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Turning the tide for turtles

The recent decline in Leatherbacks has been dramatic. In the eastern Pacific the number of nesting females has collapsed from tens of thousands 20 years ago to fewer than one thousand today. This ancient reptile has been in existence for millions of years, yet it is now Critically Endangered.

Fauna & Flora International’s Marine Turtle Conservation Programme has conserved marine turtles in Nicaragua since 2002. Several important Leatherback nesting beaches are located along the country’s coast, as well as two ‘arribada’ beaches, where the spectacular mass-nesting phenomenon of Olive Ridley Lepidochelys olivacea turtles takes place. Our work focuses on safeguarding key nesting sites for Leatherbacks and other endangered turtles, such as Olive Ridley’s and Hawksbill.

We also build local support for turtles. Turtle eggs have long provided coastal communities with a seasonal source of food and income. A dozen leatherback eggs could fetch more than two U.S. dollars, whilst a turtle nest could be worth up to USD17 to a poacher - more than six times the average daily wage.

The trade of turtle eggs, although now illegal, remains the most significant threat to marine turtles nationally. But we’re tackling this through the employment of local people, often ex-poachers, as guards to patrol beaches and maintain hatcheries where clutches of eggs are protected in controlled conditions during incubation. This activity has been vital to the success of the project.

Changing perceptions of local communities towards nature and involving them in the conservation of the natural resources upon which they have traditionally relied is proving invaluable in the fight to save Leatherback turtles from extinction. The work also serves as a useful blueprint for tackling conservation crises elsewhere.

In parallel with our Leatherback conservation work we’re helping Nicaragua’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to improve its policy on coastal marine management, to raise national awareness of the plight of marine turtles, and to enhance the conservation management of critical coastal habitat.