Women in Conservation Organization (WICO)
The Sea Turtle Directory
Country:
Organization / Project Name: Rufiji Blue Corridor Marine Turtle Project
Website: https://www.wicotz.org
Email: savenature@wicotz.org
Description: Women in Conservation Organization (WICO) is a Tanzania-based non-profit organization working across terrestrial and marine ecosystems to conserve threatened wildlife through research, community engagement, and applied conservation action. WICO’s work spans multiple taxa, including marine turtles, reptiles, amphibians, and other species of conservation concern, with a strong emphasis on community participation and evidence-based decision-making. Within the marine environment, WICO implements targeted marine turtle conservation initiatives in coastal Tanzania. Current activities include a PADI Foundation funded project on green turtle nesting conservation in Mafia Island Marine Park and a developing focus on marine turtle connectivity in southern Tanzania. This project entry relates specifically to WICO’s marine turtle work in the Rufiji estuary nearshore seascape, where green turtles are frequently reported by local fishers but remain underrepresented in satellite telemetry and connectivity datasets. Through community-supported field research and satellite tracking, WICO contributes data to regional and global initiatives such as the State of the World’s Sea Turtles (SWOT) and Blue Corridors for Turtles (BC4T), supporting science-based conservation planning while maintaining a broader organizational mission across wildlife conservation.
Species of focus: Hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), Green turtles (Chelonia mydas)
Volunteer program:
Tourist activities (Y/N):
Primary Areas of Work: Environmental education/community outreach, Satellite telemetry
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/wicotz/
Instagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/wicotz/
Twitter Profile: NA