Conservation Programs

Pacuare

The project is located on an isolated Caribbean beach in Costa Rica, on north side of the mouth of the Pacuare River. It covers 7.1 km of coastline of black sandy beach in front of Rain forest and several coastal lagoons surrounded by palm swamp forests. The beach is part of the 50 km stretch between Tortuguero National Park (famous for its sea turtles) at Costa Rica north Caribbean coast and the harbour of Limón. Surrounded by system of fresh water channels the location have abundant quantity of birds, mammals as monkeys, tamanduas, racoons, coati also manatee and fresh water dolphin. The area is not only unique in every way, but is also famous as being the nesting site for many Leatherback, hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles who come to lay their eggs here.

Poachers, fishing nets, pollution and other threats are the cause of an alarming decline in turtles being born on this beach. In particular the 7.1 km covered by the project is in danger, for it has no protection whatsoever. Volunteers play a very important role in changing this situation. In Costa Rica the poaching of sea turtles or sea turtle eggs is considered as a crime by the 8325 Law by the enforcement is difficult.

The local community called Nuevo Pacuare participate as local conservation assistants tanking volunteers to help them to address threats over the sea turtles like marine debris, erosion and also poaching.

Conservation and research groups will develop two shifts (8 pm to 12 am and 12 am to 4 am) each group will walk in one sector (2.4 km each) during at least 4 hours, them the next group will replace them to keep protected the beach. All nest will protected in a hatchery guard by personnel and volunteers. When the group find a turtle develop a official protocol to raise very important nesting information and to relocate nest keeping the success rate of hatchling in good shape.

The isolate condition of the beach enriches the quality life without electricity, phones, cars and other elements of the modern life, also create the best connection between our collaborators and Nature, creating the best choice to be the difference for the life of these amazing creatures…The Marine Turtles.