The final part of the trip was San Juan del Sur on the Pacific coast, a launching off point for coast further south towards Costa Rica to see the Paso Pacifico and SEE Turtles project that World Nomads is supporting with your micro-donations. It is a real treat to see first-hand the needs and communities that Footprint Network funding helps.
This specific project centers on Nicaragua's Pacific slope,
a globally important nesting ground for four species of endangered sea turtle (Leatherback, Hawskbill, Green, and Olive Ridley) critically threatened by illegal egg poaching and destructive fishing practices (and unbridled tourism) that have depleted these populations to the edge of extinction.
Footprints funding will help Paso Pacifico in employing locals to patrol nesting beaches (some of whom are former egg poachers), improving egg hatcheries managed by the women of El Ostional, and supporting the development of local ecotourism in 6 small rural villages along this stretch of coast.
Liza, who overseas the Paso Pacifico’s turtle conservation project, and Salvador, a Community Coordinator, met me in San Juan and we drove over 25 kilometres of jungle and dirt roads through stunning country to El Ostional and the several beaches where the project is focused. Our stop in La Flor coincided with a community picnic where the local schoolchildren were going to release hatchling turtles not even six hours old, into the water.
Like puppies with disproportionately sized paws, these little guys had adorably large flippers that begged the question "How could you not want to protect them?". In El Ostional I met the women who manage the hatchery and went by boat to see the nesting beaches along many kilometers of coastline that just eight rangers have the herculean task of protecting. I also passed through Hermosa Surf Camp where I spoke with a ranger about his challenges against poachers and tourists. The camp owner, a former mayor of the local town after years of Liza building a rapport, fully supports the conservation efforts and pays a ranger's salary and educates staff and surfers on the fragility of that beach's ecosystem.
