PRETOMA
The work to ensure the long term survival
of sea turtles may focus on several approaches. One that
PRETOMA considers very efficient and gratifying is the protection
of nesting beaches. In many cases, the most effective way
of doing so is to work directly with the members of coastal
communities who have exploited the sea turtle resource for
generations.
Poaching of sea turtle nests and the consumption of their
eggs is a deeply rooted practice among people who live along
the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and it will not end from
one day to the next. An important investment in time and
education is necessary to change the perception of coastal
communities regarding sea turtles, as well as the creation
of clever alternatives designed to encourage the population
to abandon this practice.
A modern threat occurring on nesting beaches is the alteration
and destruction of habitat, to satisfy the demands of the
tourist industry. In many ocassions these developments are
carried out in open violation of Costa Rican laws that protect
the beach, or Public Zone.
PRETOMA's nesting beach projects cover the following aspects:
Reduction of nest poaching
The beach is patrolled nightly by project personnel, in
search of nesting turtles, with the objective of protecting
the nests from the "hueveros" or poachers. All
sea turtles are identified by species, measured, and tagged
with inconel tags on the front flippers, to study nesting
and migration patters.
Increase of hatchling production
Nests are relocated into one or more hatcheries for their
incubation. As the ratio of male to female hatchlings is
dependent on temperature and in an effort to improve hatchery
managemnt, the temperature of nests are monitored throughout
the season. Hatchlings are released upon hatching, in sectors
of the beach where the nest was originally laid.
Participation of community members
PRETOMA hires a couple of local community members each season
to help with nightly monitoring of the sea turtle nesting
activity. PRETOMA also generates money for the local community
by renting the station house and overflow cabins, providing
homestays, feeding project members at one of the local restaurants,
direct donations, and by simply bringing in people who then
take advantage of local goods and services.
Project volunteers are encouraged to make
a strong effort to integrate into the community and get
to know the locals on a personal level. However, locals
are fairly timid and whether or not this happens will depend
greatly on each individual participants!
Environmental Education
The presence of PRETOMA in these coastal communities helps
educate locals on the plight of sea turtles. Many of the
volunteers who work in the project are biologists or conservationists,
and they help out with the dissemination of their specific
knowledge. Frequently, the flow of information is inverse,
and the locals end up teaching volunteers. After all, they
are whom have interacted with the turtles their whole lives.
Litigation and Legal Cases
Sometimes, in order to maintain the ecological integrity
of these fragile beaches, it is necessary to file Court
Law suits because of the violation of Laws designed to protect
Costa Rica's public beaches, as well as violations against
the Wildlife Conservation Law.
