ABOUT US
WHERE WE WORK
OUR STRATEGIES
OUR SPECIES RESULTS
IMPACT IN CONSERVATION
ANCESTRAL TIDES
OUR NEXT GOALS
OUR TEAM
Dear friends:
Tortugas Preciosas de Osa, an Amazon Conservation Team® initiative, was started in 2019 with the purpose of contributing to the conservation of sea turtles that nest and occur in the waters of the Osa Peninsula, and to the generation of environmental awareness not only in local communities, but also at a national and international level.
These efforts have in turn generated the creation of the first regional initiative that includes the conservation of sea turtles hand in hand with traditional indigenous knowledge in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia, through the initiative "Ancestral Tides" , which has the mission to continue making a substantial impact on the conservation of these key species for both marine and terrestrial ecosystems, while at the same time impacting our daily lives.
2022 was a record year for Hawksbill turtle nesting, as we were able to record and protect 67 nests of the most threatened sea turtle in the Eastern Pacific, this being the highest number ever recorded for nesting sites in the Pacific of Costa Rica This makes it the most important nesting site on the Pacific coast of the country, as well as the fifth most important nesting place on the entire Pacific coast of the continent.
We face a great challenge ahead: to continue contributing to the conservation of these magnificent species hand in hand with local communities, to achieve not only a improvement in the conditions of sea turtle nesting sites, but also in the livelihoods and the wellbeing of the inhabitants of Osa, while having an impact at the national and international level However, we are confident that together, we will be able to achieve it
We feel deeply grateful to all our friends, colleagues and collaborators for making this possible.
Thank you for conserving the sea turtles of the Osa Peninsula with us!
Sincerely,
TORTUGAS PRECIOSAS DE OSA TEAM
To r t u g a s P r e c i o s a s d e O s a p a r t n e r s w i t h l o c a l
c o m m u n i t i e s , r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t i o n s
a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o p r o t e c t a n d
c o n s e r v e t h e s p e c i e s o f s e a t u r t l e s t h a t o c c u r i n
t h e O s a P e n i n s u l a , a n d t h e i r e c o l o g i c a l a n d
c u l t u r a l v a l u e .
We s e e l o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s o f t h e O s a Pe n i n s u l a c o -
e x i s t i n g i n h a r m o n i o u s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h s e a t u r t l e s ,
w h e r e b o t h p a r t i e s c a n t h r i v e a n d c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e
w e l l b e i n g o f t h e a r e a , t h e c o u n t r y a n d t h e w o r l d .
In 2019, we began working in Playa Preciosa, the longest sandy beach in Costa Rica's Golfo Dulce, spanning six kilometers of protection and biological monitoring.
In 2020, we covered four more beaches adjacent to Preciosa. By 2021, we were working on a total of nine beaches, including four in the delta of the Térraba River in the Térraba-Sierpe Wetland, an area of great importance for the ecology of the Hawksbill turtle.
In 2022, we covered more than 50 km of important beaches for the nesting, feeding, reproduction and conservation of the species of sea turtles of the Osa Peninsula.
Study sites of Tortugas Preciosas de Osa in the Osa Peninsula
PRECIOSA BEACH
ZAPOTE, COLORADA & TAMALES BEACH
TERRABA-SIERPE WETLAND SYSTEM
Study sites of Tortugas Preciosas
Tortugas Preciosas de Osa is dedicated to the biological monitoring of the populations of sea turtles that nest in the Osa Peninsula, and to the conservation of their nesting sites, which entails diminishing the human impact on their populations and contributing to the awareness of the importance of these species for the well-being of the local communities.
Morning & Night Patrols
Recording of nesting activity per species and beach Relocation of at-risk nests to our hatchery
Tagging of nesting females. Health assessment of nesting females
Sea Turtle Hatchery
At-risk nests complete their development here. They are protected against poachers and predation (92% hatching success). Provided with sun and shade areas for equal distribution of sexes
Hatchling Release
Release of hatchlings from our hatchery with volunteers and local and international visitors in scheduled events
Local primary and high school students as well as national and international visitors come and learn actively about conservation of sea turtles
Collection, germination and planting of native species of trees to restore sea turtle nesting sites degraded by anthropogenic activities
Campaigns to remove plastics and debris from the beaches of the Peninsula in collaboration with locals, volunteers and conservation organizations
Partnerships & Collaboration
Collaboration agreements with regional and international initiatives to join efforts for the conservation of sea turtles in our area of work.
We achieve these goals by collaborating with local people, community groups, and visitors who help us conduct sea turtle patrols, deter poachers, generate ecological information, and maintain our hatchery.
Our mission is to integrate research into and protection of sea turtles, while collaborating with and providing education to local communities, ultimately promoting the conservation of these critically endangered marine species.
HAWKSBILL
Eretmochelys imbricata
One of the most threatened sea turtle species in the world. Historically, it has been hunted for the use of its shell in the creation of jewelry It is currently listed as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN In the Osa Peninsula, its main threats are accidental fishing and poaching of nests for human consumption or sale
Chelonia mydas
It is the second most threatened species of sea turtle in Costa Rica Historically, the poaching of adults and eggs for human consumption has decimated their populations. It is currently listed as "Endangered" by the IUCN In the Osa Peninsula, its main threat continues to be the poaching of nests for consumption or sale.
Lepidochelys olivacea
It is the least threatened species of sea turtle Historically, human consumption of adult individuals and eggs has decreased its populations It is currently listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN.
In the Osa Peninsula, the main threat to its populations continues to be poaching of eggs for human consumption and predation of nests by feral dogs, raccoons and coatis.
Following are the results of our 2022 work year, enabled by collaboration with local communities, community groups, and visitors who help us conduct sea turtle patrols, deter threats, generate ecological information, and maintain our sea turtle hatchery.
