Along Caribbean Central America, leatherback nesting occurs predominantly from March to mid-July although low level nesting has been observed as early as January and as late as August (Chacón, 1999). Studies of the rookery began in the 1950's with descriptions of nesting behaviour and biometric characteristics in Tortuguero area and slowly evolved; in 1990, regular surveys and tagging began on beaches from northern Costa Rica to northern Panama (Campbell et al., 1996; Chacón, 1999). In 2003, at least eleven projects monitoring leatherback nesting operated along the coast (Troeng et al, 2005).

In Tortuguero, Caribbean Conservation Corporation initiated track surveys in 1995. Since 1994, the Endangered Wildlife Trust has implemented daily nest counts from March to mid-July in the private Pacuare Nature Reserve. Since 1991, Asociación ANAI has conducted daily nest counts on Gandoca beach during the leatherback nesting season (Chacón 1999). Aerial surveys were conducted in a Cessna 185 flying at an altitude of 30-100 m at 185-225 km hr-1. All surveys were conducted in the morning (8:00 AM-10:35 AM) in a north to south direction beginning at the San Juan river. Annual leatherback nesting varied with 574-1,623 nests yr-1 deposited at Tortuguero, 490- 1,286 nests yr-1 at Pacuare and 405-1,135 nests yr-1 laid at Gandoca (Troeng et al, 2005).

Illegal collection of leatherback nests in Costa Rica declined from 78 % in 1987 (Berry,1987) to 11.5 % on the relatively well protected index beaches in 2003.

The current level of illegal egg collection may exceed sustainable levels when coupled with impacts caused by fisheries. Although leatherback egg collection has been prohibited in Costa Rica since the 1960's, a law that established prison sentences for egg collection entered into force in 2002 (Legislative Assembly, 2002). It is clear that the new law has not been a deterrent as illegal egg collection increased in 2003. Increased enforcement on nesting beaches is urgently needed to reduce illegal egg collection.

The Caribbean Leatherback Alliance (ABC, for the initials in Spanish), is a partnership between projects and institutions that work for the protection, conservation and research of the Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) at the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The main reason for this initiative is that nesting turtles alternate frequently between nesting areas of this coast during the same season. The partnership is the ideal mechanism to strengthen each one of the individual projects by joining efforts.

Because of the turtles.slow growth rates and subsequent delayed sexual maturity, all monitoring will need to be conducted over a long period of time to establish population trends. Also, tag observations show that individual leatherback turtles may change between beaches within and between nesting seasons.

This initiative was created two years ago (2003), as response to the need of various projects to know the origin of the tags that some female turtles carried, but where foreign to their project. This unrest allowed to find out that turtles were tagged in other places, and that the same females would visit different beaches on the coast throughout each nesting season. However, at the same time, such effort demonstrated that survival threats in each beach were distinct so were the resources and capabilities of each project to respond and mitigate such pressures.

Considering the common factor and driving force each one of the nesting turtles, this initiative focus in activities that will not only improve the conservation status of this species, but increase the positive impacts of the activities carried out by individual projects in at least seven beaches along the coast.

Some of the partners involved have been developing sea turtle directed conservation actions for decades, as the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) and Asociación ANAI, who possess wide experience and strong strategic links with Costa Rica government and international entities. This quality gives to the Alliance interest, experience and human resources.

On the other hand, the work in synchrony, using previously agreed methodologies, common materials and effort distribution from border to border makes the Costa Rica Caribbean Leatherback Alliance a unique project in its characteristics, where the range of action coverage and protection is, in no doubt, a strong point.

It has been previously demonstrated that the initiatives based in networks or alliances is one of the most productive and successful working mechanisms, as they increase the possibility of success, disperse the actions increasing the range of impact, improve cooperation and communication, allow the standardization of field protocols, the production of shared material, the training of field staff and the protection of a shared resource.

Goal:
Improve and strengthen the efforts for the conservation of Dermochelys coriacea in the Caribbean of Costa Rica, and nearby nesting areas.

Foment the establishment of an Alliance between projects that work for the protection of the Leatherback sea turtle in the Caribbean of Costa Rica and nearby areas of Panama.

Promote the standardization of research and conservation techniques achieving the unification of methods and efforts for the management of sea turtles throughout the Costa Rican Caribbean.

Foment educational processes coordinated in all of Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

Establish standardized initiatives to support conservation actions executed by each group.

Improve participation and influence in national policy regarding the management, regulations and/or uses of sea turtles.

High percentage of the members of the community will actively participate in conservation of sea turtles.