Asociacion Chelonia

What Asociacion Chelonia does

Asociacion Chelonia is a Madrid-headquartered international non-profit conservation organization founded in 1997 that conducts scientific research, field conservation, and international cooperation projects targeting threatened species and ecosystems. Its core activity areas span marine turtles, elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), amphibians, crocodilians, primates, forests, marine debris, and aquatic ecosystems across Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, and Romania. The organization operates three primary programmatic lines: (1) on-the-ground conservation projects, including long-running volunteer programs across Spanish national parks and proprietary bycatch reduction technology (Turtle Excluder Devices and electromagnetic deterrents tested since 2009 in Mediterranean and Atlantic fleets); (2) a peer-reviewed Monografías publication series with 24 freely available volumes covering conservation research from 2009 to 2025; and (3) the Premios Mares Circulares annual award program, run jointly with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, awarding €10,000 in each of two categories (research projects and innovative business initiatives) addressing marine litter, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

The organization's revenue model is non-commercial and based primarily on project co-financing from institutional partners — Spanish government bodies (Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales, MITECO, Junta de Andalucía, Generalitat Valenciana), international foundations (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Fundación Biodiversidad, The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Fundación Daniel y Nina Carasso), corporate sponsorship (Coca-Cola Europacific Partners / The Coca-Cola Foundation), and academic institutions. A modest corporate volunteering service offers companies customized ESG and team-building programs on a quote basis. Individual volunteer participation is free, with Chelonia covering materials, accommodation, meals, and insurance. The organization operates with a lean team of 8 employees, coordinates activities with named project leads (Antonio Castro, Álvaro Amo, Patricia Ureña), and reaches stakeholders through chelonia.es, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and email newsletters.

Name

Asociacion Chelonia

Legal name

ASOCIACIÓN CHELONIA

Website

https://chelonia.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Asociacion Chelonia is a Madrid-based international non-profit founded in 1997 that conducts conservation research, field projects, and volunteer programs protecting threatened species and ecosystems across Spain, Portugal, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAA

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

Keywords

• Marine conservation services
• Wildlife protection programs
• Environmental volunteer management
• Conservation research publishing
• Biodiversity monitoring services

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid, Community of Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding and Grants: Chelonia receives co-financing and grants from public and private institutions including Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales (OAPN), Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico, Fundación Biodiversidad, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, and regional governments (Junta de Andalucía, Generalitat Valenciana).
2. Project-Based Cooperation: Chelonia executes international cooperation projects, often co-funded by foundations and international organizations, in areas including marine turtle conservation, elasmobranch bycatch reduction, crocodile conservation, and sustainable development, primarily in Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, and Romania.
3. Corporate Volunteering Programs: Companies engage Chelonia to run customized environmental volunteer activities for their teams, including beach cleanups, habitat restoration, and awareness sessions, providing a fee-based service.
4. Premios Mares Circulares Coordination: Chelonia coordinates the Mares Circulares awards program, funded by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, which distributes €10,000 prizes in two categories. Chelonia manages the application process, jury evaluation, and award ceremony.
5. Voluntary Contributions and Donations: Individual volunteers participate free of charge in conservation activities, with Chelonia covering material costs, accommodation, and meals. The organization is a registered non-profit (CIF G82087198) that relies on member contributions and public support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Asociación Chelonia is an international non-profit association that conducts scientific studies, conserves threatened species and ecosystems, and executes international cooperation projects for sustainable human development. Its commercial offerings include individual and corporate environmental volunteer programs (beach cleanups, species monitoring, habitat restoration), a portfolio of conservation projects across marine turtles, elasmobranchs, amphibians, crocodilians, primates, forests, and aquatic ecosystems, a peer-reviewed monograph publication series, and the annual Premios Mares Circulares innovation award program co-funded with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

