By Nicki Wheeler | Volunteer Coordinator
When we think of conservation efforts, our immediate perception is that animals of a certain species need protection. Most of the focus is on those animals that are in someway endangered, or even their habitats.
But there is a fine line between the protection of our natural world, and the socio economic dependencies of communities.
In Pacuare, the community plays an important role in protecting sea turtles. Some community members work in collaboration with LAST as local guides on night patrols, their experience and knowledge of the area being a key factor in locating nesting turtles and protecting their nests. Additionally, several families in the community have understood the importance of sea turtles in the site, and a few have chosen to undertake environmentally responsible economic alternatives, supporting LAST in its conservation activities.
Likewise, the community coexists with LAST volunteers, so that an exchange of experiences, culture and learning about sea turtles occurs. This has also had a positive impact on the perception of local inhabitants towards the use of marine resources, since many have begun to see ecotourism as a sustainable alternative to hunting turtles or extracting their eggs. However, much of the Pacuare community still faces challenges such as a lack of resources and the need for greater support for conservation projects in the area, such as LAST
We cant forget also the staff that make up the team of "on the ground" researchers. Our onsitre biologist, the volunteer coordinator, the boat captains, and of course our Research Assistants.
The role of Research Assistant is vital for the day to day running of the project. Each assistant is specially trained to take on the responsability of leading and training short term volunteers, supervising the hatchery, maintaining and reviewing equipment and materials, updating databases and assisting with our reports. Without them, the majority of whom are students, we would not be able to continue.
The continued search for funding sources is vital in order to continue recruiting the next generation of scientists and conservationists, and for the protection of sea turtles in this town.
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By Jonathan Contreras | Field Biologist Pacuare Research Station
By Jonathan Contreras | Field Biologist Pacuare Research Station
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