Preserving El Salvador’s Rare Hawksbill Turtles

Ever since Ani Henriquez witnessed sea turtles nesting on a beach in her home country of El Salvador, she has been dedicated to the conservation of Hawksbill turtles.

Henriquez, as the Executive Director of the non-profit organization Asociacion Procosta, has been leading the efforts in El Salvador to conserve and protect the endangered Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) that inhabit the eastern Pacific.

“Back in early 2007, Hawksbill turtles in El Salvador were believed to be extinct. There were few nesting data that could not be confirmed. However, a research survey was conducted from Mexico to Peru that year to study the nesting activity of Hawksbill turtles,” she explains. Hawksbill turtles are recognized as protected under the Endangered Species Act and are listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

“Over the past 10 years, we have documented over 3000 Hawksbill nests. We have also significantly improved the protection rate, from 0% to 99%, with the assistance of local communities,” Henriquez highlights. This data underscores the vital significance of these nesting areas for the Hawksbill turtle populations in the Eastern Pacific.

Henriquez is also a Fellow of the New England Aquarium’s Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF), which provides support for her conservation work.

Building Community Trust

Henriquez had her Eureka moment on a beach in El Salvador, her home country.

“My idea was sparked when I witnessed a sea turtle nesting for the first time in 1999. Since that day, my passion for sea conservation has grown,” she reflects. Henriquez initially started as a volunteer and eventually became a program coordinator for turtle conservation in El Salvador.

Henriquez emphasizes the importance of unity and community involvement in harnessing the potential of science and conservation in the Global South.

“I believe that scientists, in general, need to come together and distribute efforts to cover all areas of conservation. This is crucial to ensure the protection of wildlife, especially critically endangered species,” she states. “Communities play a pivotal role in conservation programs, allowing for long-term commitment projects that facilitate engagement and trust-building.”

Henriquez notes that one of her significant challenges was gaining the trust and involvement of local communities.

“After 10 years of work, I now consider them my second family. This has been a remarkable opportunity in my career, as communities are the main pillars of conservation. Our program has yielded successful results thanks to their support,” she affirms.

Francklin Barbier, the Sea Turtle and Sea Bird Coordinator at the Haiti Ocean Project in Haiti, is another conservationist working in the Global South. He and his team focus on researching and documenting Haiti’s lesser-known sea turtle populations.

MORE FROM FORBES
Locals In Haiti Help Preserve World’s Hawksbill Turtles
By Andrew Wight

Barbier, who is also a 2022 Fellow of the New England Aquarium’s Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF), acknowledges that the grant’s funding and resources have greatly contributed to the progression of the turtle conservation project.

Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.