July Billion Baby Turtles Update

July was a busy month for our Billion Baby Turtles program, we supported 7 projects in 5 different countries with US $30,000. This month we supported two of the most important nesting beaches in Costa Rica with some of the most important nesting populations for Green and Ridley turtles  (Tortuguero and Nancite respectively). With these grants we hope to help almost a million baby turtles to get to the big blue this month alone!

Sea Turtle Conservancy, Tortuguero (Costa Rica) 

Sea Turtle Conservancy has conducted research and monitoring Tortuguero Beach since the mid-1950s. After traveling to Tortuguero to study the migratory and reproductive behavior of sea turtles, world-renowned scientist Dr. Archie Carr found that turtles at Tortuguero were being harvested by the thousands. Unfortunately, after a long recovery that started in the 1970s, this green turtle population is showing the first signs of decline. The reasons are not well understood, but STC is undertaking studies to assess the impacts of predation, illegal harvesting (both at Tortuguero and abroad), impacts from climate change, and artificial lighting.  For a second year, SEE Turtles supported this project with US $5,000 through our Billion Baby Turtles grants, with this grant we are helping to protect around 500,000 baby turtles to get to the big blue!

Reef Guardians, Lankayan Island (Malaysia) 

Since 2004, this project has protected hawksbill and green turtles nesting on Lankayan Island, in Malaysia. Since then, the annual nesting increased gradually from 138 nests in 2004 to 833 2021. Last season they protected 403 nests of greens and 124 nests of hawksbill turtles with a total of 30,763 hatchlings of green turtles and 12,311 of hawksbills. With US $3,000, Billion Baby Turtles supported this upcoming season we expect to help 12,000 baby turtles to get to the ocean. 

A Reef Guardians ranger prepares to bury a nest of eggs in their hatchery on Lankayan Island. Photo credit: Reef Guardians

SOS Nicaragua, Los Brasiles (Nicaragua)

Since 2019, Sos Nicaragua has been independently implementing conservation efforts on the island of Los Brasiles, starting a permanent sea turtle protection programme that extends to all recorded nesting species. They have developed a conservation model in harmony with turtle egg harvesters where raising local awareness, protecting critical sea turtle habitats and generating new sources of financial sustainability for local families in long-term project goals. The average number of nests protected annually usually exceeds 100, mostly nests of olive ridley turtles. Billion Baby Turtles has been supporting this project since 2017; this year with US $2,000 we hope to help at least 1,500 baby turtles. 

Guanacaste Dry Forest Foundation, Nancite Beach (Costa Rica)

Playa Nancite is the second most important nesting site for olive ridley sea turtles in Costa Rica. The arribadas of these turtles generally result in between 20,000 and 116,000 nests each year. Green turtles also nest at Nancite beach, but in much smaller numbers (between 20 and 65 nests per year). The beach is located in a very remote part of this Area of Conservation Guanacaste, then, it is wild and pristine, with the only human traffic consisting of researchers, their assistants, and sometimes, park visitors and students. Turtle biologist Luis Fonseca has been studying the sea turtles of this area for more than a decade. His sea turtle monitoring project is integral to understanding population trends over time and in designing management and conservation actions that promote the recovery of sea turtle populations in this part of Costa Rica. With US $4,000 SEE Turtles supported Luis Fonseca research at this important beach and expected to help around 400,000 baby turtles to get to the sea. 

Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative, Conflict Island Atoll, Milne Bay (Papua New Guinea)

CICI’s ‘Safe Habitats’ program employs Indigenous Conservation Rangers, training them on marine turtle populations, importance, and conservation techniques. The ranger’s presence along the Conflict Islands help to make local communities aware and decrease the number of illegal collectors from surrounding islands. Furthermore, to increase hawksbill hatchling success, they also collect ‘high risk’ eggs that are either below the high tide line or on a beach accessed by illegal collectors and relocate them in their hatchery on the main island of Panasesa. This project started in 2016 with just 4 local rangers but now they have 14, and this year they are seeking to employ a further 4 women to the team. This project protects green and hawksbill turtles, every year they help around 28,000 hatchlings to get to the ocean. For the fourth year in a round, Billion Baby Turtles supported this project with US $8,000.

Green turtle returning to the ocean in Papua New Guinea. Photo credit: Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative

Ashanti Conservation Initiative. Ghana

This is a new project born in 2021 due to the covid-19 outbreak that disrupted the conservation sector in Ghana, especially with income losses and reduced survey/monitoring activities. This project seeks to increase the awareness and empower of local communities and support the rehabilitation of key sea turtle nesting sites in the Western region of Ghana. The project ensures participation of local communities and the information gathered will provide valuable insight into the relative abundance per species, distribution, and diversity of sea turtles. With US $3,000 Billion Baby Turtles supported this to protect olive ridleys, green, and leatherback nesting turtles and save more than 4,000 baby turtles.

Comunidad Protectora de Tortugas de Osa, Osa Peninsula (Costa Rica)

This organization protects primarily olive ridleys and green turtles at 3 beaches (Playa Carate, Pejeperro, and Río Oro). This is one of the most biodiverse areas in Costa Rica. Since 2019 Tortugas de Osa monitoring and research projects offer the opportunity to involve different local actors, volunteers and conservation organizations, to contribute to the protection and monitoring of marine turtles. This is a community-led conservation association that aims to integrate local people in the conservation of the highly biodiverse Osa Peninsula, and more specifically the busy sea turtle nesting beaches of Rio Oro and Carate. They focus on local communities in rural areas where individuals are looking to make positive change away from mining and hunting inside Corcovado National Park. With US $5,000, Billion Baby Turtles supported this project and hopes to help to protect more than 60,000 baby turtles get to the ocean this year.