Panama Project by DIMO, which focuses on turtle conservation

Life to Reef project by DIMO, which focuses on restoring the coral reefs in the Bonavista Reef 

DIMO constantly engineers marine environment protection initiatives, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which focus on ‘Life Below Water’ and ‘Life on Land’. 

DIMO has partnered with like-minded organizations to ensure successful implementation of these projects, which are carried out as part of its sustainability agenda, identifying the dire need to protect our marine environment to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman & Managing Director of DIMO said, “Initiatives such as environment and biodiversity protection are driven by great passion and DIMO is proud to be at the forefront of these initiatives. 

DIMO continues its commitment to protect the marine environment and preserve it for the future generations while fuelling the dreams and aspirations of individuals by focusing on uplifting the livelihoods of nearby communities as well.”

DIMO first ventured into sucha marine environment protection initiative back in 2012 with the ‘Panama Project’, which focused on turtle conservation.Sea turtles, while playing a key role in the marine ecosystem at a global level, are facing many threats such as illegal trading and climate change. These endangered species are prone to extinct unless immediate measures are taken to conserve them and their nesting grounds. 

Such has been a major concern in the stretch from Panama to Okanda which is a famous nesting ground for mainly Olive Ridley (90 percent), Green turtle (5 percent) and Loggerhead turtles (5 percent).  DIMO, together with the Wildlife & Ocean Resource Conservation (WORC), carried out several timely initiatives and the company was able to release more than 150,000 hatchlings to open water.In order to protect the eggs from natural predators, DIMO took the initiative to build a cage, with an emphasis on the safety of the nests, coveringthem where the turtle hatchlings could come out through the gaps of the cage. 

In addition, DIMO also offers a steady wage to the appointed members of the community for looking after the eggs, thereby empowering the community, and discouraging illegal activities within the locality. Taking another step forward, the community was also enlightened with useful knowledge on how they can contribute to protect the 
turtle nests. 

The awareness programmes were especially helpful for the children and their parents to refrain from collecting turtle eggs leading to them being damaged and also to pledge to protect the turtle nests.