Turtle Island Restoration Network
Encyclopedia
Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) is a United States
501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1989 whose mission is:
(STRP), Got Mercury?
and SPAWN (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. TIRN has offices in the United States
, Costa Rica
and Papua New Guinea
and is currently supported by over 10,000 members.
TIRN states their vision as:
since 1989, focusing on the international protection of endangered sea 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 the Western Pacific. In addition, Got Mercury?
a program to educate the public about mercury
levels in seafood
was developed in 2002 under TIRN and the Sea Turtle Restoration Project.
In 1999, the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, a volunteer-driven program focused on protecting endangered salmon
in the Lagunitas Creek
watershed became an official program of TIRN.
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 the Leatherback program, the Gulf of Mexico program, US Pacific Sea Turtles, Central America
program, Western Pacific program and Got Mercury?
program.
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 endangered salmon
in the Lagunitas Creek
watershed, and the environment. The programmes projects include habitat restoration, fish rescue, citizen training, creek monitoring, creek walks, land acquisition and water conservation
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1989 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.
Overview
TIRN provides the umbrella organization to a number of projects including the Sea Turtle Restoration ProjectSea Turtle Restoration Project
The Sea Turtle Restoration Project , founded in 1989, is a project of Turtle Island Restoration Network , a United States 501 nonprofit environmental organization with a goal of protecting endangered sea turtles from human-caused threats at nesting beaches and in the ocean.STRP states its mission...
(STRP), Got Mercury?
Got Mercury?
Got Mercury? is a public awareness campaign about mercury levels in seafood. It is sponsored by the Sea Turtle Restoration Project and its parent organization, the Turtle Island Restoration Network...
and SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)
SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)
SPAWN, the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, is a project of the Turtle Island Restoration Network , a United States 501 nonprofit environmental organization....
. 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. TIRN has offices in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
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 InstituteEarth Island Institute
The Earth Island Institute was founded in 1982 by environmentalist David Brower. It organizes and encourages activism around environmental issues and provides public education. Funding comes from individual members and supporting organizations...
since 1989, focusing on the international protection of endangered sea 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
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and the Western Pacific. In addition, Got Mercury?
Got Mercury?
Got Mercury? is a public awareness campaign about mercury levels in seafood. It is sponsored by the Sea Turtle Restoration Project and its parent organization, the Turtle Island Restoration Network...
a program to educate the public about mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
levels in seafood
Seafood
Seafood is any form of marine life regarded as food by humans. Seafoods include fish, molluscs , crustaceans , echinoderms . Edible sea plants, such as some seaweeds and microalgae, are also seafood, and are widely eaten around the world, especially in Asia...
was developed in 2002 under TIRN and the Sea Turtle Restoration Project.
In 1999, the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, a volunteer-driven program focused on protecting endangered salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
in the Lagunitas Creek
Lagunitas Creek
Lagunitas Creek is a stream in Marin County, California and is a major supply of drinking water to the area. The 20-mile long creek's headwaters are in the Coast Range and it flows into the Pacific Ocean, draining 103 square miles .The creek's source is the northern slope of Mount Tamalpais, a few...
watershed became an official program of TIRN.
Sea Turtle Restoration Project
The Sea Turtle Restoration ProjectSea Turtle Restoration Project
The Sea Turtle Restoration Project , founded in 1989, is a project of Turtle Island Restoration Network , a United States 501 nonprofit environmental organization with a goal of protecting endangered sea turtles from human-caused threats at nesting beaches and in the ocean.STRP states its mission...
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 the Leatherback program, the Gulf of Mexico program, US Pacific Sea Turtles, Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
program, Western Pacific program and Got Mercury?
Got Mercury?
Got Mercury? is a public awareness campaign about mercury levels in seafood. It is sponsored by the Sea Turtle Restoration Project and its parent organization, the Turtle Island Restoration Network...
program.
SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)
SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)
SPAWN, the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network, is a project of the Turtle Island Restoration Network , a United States 501 nonprofit environmental organization....
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 endangered salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
in the Lagunitas Creek
Lagunitas Creek
Lagunitas Creek is a stream in Marin County, California and is a major supply of drinking water to the area. The 20-mile long creek's headwaters are in the Coast Range and it flows into the Pacific Ocean, draining 103 square miles .The creek's source is the northern slope of Mount Tamalpais, a few...
watershed, and the environment. The programmes projects include habitat restoration, fish rescue, citizen training, creek monitoring, creek walks, land acquisition and water conservation
Water conservation
Water conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of waste water for different purposes such as cleaning, manufacturing, and agricultural irrigation.- Water conservation :Water conservation can be defined as:...
.
Accomplishments
Key accomplishments of TIRN include:- 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