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The workshop was intended to reach out to landowners, Hotel staff and developers, to discuss the importance of the sea turtle nesting sites in the area, and the challenges faced in protecting them.

The workshop was sponsored by Paso Pacifico, a non-profit organization whose mission is to restore and conserve the natural ecosystems along Central America’s Pacific slope, thereby ensuring the connectivity and function of wildlife habitat. Other workshop sponsors included the Fundación A. Jean Brugger, Pelican Eyes…Piedras y Olas, Galería del Sur, Fauna and Flora International, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the United States Forest Service.

The Nicaraguan Pacific Coast is internationally recognized for its importance to the conservation of sea turtles. Four out of seven species of marine turtles in the world nest on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. However, turtle populations in Nicaragua have suffered a dramatic collapse in the last decade.

Dr. Sarah Otterstrom, Executive Director of Paso Pacifico, gave the workshop participants an introduction about Paso Pacifico’s work in the area. Following Dr. Otterstrom, Mr. Eduardo Holmann, Mayor of San Juan del Sur, recognized the challenges faced by the municipal government in regards to turtle protection and conservation, emphasizing the great responsibility faced by the municipality for the sustainable conservation of two major and unique turtle nesting sites within the municipality’s boundaries.

Mayor Holmann reiterated the municipal government’s commitment to work in coordination with Paso Pacifico and the local community to better protect sea turtles. He also stressed the need to identify viable economic opportunities for people to move away from poaching sea turtle eggs as an income generating activity.

Dr. Otterstrom followed with a brief but comprehensive presentation about sea turtle conservation. She started by pointing out that Nicaragua and specifically the San Juan del Sur coastal area, is a globally important sea turtle nesting site, and has the potential to become a premier global destination for turtle observation.

Dr. Otterstrom went on to present data on the status of the world’s sea turtles, and the hazards preventing the recovery of sea turtle populations. She added that Nicaragua is a priority world site for sea turtles, and stated that it presents all the required conditions for sea turtle nesting, such as long and flat beaches, low illumination, and migratory route. She also explained that Paso Pacifico’s initiatives to prevent the extinction of sea turtles and the degradation of its habitats are focused on conservation strategies to change human behaviors. Dr. Otterstrom stated that by educating the population, directly protecting nesting sites, establishing new illumination standards, and protecting the beaches, the San Juan del Sur coastal area could turn into a “global hotspot of turtles”, which would also result into viable income generating opportunities for the local population.

Visit: http://www.pasopacifico.org

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