The plight of endangered marine turtles off Sri Lanka’s coastline has inspired the Project to turn to crowdfunding for World Environment Day (WED) 2015.

“Populations of marine turtles in Sri Lanka have been decreasing steadily over the past several decades because of the destruction caused by the Boxing Day Tsunami, incidental catches in fishing gear, lack of funding and the loss of nesting beaches and other vital habitat,” Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project Dudley Perera said.

This years WED theme is Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care. At the heart of this year's theme is the well-being of humanity, the environment, and the functioning of the economy. This ultimately depends upon the responsible management of the planet’s species and ecosystems.

Sea turtles are one of the longest living species, having been on earth for approximately 200 million years, but unsustainable fishing practices and destruction of coastline is now threatening their survival around the world.

“The good news is that through the generosity of donors through wildlife crowdfunding sites like WildLife Volunteer Crowdfunding and others, conservation efforts to bring sea turtles back from the brink are working, but we need to do more,” said Templeberg Villa, Galle Owner Brent Carey.

Led by the UNited Nations Environmental Devlopment Program, WED is the largest, global celebration for positive environmental action and is marked annually on 5 June by a cross-section of civil society.

Carey and Perera  urge citizens in Sri Lanka and beyond to help attract attention to key marine environmental issues.

To give your spare change to Sri Lanka’s Sea Turtles and sponsor the KSTC Project for World Environmental Day visit Wild Life Volunteer Crowdfunding or follow @turtlesrilanka on Twitter.