Sea turtle nests recorded and protected
67
769 Hawksbill Olive ridley
852 16 Green
In September 2022, the Tortugas Preciosas team tagged a nesting female Hawksbill for the first time and fitted her with a GPS satellite transmitter. This is the first hawksbill turtle tagged and monitored in the Osa Peninsula with this technology, with the aim of obtaining important information on their movements, routes and habitat use across their distribution.
Decrease of 95% in wild nest predation:
2018 (43.48%)
2019 (28.99%)
2020 (19.32%)
2021 (5.8%)
2022 (2.42%)
92% Hatching success in our hatcheries
720
2,500 Trees of native species planted in degraded nesting sites Locals involved in environmental and conservation activities
10 Environmental Education activities
8 Conservation activities
"Ancestral Tides" is an initiative to protect coastal ecosystems and sea turtles by connecting indigenous-led conservation efforts and revitalizing associated indigenous knowledge. For more than 25 years, the Amazon Conservation Team has partnered with the indigenous peoples of the Amazon to co-create innovative and holistic conservation projects.
During this time, we have also worked selectively by invitation with indigenous peoples outside of the Amazon. In the last two years, through natural geographic expansion and direct requests from indigenous communities in Latin America to jointly protect sea turtle
In July 2022, representatives of the Comcaac (Mexico), Emberá (Panama), Kuna (Panama), Kogui (Colombia), Kamëntsá (Colombia) and Kofán (Colombia) peoples met in the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, together with Tortugas Preciosas de Osa and the Amazon Conservation Team, for the creation and launch of the regional initiative "Ancestral Tides".
Ancestral Tides combines traditional indigenous knowledge, ancestral practices, biological monitoring, and conservation actions for sea turtle species and the ecosystems on which they depend, both marine and terrestrial.
this meeting, a general sation was held en the representatives a turtle conservation ts from the different included in the ve. Thus, the ption of sea turtles and importance in the iew of each indigenous was documented.
e same time, the unities and difficulties ated with the work and vation of these s in relation to each unity were identified.
This project seeks to mitigate this situation, making use of two perceptions of modern society regarding sea turtles—that they are charismatic, and that they are a flagship species—through which conservation actions can be reinforced and conservation processes initiated in communities can be improved, by means of the
Representatives of the communities involved in Ancestral Tides in Preciosa beach
importance at the local, national and international level, to promote the conservation of their ecosystems, and to improve the livelihoods of the communities the Amazon organizations a larger and s
Following you
Increase the ecological knowledge regarding the Hawksbill turtle in the Osa Peninsula by tagging four more individuals with GPS transmitters.
Continue working on our regional initiative for the conservation of sea turtles and their ecological and cultural value that embraces Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia.
Continue with the ecological restoration of degraded nesting sites, in part by planting 5,000 trees of native species in 2023.
Improve the current nesting sites of sea turtles of the Osa Peninsula through beach cleanups and anti-predation strategies.
Generation of a baseline for the ecological relationship between the Hawksbill turtle and wetland ecosystems and mangroves.
Develop a stronger Environmental Education program for locals, nationals and international visitors.
Promote scientific research by national and international students related to the biology and conservation of sea turtles.
VILLALOBOS
Program DirectorSpecialist in management of protected areas, agroforestry and ecosystem restoration. He has developed his experience over more than twenty years working with communities, farmers, and indigenous peoples.
JUAN CARLOS CRUZ Manager, Science & Conservation
Tropical biologist, specialist in Conservation and Wildlife
Management with more than 12 years of experience in research and conservation of terrestrial mammals, predator-prey ecology, and population dynamics
PASCAL THOMAS
Program Support
Developer of ecological tourism projects. A promoter of wildlife conservation, he has contributed to various projects in the Osa Peninsula for eight years, including efforts involving sea turtles and community development
ADONIS VARGAS ARAYA
Conservation Field Technician
A native of Puerto Jiménez in the Osa Peninsula, he has contributed to the active conservation of sea turtles with Tortugas Preciosas de Osa for two years. He also has served as a naturalist guide in Osa with an emphasis on the conservation of threatened species
MAXIMILIANO PONCE AGUILAR
Conservation Field Technician
A native of the Osa Peninsula and a fervent promoter of conservation, he has served for over nine years as a naturalist guide in different areas of Costa Rica, including Corcovado National Park
IVANNIA MEJIA
Programs Support
Forest Engineer She has participated in conservation and human development projects for more than 15 years in Costa Rica, including projects for payment for environmental services and sustainable production of non-timber forest products.
TONY CHAVARRIA VILLAGRA
Conservation Field Technician
A native of the Osa Peninsula, he has contributed to the active conservation of sea turtles with Tortugas Preciosas de Osa for a year. He has also served as a naturalist on the Osa with an emphasis on the conservation of threatened species
ALBIN ORTIZ GARCIA
Conservation Field Technician
Originally from Puerto Jiménez on the Osa Peninsula, he has contributed to the active conservation of sea turtles with Tortugas Preciosas de Osa for a year. He is active in disseminating information about our program and Environmental Education
BAYRON VEGA CESPEDES
Conservation Field Technician
A local naturalist and conservationist, he has contributed to the active conservation of sea turtles with Tortugas Preciosas de Osa for a year He also works in the dissemination of information about our program and Environmental Education.
ANDRES JARA TORRES
Environmental Education Coordinator
A Costa Rican naturalist and conservationist, he has contributed to sea turtle conservation projects in Guanacaste for more than six years. He coordinates the Environmental Education activities of our initiative and the participation of volunteers.
Contact: Juan Carlos Cruz carloscruz@idehs.org
www.tortugaspreciosas.org
