mexico ,Central America and theWestern Pacific . In addition,Got Mercury? a program to educate the public about mercury levels inseafood was developed in 2002 under TIRN and the Sea Turtle Restoration Project. [cite web | title = GotMercury.org | url = http://www.gotmercury.org/article.php?list=type&type=75 | date = 2008-07-20]In 1999, the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, a volunteer-driven program focused on protecting endangered
salmon in theLagunitas Creek watershed became an official program of TIRN.cite web | title = Salmon Protection and Watershed Network | url = http://www.spawnusa.org/ | date = 2008-07-29]Programs
TIRN is the umbrella organization to two major programs:
ea Turtle Restoration Project
The
Sea Turtle Restoration Project was founded in 1989 with the mission to protect endangered sea turtles in ways that make cultural and economic sense to communities that share their habitats with the creatures. The project has a number of active projects including the Save theLeatherback program, the Gulf of Mexico program, US Pacific Sea Turtles,Central America program,Western Pacific program andGot Mercury? program.PAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)
SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network) had its seeds in 1996 and in 1999 became an official program under the umbrella of TIRN. It is a volunteer-driven program that works to protect endangeredsalmon in theLagunitas Creek watershed, and the environment. The programmes projects include habitat restoration, fish rescue, citizen training, creek monitoring, creek walks, land acquisition andwater conservation . [cite web | title = Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, Programs | url = http://www.spawnusa.org/programs/ | date = 2008-07-29]Accomplishments
Key accomplishments of TIRN include: [cite web | title = Sea Turtle Restoration Project, Victories | url = http://www.seaturtles.org/article.php?list=type&type=57 | date = 2008-07-28]
:2006 TIRN opens its Western Pacific office for the Sea Turtle Restoration Project:2002 TIRN develops its Got Mercury? program under the Sea Turtle Restoration Project:2002 TIRN merges its Sea Turtle Restoration Project with the Texas-based HEART organization to open its Gulf of Mexico office:1999 The Salmon Protection and Watershed Network becomes an official program of TIRN:1999 TIRN is incorporated and becomes the umbrella organization for the Sea Turtle Restoration Project that includes offices in California and Central America
References
External links
* [http://www.seaturtles.org Sea Turtle Restoration Project website]
* [http://www.gotmercury.org Got Mercury website]
* [http://www.spawnusa.org/ Salmon Protection and Watershed Network website]
* [http://www.ridleyturtles.org/ HEART website]
* [http://www.tortugamarina.org/ PRETOMA website]
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