Conservación

Our Ayampe Reserve and Facts About the Sea Turtles we Protect

03/04/2023

Meet the people from the Ancestral Community Las Tunas in our Ayampe reserve and the four species of sea turtles that nest there.

Jocotoco created its Ayampe reserve in collaboration with the Ancestral Community "Las Tunas" in 2012 to protect the dry tropical forest where two species of endangered birds inhabit. Byron Delgado, a community member and administrator of the reserve, is passionate about conservation. He had the initiative to care for the sea turtle species that nest on the beach in front of the community lands. "We have learned that sea turtles are at risk. That's why our community protects their breeding grounds on our beaches. By safeguarding turtle eggs, we have developed sustainable tourism and raised awareness about the importance of conservation among locals and visitors". Byron says.

Thanks to his dedication, together with that from René Zambrano, the reserve's park guard, Jocotoco started projects to monitor the reproduction of the sea turtle, from laying, during incubation, until hatching to ensure individuals find a safe path toward the sea. The beaches nearby our Ayampe Reserve are critical sites for the reproduction of four species of sea turtles: Olive Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), and Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Marine turtles offer key ecosystem services, so permanent monitoring is crucial to maintain healthy populations. Sand beaches do not hold nutrients well, but sea turtle eggs are a key source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that transfer to the sand ecosystem after laying.

The Green sea turtle is an herbivore that feeds on seagrass, an essential ocean carbon sink, and oxygen provider that has to be constantly cut to remain healthy. Turtles regulate nutrient supply to seagrass roots and prevent grass overpopulation which may obstruct ocean currents or bring on conditions for harmful microorganisms to multiply.

The Olive and Leatherback turtles feed mainly on jellyfish which in turn eat fish eggs and larvae. These turtles help maintain fish populations in equilibrium. Without them, there would not be fish in the sea.

The Hawksbill Sea Turtles preferred food is sea sponges. Without them, the fast-growing sponges would colonize marine areas where slow-growing coral reefs should thrive. By controlling the sponges' population, these turtles prevent corals from suffocating causing continual damage to reefs.

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