Today, June 16, is World Sea Turtle Day. This day is especially dedicated to highlight the importance of these wonderful animals.

Known as sentinels of the seas, turtles play a fundamental role in the marine ecosystems. As a “keystone species”, their grazing and feeding on a diverse range of other species, from jellyfish (leatherbacks) to sponges (hawksbills) to seagrasses (green turtles), they shape the environment around them and help maintain healthy coral reefs and other marine ecosystems, which in turn produce a multitude of benefits to humans as well.

As part of its contribution to the conservation of biodiversity, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, contributes to the preservation of Sea Turtles by supporting the monitoring of these animals in all the marine Conservation Areas in the country, such as in the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve, Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, São Sebastião Sanctuary and Quirimbas National Park.