The objective of this workshop is to give an overview of the scale of illegal trade in sea turtle products and the use of genetic tools to aid in wildlife forensics. A diverse panel of speakers will showcase current ongoing work in the region, and the applicability in the field of different genetic techniques used for combating the illegal wildlife trade. A case study will be presented on the ShellBank project, which aims to build traceability knowledge and technologies to track the tortoiseshell trade and the turtles most at risk. The process of extracting and sequencing DNA from shell (or products like souvenirs, earrings, bracelets made from hawksbill carapace), sample processing, and the importance of a comprehensive database will be presented and discussed.

Duration: 185 minutes
AGENDA
TITLE
SPEAKER - MODERATOR
INTRODUCTION ON THE FORMAT AND HOUSEKEEPING RULES
​​Presentation
Lorraine Aplasca
Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (PH)
INTRODUCTION TO THE WORKSHOP
​​Presentation | Recording
Dr. Ian Fontanilla
University of the Philippines - Institute of Biology (Philippines)
TURTLE TRAFFICKING IN ASIA-PACIFIC
​​Presentation | Recording
Sarah Ferguson
TRAFFIC
WILDLIFE DNA FORENSICS
​​Presentation | Recording
Kelly Morgan
TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network
TURTLE HARVEST AND TRADE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS
Recording
Richard Hamilton
The Nature Conservancy
A UNIVERSITY-BASED FORENSIC LABORATORY IN THE PHILIPPINES: Supporting Government Intervention
​​Presentation | Recording
Ian Fontanilla
University of the Philippines - Institute of Biology (PH)
​
Rizza Salinas
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Biodiversity Management Bureau (PH)
COFFEE BREAK
OVERVIEW OF SHELLBANK AND THE MARINE TURTLE TRADE AND USE INITIATIVE
​​Presentation | Recording​
Christine Madden Hof
World Wide Fund for Nature - Australia
EXTRACTING DNA FROM TORTOISESHELL PRODUCTS
​​Presentation | Recording
Erin LaCasella
NOAA - Marine Turtle Genetics Program (US)
MTDNA PROFILING TO COMBAT THE ILLEGAL TRADE IN TORTOISESHELL PRODUCTS
​Presentation | Recording
Michael Jensen
World Wide Fund for Nature - Australia (AU)Aalborg University (DK)
PANEL DISCUSSION
  • Vietnam - Nguyen Thanh Binh
  • Vietnam - Truong Nguyen
  • Philippines - Rizza Salinas
  • Philippines - Ian Fontanilla
  • Malaysia - Mohd. Soffian Abu Bakar
Recording
Ni Kadek Dita Cahyani
Yayasan Biodiversitas Indonesia - BIONESIA (ID)
CLOSING REMARKS
Recording​
Dr. Ian Fontanilla
University of the Philippines - Institute of Biology (UPIB - Philippines)
Materials of the workshop are only accessible to the members of the Working Group. If you are already a member but are experiencing issues accessing the materials, please contact us via the contact page ​​