Product overview

Asociacion Chelonia is an international nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1997, offering a portfolio of programs and services focused on biodiversity protection and sustainable development. Its core offerings include the Monografías de Investigación publication series for sharing scientific research, the Premios Mares Circulares award program recognizing innovative environmental solutions, Voluntariado Ambiental volunteer programs for hands-on conservation work, Voluntariado Corporativo corporate team-building activities, and an extensive portfolio of conservation projects addressing marine turtles, sharks and rays, amphibians, crocodilians, primates, forests, and marine litter. The organization also coordinates public awareness events throughout the year. These offerings are interconnected components of a holistic approach to conservation, combining scientific research, practical field action, community engagement, and recognition of innovation to achieve environmental impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Voluntariado Ambiental Environmental volunteer program open to adults (18+) covering beach cleanups, species monitoring, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and habitat restoration activities conducted in Spanish national parks and natural areas. Chelonia provides all materials, accommodation, meals, and insurance. Self-serve registration via website forms.
• Voluntariado Corporativo
• Monografías de Investigación de la Asociación Chelonia Peer-reviewed monograph publication series (24 volumes, 2009–2025) covering conservation biology, species protection, marine ecosystems, and sustainable development. Authors submit manuscripts following standardized guidelines; published works are freely available as PDF downloads.
• Premios Mares Circulares Annual award program under the Mares Circulares project recognizing innovative research projects and business initiatives addressing marine litter, marine/aquatic biodiversity loss, and climate change in Spain. Two categories, each awarding €10,000. Applications submitted via email.
• Conservation Projects Portfolio Portfolio of conservation initiatives executed under grant/co-financing agreements with public agencies, foundations, and corporate partners, covering marine turtles, elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), amphibians, crocodilians, primates, forests, marine debris, and aquatic ecosystems across Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, and Romania.
• Conservation Events (Eventos de Conservación) Calendar of conservation awareness events including beach cleanups, species surveys, trail evaluations, and environmental education activities scheduled throughout the year across Spanish national parks (over 25 events in 2025–2026). Open to individual and corporate participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• First experimental TED tests in Spain conducted in 2009 for sea turtle bycatch reduction in trawl fisheries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales (OAPN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAPN (under MITECO) is a primary institutional partner, co-funding Chelonia's voluntary environmental programs in Spain's national parks (Doñana, Sierra de Guadarrama, Sierra de las Nieves, Islas Atlánticas de Galicia) since at least 2020, under the Programa de Sensibilización y Voluntariado en la Red de Parques Nacionales.
• Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCEP, through The Coca-Cola Foundation, co-funds the Mares Circulares project, which encompasses marine debris monitoring, beach cleanups, awareness campaigns, and the Premios Mares Circulares award program. Active since at least 2018, spanning coastal environments in Spain and Portugal.
• Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMITECO provides institutional support and co-funding for marine debris projects, sea turtle conservation, and protected area management, including through the Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSFWS co-finances Chelonia's sea turtle conservation projects in the Western Mediterranean, including the Loggerhead Turtle project in the Valencian Community and Gulf of Cádiz, active from 2015 to 2024.
• Fundación BiodiversidadmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA key co-funder of multiple Chelonia projects including Orinoco crocodile conservation, sea turtle conservation, elasmobranch bycatch reduction, and leatherback turtle status assessment, under the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment.
• Fundación Parques ReunidosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Chelonia's elasmobranch research projects including electromagnetic bycatch reduction devices, working with aquariums including Atlantis Aquarium, Acuario de Zaragoza, Bioparc Gijón, and Aquarium Costa de Almería.
• Generalitat ValencianamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Chelonia on sea turtle conservation in the Valencian Community, supporting population monitoring, bycatch studies, and habitat conservation, particularly through Universidad de Valencia and Oceanogràfic de Valencia.
• Universidad de ValenciamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in sea turtle conservation and bycatch reduction research in the Western Mediterranean, collaborating with Chelonia and the Generalitat Valenciana since at least 2015.
• Corporación Autónoma Regional de la Orinoquia (Corporinoquia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombian regional environmental authority co-financing Orinoco crocodile conservation projects (Phase I 2009, Phase II 2010, and subsequent phases 2010–2012) in the Llanos Orientales del Orinoco.
• Corporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Urabá (CORPOURABÁ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombian regional authority co-funder of sustainable development, ecotourism, and protected area management projects in the Urabá region, including the Ensenada de Rionegro Integrated Management District (DRMI).
• Junta de AndalucíamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of sea turtle conservation and fishing trawl impact studies in the Andalusian Atlantic and Mediterranean coast, supporting bycatch reduction initiatives.
• Universidad Técnica Particular de LojaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Ecuador for the conservation of the Ridge Marsupial Frog (Gastrotheca psycrophila) in southern Ecuador (2017–2018), alongside Reserva Natural Madrigal del Podocarpus.
• CONICET (Argentina)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder of the amphibian project studying body size variation in Melanophryniscus cupreuscapularis and M. klappenbachi in the humid Chaco, Argentina (2025), with the Grupo de Investigación en Anfibios y Reptiles (Laboratorio de Herpetología-FACENA UNNE).
• Universidad de SalamancaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the 2025–2026 project for distribution and conservation of Iberolacerta martinezricai in the Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park (Salamanca), led by Atrox with support from Fundación Parques Reunidos.
• VibertoxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpulsor of the Vibertox project (2024–2025) studying the inhibitory effect of Iberian snake venoms on cancer progression, in collaboration with the Canceres de Epitelial Origin research group at UAH, with support from Atrox and Faunia.
• One Percent for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChelonia is a member of One Percent for the Planet, an environmental giving network. The logo is displayed on the website footer.
• Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerChelonia is listed as a member of the SDSN (join-the-sdsn), the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, supporting SDG alignment and implementation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Sea Turtle Conservancy: Specialist sea turtle conservation NGO with research, monitoring, and policy programs. Directly comparable to Chelonia's flagship marine turtle and bycatch-reduction portfolio.
• Oceana: International ocean-conservation organization campaigning on marine biodiversity, bycatch, and habitat protection. Closely aligned with Chelonia's marine turtle, elasmobranch, and marine-debris work.
• Fauna & Flora International (FFI): International species-conservation NGO with project portfolios across marine turtles, elasmobranchs, amphibians, and forest habitats. Closely aligned scope and partner model to Chelonia.

