The United Nations has declared 2006 the Year of the Turtle in an effort to save the gentle species. Twenty-five countries in the Indian Ocean Southeast Asian (IOSEA) region, including the Philippines, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dedicating 2006 to the protection of sea turtles, locally known as pawikan

5 of the 7 known species of marine turtles in the world are found in the Philippines: the loggerhead, leatherback, olive ridley, hawkbill and green turtle. The IOSEA Marine Turtle MoU is working to conserve six of the world's seven species of marine turtles inhabiting the IOSEA region, including the Flatback turtles (Natator depressus).

1. OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES (Lepidochelys olivacea) - are famous for their regular nesting on Indian beaches in enormous groups called "arribadas". Beginning around February or March, tens of thousands of these turtles may nest on a single beach in just a few days, though large numbers also perish in offshore fishing nets every year.