Sea Turtle Conservation & Environmental Education

From August to November, our Sea Turtle Conservation Project continued strengthening protection efforts across several nesting beaches, combining hands-on conservation, community participation, and volunteer engagement.

In Punta Mala, teams carried out sixteen beach cleanups, removing a total of 2,583 kg of waste, including 1,600 kg of plastic. These efforts are essential to maintaining a safe environment for nesting turtles and preventing debris from affecting hatchlings.

At the Esterillos Oeste hatchery, volunteers supported two sessions of sand removal and redistribution from hatched nests, ensuring healthier conditions for future clutches. Additional monitoring activities in Esterillos allowed volunteers to participate in environmental assessments, nest checks, and the release of newly hatched turtles.

A collaborative cleanup with Reserva Playa Tortuga offered volunteers an educational opportunity to learn about their butterfly garden and turtle hatchery, while also helping remove sand from nests that had already hatched.

In Playa Hermosa, work at the hatchery intensified through continuous shifts from late October to mid-November. Volunteers cleared vegetation, replaced worn-out sacks, removed microplastics, and maintained the hatchery’s structure. Fifteen protective bamboo structures were built to safeguard nests, though later displaced by wildlife activity. The team also took part in nine PRONAMEC events, contributing to beach measurements and coastal monitoring.

Support was also extended to the Palo Seco project, where volunteers participated in nightly patrols, relocated ten nests for protection, and carried out two environmental education activities. Community involvement grew steadily, with local residents joining hatchery shifts—particularly the early morning hours—and four community members now actively participating in various roles.

These months reflect how consistent effort, teamwork, and a shared commitment to conservation can make a profound difference for sea turtles and the ecosystems they depend on.