Article featuring the project.
Clarín - They investigate a strange condition that leaves penguins bare
Pablo García-Borboroglu
Other projects
7 Dec 2006
Conservation and Biology of an Endemic Flightless Marine Duck in Patagonia, Argentina
6 Sep 2007
Planning and Implementation of Coastal/Marine Protected Areas in Patagonia, Argentina: Proposing Alternatives to Solve Critical Aspects
13 Mar 2009
Conservation and Management of Magellanic Penguins in Northern and Central Patagonia, Argentina
The goal of this project is to promote the protection of the world’s penguin species, fostering integrated ocean conservation through science, management and education. To achieve this goal we are organizing and consolidating an alliance-building force called The Global Penguin Society (GPS).
We need the oceans. Life on Earth began in the ocean and the well being of the planet depends on its health. We are all connected to the oceans evolutionarily, spiritually, and economically. Unfortunately, we have initiated an unprecedented age of alterations to marine ecosystems and penguins are sensitive species particularly impacted by these phenomena. In fact, IUCN listed 60% of penguin species as vulnerable or endangered.
Penguins are flightless Southern Hemisphere seabirds. Their natural history features make them particularly sensitive to variations in ecosystem structure and processes, caused mainly by climate change, marine pollution, and fisheries mismanagement. As ocean samplers, they can serve as cost-effective indicators of the health of the oceans, allowing us to have a better scientific insight into the magnitude and location of priority marine conservation issues.
We need to increase awareness of what is happening to the ocean to catalyse changes in people’s behaviour. Unmistakably, penguins are the perfect tool to inspire major changes in actions and choices of individuals, of businesses, of governments, and of the international community. Penguins, as a charismatic flagship species group, can create public interest and catalyse political support. They can be a vehicle for integrated ocean conservation, allowing the protection of many marine species and their habitats through ecosystem-based conservation planning. However, for this to happen, strategy, synergy and integration are needed.
The goal of this Project is to promote the protection of penguin populations, developing and advocating solutions for sustainable marine activities and management through the organization of an international coalition for penguin conservation: The Global Penguin Society. This coalition will promote the generation of science-based conservation, assess the status of penguin populations, educate and advise governments and communities, influence policies, and campaign through the media to educate people on how to improve penguin´s and people´s quality of life.