On Panama’s remote Pearl Islands, marine biologist Callie Veelenturf is using her research on endangered sea turtles to help the country enshrine the rights of nature into law — and help the communities living there protect their own environment and livelihood. Saboga Island in particular is an “anchor point” for leatherback and hawksbill turtles, both of which are endangered. But it is also facing an unprecedented wave of illegal fishing — recently, officials discovered that 40% more fish have been removed from the waters than initially reported in recent years, which puts all local marine life (including turtles) in jeopardy. Even though the residents of Saboga have long known their island is a critical habitat for marine life, that’s a difficult claim to prove to government officials. When Callie Veelenturf partnered with them to launch a satellite tagging project, the effort was able to reveal where the turtles live—and set up the grounds for their future protection. Soon after, Callie met with Panama’s First Lady to talk about the rights of nature: a legal theory that says humans aren’t the only creatures with rights under constitutional or state law. Two years later, the country passed such protections into law, becoming only the third nation in the world to do so. That victory cleared the way for another law that granted all sea turtles legal rights—a big win for both the turtles and the people of Saboga Island. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/wildhopetv/ Join our community: https://wildhope.tv Get our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/irGMng Share this with a friend!

This video features high-level messages from the Government of Panama supporting legal recognition of ocean rights, including remarks by the Minister for the Environment, Milciades Concepción: “We believe that support for a global initiative to recognise ocean rights must be a priority for all countries in the world, including those without coastal areas that still benefit from ocean resources." Senator Juan Diego Vasquez warns that if we do not protect the whole ecosystem “we are jeopardising our own survival,” and the country´s First Lady, Yazmin Colon de Cortizo, stresses: “I think countries need to agree on policies and see the problems that are are facing our oceans, including the pollution threat, the devastating effects of climate change and the deterioration of the marine environment. Working together we can reach consensus and achieve global goals.” The video was shown at a high-level event on Ocean Rights organised by The Ocean Race, the Government of Monaco, the Government of Cabo Verde and the Earth Law Center at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Footage by: Trevor Wallace, Albatros media and HG Bros Pictures.

Listen to the full episode & view transcripts here: https://environmentalprofessionalsradio.buzzsprout.com/ Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick!  On today’s episode, we talk with Callie Veelenturf, marine biologist, conservationist and National Geographic Explorer about Sea Turtles, Rights of Nature, and the Right to a Safe Working Environment.   Read her full bio below. Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form   2:00  Nic & Laura discuss women in STEM 7:32 Interview with Callie Veelenturf Starts 9:21  Sea Turtles 13:07  Rights of Nature 18:48  Right to a Safe Work Environment 26:05  Current Projects Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org . Connect with Callie Veelenturf at https://www.linkedin.com/in/callie-veelenturf-74b06241/ Guest Bio: Callie Veelenturf is a marine biologist, conservationist and National Geographic Explorer. She is the Founder and Executive Director of a nonprofit organization called The Leatherback Project and launched an international conservation advocacy campaign called Rights for Nature. Callie is also a 2020 National Geographic Society Early Career Leader, United Nations Youth Representative and Fellow for The Explorers Club, and a Young Professional with the United Nations Harmony with Nature Programme. She is actively working in the field in Panama with local communities and government agencies to document new sea turtle foraging and nesting grounds in the Pearl Islands Archipelago and in Ecuador to reduce unsustainable fisheries bycatch. She works to bridge the gap between science and policy and is collaborating with senators in Panama on new marine conservation legislation.  Music Credits Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the show (https://www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form)

Con el fin de preservar la vida marina y apoyar en su conservación creando conciencia ecológica, la capitán Genoveva Forero conversa con la Biologa Callie Veelenturf y la camarógrafa conservacionista Cristina Mittermeier, fundadora del Sea Legacy sobre la importancia de su trabajo.

La bióloga marina estadounidense, Callie Veelenturf se destaca como líder en la conservación de los océanos. Llegó a Panamá en 2019 para un estudio sobre las tortugas marinas en el Archipiélago de las Perlas, y desde entonces ha promovido desde artículos hasta leyes. Visita http://www.telemetro.com/ Para ver más noticias https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/ Sigue nuestras redes sociales: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/telemetro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treporta/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TReporta #treporta

How we honor Nature determines how we protect keystone species that shape entire ecosystems. Restoring our relationship with biodiversity requires a shift from resource extraction to recognizing responsibilities and rights This event will emphasize the urgency for protecting keystone species and their vital roles in ecosystems and in climate mitigation and adaptation. Experts in conservation science, government and policy will amplify solutions to center a relationship of care and responsibilities for keystone species into our legal, governance and economic systems, by reflecting on the ways in which we value and relate to biodiversity. Recognizing the rights of keystone species and adopting Rights of Mother Earth in the framework text and rare opportunities for solutions to many of the planetary threats we face, and for humanity and biodiversity to mutually flourish. Speakers Oscar Soria: Oscar Soria is the Campaign Director for Avaaz, a unique platform that pursues large-scale social change. Oscar is a political activist, social journalist, and environmental and human rights campaigner and previously served as the Director of Media at World Wildlife Fund. Julia Jackson: Julia is the Founder of Grounded and Co-founder of Keystone Species Alliance. After experiencing profound loss due to the degradation of the environment, Julia has committed her life to identifying and amplifying necessary solutions and building a community that can mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis. Vera Urtaza: Vera holds an International Relations degree from National Autonomous University of Mexico, and has worked for the World Council of Peoples for the UN since 2017. A Co-founder of Keystone Species Alliance, she is also a specialist in climate change, peace, security, human rights, sustainable development, and climate change negotiations. Callie Veelenturf: Callie is a marine conservation biologist, National Geographic Explorer, and founder of The Leatherback Project. She holds a B.S. in marine biology, an M.S. in biology, and is a PhD candidate in marine biology. Callie proposed the Rights of Nature law in Panama that passed this year. Óscar Rebora: Óscar is the Undersecretary of Ecology and Environment of the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico, Sea Shepherd’s Representative in Cancun and Puerto Morelos, the Former Chief of Staff of the Commission of Natural Resources and Climate Change of the Mexican Senate and an environmental activist. Rachel Bustamante: Rachel is a Conservation Science & Policy Analyst at Earth Law Center. Her research and advocacy focus is on the intersection of biodiversity conservation, Ocean policy, and global environmental governance. She promotes justice and holistic solutions including the Rights of Nature and is a GYBN member.

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With the UN General Assembly underway, on 22 September 2022 The Ocean Race hosted a high-level event in New York to boost support for the adoption of a Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights by 2030, with ministers from Cabo Verde and Monaco and H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco giving their support to the initiative.