Maria Carolina Monterrosa Salinas

Proyecto Help Colombia – Community Based Sea Turtle Conservation Program in the Colombian Caribbean

First hatchlings protected by their ancient predators, May 2011.

First nest protected during 2011 season.

Last Hatchling release 2011.

We hope to strategically organize our program such that the community feels the advantages of being involved in this conservation program and to build strong productive units.
During 2010, we identified the handicrafts with recycled paper like one interesting activity for women and girls. In 2011, we will build on and improve those techniques and develop the sale of the products, generating a sustainable program.

With improvement of the techniques we will formally create the “Help Colombia Paper office” that will offer hand made recycled-paper products related to turtles that sponsor community development and support sea turtle conservation.

We will add to and improve on the environmental program and the “turtle afternoon” will become the starting place for the “little turtle guides.” With this program we want to motivate the participating children to be the ones who go with the students and tourists as guides to show the beach and the fishermen and their activities. Our program will support these children with educational necessities like school supplies.

During the firsts six months of 2011, the Foundation team trained the fishermen in nesting surveys and nests protection in a way that allow to have confidence in the conservation measurement we are taking in the beach and the quality of the obtained data. With the project, we will work strengthening the fishing gear improvement strategy initiated during 2010, looking for sustainability in their principal activity and long-term impact.

The results of the nesting season 2011 (March-September) are being amazing. The fishermen working with the project protected the 100% of Dermochelys coriacea nests, releasing the first hatchlings born under the protection of their ancient predators. We are still patrolling the beaches, waiting for Caretta caretta and Eretmochelys imbricata females.

This year will be very important for developing and understanding the social and conservation sustainability possibilities for the project.

Read about the previous work with Proyecto Help Colombia http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/projects/maria_carolina_monterrosa... or for more information contact monterrosac@gmail.com or visit www.colombiamarina.org