Broad incumbents

• WWF (World Wildlife Fund): Global wildlife conservation NGO operating across species and habitats worldwide. Much larger and broader than Chelonia but addresses the same multi-species conservation mandate and competes for similar institutional and corporate funding.
• Conservation International: Global biodiversity and sustainable-development NGO with corporate partnerships and field programs. Competes with Chelonia for biodiversity funding, corporate ESG partnerships, and international cooperation grants.
• Greenpeace: International environmental advocacy organization focused on oceans, forests, and climate. Overlaps with Chelonia's marine-debris, ocean, and climate action areas while operating at vastly greater scale.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Global wildlife NGO operating field conservation programs across dozens of species and geographies. Comparable institutional structure to Chelonia but at much greater scale and geographic reach.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global conservation authority producing Red List assessments and convening governments and NGOs. Chelonia's species work and protected-area management interface directly with IUCN frameworks.

Regional players

• Fundación CRAM: Spain-based marine conservation foundation focused on sea turtles, cetaceans, and elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean. The closest regional peer to Chelonia in species focus and geography.
• SEO/BirdLife: Spain's principal bird and biodiversity conservation NGO, a long-established partner of Spanish national parks. Comparable domestic institutional positioning to Chelonia within Spain's conservation ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/chelonia
• Facebookfacebook.com/chelonia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asociacionchelonia
• Instagraminstagram.com/chelonia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Asociacion Chelonia