SEA TURTLE
Conservation & Women Empowerment
6 of 7 species of sea turtles are endangered or at risk of becoming endangered!
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It is currently estimated that only 1 in 10,000 baby sea turtles will make it to adulthood. The natural obstacles faced by young and adult sea turtles are staggering, but it is the increasing threats caused by humans that are driving them to extinction.
At the FCOLC we strive to improve the survival rate of these beautiful and mysterious marine animals. So far, we’ve achieved some BIG milestones. Fabien initially established the sea turtle restoration program in El Salvador in 2010, and then launched an expanded program in Nicaragua in 2019 to include women empowerment.
Our mission is to continue to protect sea turtles while also educating and training the women and youth in the local communities to practice marine conservation and learn new skills such as citizen science, ocean conservation, and project management.
You can make a difference by helping to reduce the declining sea turtle population and empower women in local communities in Nicaragua!
Your gift helps protect and safeguard nests as well as support training for the local women and students as they monitor and manage their sea turtle conservation program and educational outreach efforts. Through support and facilitation with the local university, the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua at León (UNAN- León), the indigenous community, and local community members, we have been able to affect change and bring about more awareness for protecting our ocean and marine life.
Sea Turtles from the Start
In 2010, Fabien began sea turtle conservation in El Salvador, collaborating with VIVAZUL (Live Blue), an El Salvadorian organization dedicated to sea turtles. He focused his efforts on protecting sea turtle populations with the communities in El Salvador.
Working with VIVAZUL, Fabien helped establish hatcheries for eggs rescued from poachers and developed alternative sources of income for the local community. In addition, Fabien contributed to
outreach and educational programs to help build an understanding of the plight of sea turtles and their importance to humans and the ocean.
The El Salvador program saved over 750,000 eggs from the illegal market and released over 680,000 hatchlings into the ocean.
Sea Turtles In Nicaragua
The Nicaragua Sea Turtle and Women Empowerment Program supports women from the local community with acquiring new skills and knowledge to build, maintain, and operate sea turtle hatcheries, nesting beach monitoring, and educational programming to conduct sea turtle research, conservation, and community outreach.
The FCOLC began collaborating to conserve and protect sea turtles on the northwestern Pacific coast of Nicaragua in 2019. Efforts started with a partnership with the local university, indigenous communities, students, and many local community members. The project site, Isla Juan Venado Nature Reserve, has four species of nesting sea turtles: eastern Pacific hawksbill, eastern Pacific green, leatherback, and olive Ridley. The popularity of our work in Las Penitas has grown and attracted more women, students, and local community members to the program.
Empowering Women
& Impacting the Environment
In Nicaragua, women face gender inequality. Typically, men would manage operations of egg collection on the beach and protect hatchlings in the nursery. The Partnership has achieved an important change in the role women play in the conservation of sea turtles. With the establishment of this female-led program, tasks are handled by the women and youth volunteers involved in environmental education programs. The FCOLC has been able to help facilitate independence for the women participating in the program and currently provides training and financial support for those managing the project.
The women participating in the program also gain valuable experience in conservation, business, and management skills. They learn the protocols needed for the identification, tagging, weighing of nesting females and egg relocation into hatcheries for safe incubation and monitoring and releases of baby sea turtles.
Community Involvment
In Nicaragua, the FCOLC, along with the UNAN-León, have joined forces to conduct ongoing research projects and environmental community education programs that aim to protect and conserve the sea turtle populations. By collaborating with nearly 500 students, faculty, and UNAN administrators, we have been able to identify different types of congenital malformations in hatchlings. The program has provided university students with the hands-on experience needed to pursue various careers in biology, veterinary, pharmacy, and medicine. Student involvement not only benefits the community through environmental education and outreach to the community but also results in valuable sea turtle scientific data and discoveries in this part of the eastern Pacific.
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In addition, we work alongside local community members and the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) whose role is to plan and co-manage the Isla Juan Venado Nature Reserve.
UNAN-León has benefitted from the FCOLC partnership in many ways…(FCOLC) provided opportunities to empower women in the university and the local community. Participants have gained knowledge in environmental science, sea turtle conservation, and collaborative programming. The hands-on learning reinforces concepts taught in classrooms and builds confidence…
I have seen youth inspired to pursue science degrees and careers through mentorship and guidance that would not have been possible without the support from the FCOLC. I look forward to continuing to advance research on the effects of climate change and the protection of sea turtles in Pacific Nicaragua and strengthening conservation and education campaigns. UNAN-León is thankful for the partnership.
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-Oscar González-Quiroz Ph.D.
Ecology, Ecosystem Restoration and Conservation
Biology Department, UNAN-León
As of August 2019, the program has inspired over 480+ student volunteers and engaged with over 4500 community members. 34 local women are participating in the Sea Turtle program with numbers expected to grow to more than 55 in the 2022-23 nesting season.
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To date, the women and youth in the program have released over 55,000 baby sea turtles back to the ocean with numbers expected to increase.