Leatherback turtle season begins in the Dominican Republic
The turtle nesting season runs from March to September each year
The Dominican Republic officially launched the nesting season for the leatherback sea turtle, the world’s largest and most endangered sea turtle, the Ministry of Environment announced Tuesday.
The institution stated that the launch took place at Limón Beach, in the municipality of Miches, El Seibo province. The turtle nesting season runs from March to September each year.
The Deputy Minister of Protected Areas and Biodiversity, Federico Franco, highlighted that the initiative of the governing body of the environment also seeks to serve as a link between the actors who are in the same turtle conservation work on the beaches of Miches and the Caribbean region.
At the event, Costa Rican biologist Claudio Quesada gave a talk on the role of the State, civil society and private investment in the conservation of sea turtles, based on his experiences leading the Pacuare Reserve, a natural laboratory for conserving leatherback turtles in Costa Rica that serves as an open classroom for high school and university students on ecological issues.
Meanwhile, Yonattan Mercado, administrator of Protected Areas of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, pointed out during the launch that the Miches area is an important nesting site for leatherback sea turtles, the largest species of sea turtle and one that is in danger of extinction worldwide.
At the event, representatives of private companies in the area confirmed their commitment to sustainable tourism and the protection of biodiversity, and offered updates on the conservation initiatives that will be carried out during this season.
“Sea turtles are a vital component of marine ecosystems and play an important role in the balance of our oceans. Unfortunately, many species of sea turtles face threats to their survival, such as habitat loss, climate change, and poaching,” said Helena Sáenz, Senior Manager of Communications & Shared Value at CEPM.
Saenz said the program will include monitoring and protecting turtle nests, as well as community awareness and education components and scientific research.
For his part, Gustavo Román, executive director of Promiches, highlighted that “the presence of the leatherback turtle on Esmeralda beach and Miches is an indicator of the health of the coastal system.”
“For Promiches, a commitment we have made since our creation in 2020 is to guarantee the conditions to ensure the nesting of turtles, achieving a correlation between the presence of this species in the area and the development of the tourist offer, promoting, through the development process, the work of conservation,” Román stated.