An Open Letter from Turtle Survival Alliance President & CEO
February 10, 2025
Dear Friends, Partners, and Supporters,
We are facing an unprecedented challenge that threatens the very foundation of our work to save the world’s most endangered turtles and tortoises. On Monday, January 27th, the White House issued an order freezing all federal grants for 60 days. This action affects seven of our active grants and jeopardizes the funding needed to continue some of our critical conservation programs.
Turtles are among the most threatened vertebrates on the planet. More than 60 percent of turtle and tortoise species face extinction due to habitat destruction, poaching, and climate change. Turtle Survival Alliance has been at the forefront of global conservation efforts, implementing innovative and science-driven programs that have saved thousands of turtles from illegal wildlife trade, reintroduced species back into the wild, and established protected reserves for long-term survival.
This funding freeze directly affects our work in Belize, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Uganda, Mexico, and Brazil, as well as our Wildlife Trafficking Workshops across the globe. These initiatives are essential to preventing the extinction of some of the most imperiled turtle species, combating illegal wildlife trade, and enabling conservation work in high priority regions.
We cannot afford to lose momentum. Without immediate action, the ramifications of this funding freeze will be felt not only by our organization but by the many species we fight to protect and that the U.S. has been so strong at leading the effort. That is why we are calling on our supporters, conservation partners, and philanthropic leaders to step forward during this time of uncertainty.
Turtle Survival Alliance, with our partners in more than 20 countries, is the leading organization spearheading turtle conservation efforts globally.
We urge you to stand with us.
For the turtles. For the future.
With urgency and gratitude,
Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux
President and CEO
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To learn more about long-term support of turtle conservation, please contact Ratri Lertluksamipun, Director of Development, at rlertluks@turtlesurvival.org or 843.724.9763. Help save turtles today with a donation here.
