Sea Turtle Conservation

   Tierralegre, in collaboration with DEDSZC, is spearheading a model permaculture project at La Gloria sea turtle research station. La Gloria is located approximately two hours south of Puerto Vallarta, accessable from the town of Pino Suarez. It is a vital sea turtle conservation nexus on the coast of Jalisco, in terms of collecting and protecting thousands of eggs from poachers and predators each year.

La Gloria sea turtle research station was founded in 1985 by DEDSZC to study and protect marine sea turtles. Of the seven species of sea turtles in the world, four are found along Mexico´s Costalegre: the Leatherback (Demochelys coriacea), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbriatica), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea),  and Black (Chelonia agassizi). All are endangered.

The Leatherback and Hawksbill are on the verge of extinction. The most common species on the Costalegre is the Olive Ridley.

Poaching sea turtle eggs is rampant in Mexico and other parts of the world. The creation of marine turtle conservation and research stations, like La Gloria, is one mitigating solution to the crisis and has resulted in stabilizing populations. In 2006 La Gloria was responsible for saving 3,000 nests, each with approximately 40 eggs.

Volunteers and students patrol the beach by foot and four-wheeler, rescuing turtle eggs before poachers can get to them—work that

occurs in the late evening—in addition to assisting with critical research

As well, they are involved in releasing hatchlings close to the tide line, during the evening when they are safer from predators, thus helping to boost their chances for survival. 

Some of the designs to be implemented at La Gloria are the construction of a new volunteer and student center with a rainwater catchment system, solar power, solar hot water systems, composting toilets, and natural grey water treatment. Implementation began January 2008, and is expected to be completed by March 2009 depending on available funding.

The philosophy behind the La Gloria project is to augment the consciousness and infrastructure of an already-successful and proven conservation program. Sea turtle research stations like La Gloria are ideal places to implement permaculture designs because they need to be selfsufficient due to their geographical locations. As well, it is critical that, as bastions of conservation, they set the example of environmentally-responsible, lowimpact, design. Finally, they play a crucial role in educating the flow of volunteers and students visiting the station.