Media Release (June 25, 2008) The Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Conservation (COTERC) recently received $30,000 from the Donner Canadian Foundation to support critical efforts to study and protect endangered marine turtles at an important nesting beach on the northern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Based in Pickering, Ontario, COTERC has been advancing conservation efforts since its founding in 1991 as a registered Canadian charity and the creation of the Caño Palma Biological Station in the lowland rainforest of Costa Rica. When station biologists began studying nesting marine turtle abundance on this unprotected and poorly understood beach, they found turtles in greater numbers than expected. Unfortunately, biologists and volunteers also recorded turtle mortality and high rates of poaching coincident with rapid coastal development.

Of the seven species of marine turtles found in the world, the leatherback, green, hawksbill and loggerhead come ashore to nest on this beach. Virtually unchanged since the time of the dinosaur, the leatherback is the largest living reptile in the world. Leatherbacks nesting at this beach migrate throughout the Atlantic Ocean; spending much of their time in Canadian waters before returning to nest years later. Familiar to some Canadians, from postage stamps illustrating leatherback turtles as species at risk under Canada's new Species at Risk Act, it is also listed as critically endangered globally by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Critical conservation concerns on this nesting beach are related to human development and poaching of adult females and their freshly laid eggs. After years of spending time maturing in the Atlantic, many turtles come ashore to nest, only to meet their demise at the hands of poachers. Fisheries by catch by coastal fisheries plus international long line fisheries have been identified as sources of turtle mortality.

With the generous donation from the Donner Canadian Foundation, COTERC will study these majestic creatures in greater detail through coordinated beach monitoring, turtle tagging, community-based conservation outreach and education projects, partnership building and information sharing with the conservation community.

Excitement is in the air at Caño Palma Biological Station. COTERC partners and the many international volunteers who have worked so hard on the Marine Turtle and Community Conservation Program over the years have reason to celebrate.

The donation comes on the heels of a $2000 grant from Turtle Beach Lodge, a local business that recognizes the intrinsic natural heritage value of marine turtles. “Our relationship with local lodges is positive”, reports station manager, Jonathan Willans. He goes on to say that, “It also demonstrates how businesses can support critical conservation efforts.”

COTERC’s years of work have greatly improved our understanding of the tropical rainforest biodiversity, and with continued support from sponsors, COTERC’s staff, volunteers and partners are confident that turtle poaching will continue to decrease on this beach.

It is the mission of COTERC to provide leadership in education, research, conservation, and the educated use of natural resources in the tropics. For more information on COTERC and its conservation efforts and volunteer programs contact June Enright, at info@coterc.org, or visit our website (http://www.coterc.org).