Sea Turtle Conservation Camp Goals
The most important Camp goal is to increase the number of nests harvested each year while maintaining a high rate of incubation, thereby helping to replenish the sea turtle population.
To accomplish this goal the Turtle Camp needs funds for food and operating provisions for two to three full time Camp workers; day-to-day expenses, repairs and maintenance; and fuel and parts for the ATV’s patrolling the beach. There is always a dire need of a new ATV four-wheeler to replace another unit that has seen many nights of hard service and corrosion from constant exposure to the salt water environment. ATV’s have a relatively short life span due to salt-water conditions and the number of hours of use each nesting season.
Positive Conservation Effort Results
As shown by results over the last 11 years, the Turtle Camp is having a positive influence on the sea turtle population, and with your help the results can get even better.
Please note that there are nesting cycles which seem to span several years and therefore results typically rise over a period of years and not necessarily annually; also, results can be affected by the funding available in certain years.
The overall rate of incubation for the 11 year period from 1995 to 2005 is 78% !!
Long Range Goal
Our long-range goal is to have the Camp continually staffed year-round. While sea turtle conservation is currently the principal concern, having a full staff year round would allow the Camp to work on added preservation projects such as protection of waterfowl and other inhabitants of the adjacent mangrove-filled estuary during the months when turtles are not nesting. We would like to see the Camp become a self-sustaining center for wildlife conservation, education and investigation, particularly regarding the marine turtle; with adequate fiscal and human resources to protect the surrounding natural resources via a network of volunteer, educational, and ecotourism programs.
Other Camp Goals
Other Camp goals include to enhance the technical sea turtle programs. To this end it need funds for: nest storage and monitoring equipment for the incubation areas; tagging equipment; and sponsorship of several volunteers to work in the Camp who can not pay their own costs. The University of Guadalajara and “Selva Negra” (a non-profit organization sponsored in part by the singing group “Mana”) have both been helping with volunteers and “Selva Negra” also assists with some funding, food and supplies.
Reaching the Goals
To reach these goals the Camp seeks volunteers, and donations from individuals, companies, and foundations via the world wide web, mailings, and personal networking.
Please help by becoming a volunteer or by making Donations to provision the Camp, sponsor a volunteer, or allow the Camp to purchase needed equipment.