Nature Air

Another voice and another threat to Costa Rica’s Leatherback sea turtle has been added to the chorus of opposition to the proposed plan to downgrade Las Baulas National Park to a wildlife refuge. Todd Steiner is the Executive Director of the Turtle Island Restoration Network and he warns about the dire effects of climate change on the sea turtle’s Las Baulas habitat. They have had an ongoing relationship with Costa Rica’s own PRETOMA in  preserving the marine life around the Cocos Island.This twenty year old organization is an international marine conservation association headquartered in California whose 10,000 members work to protect sea turtles and marine biodiversity in the United States and around the world.

In addition to an Op Ed piece that ran in the Tico Times on October 2^nd, which is printed in its entirety below, these stewards of the sea turtle are gathering the support of one hundred key scientists as signatories to an open letter in direct opposition to the government’s plan. They are assisting seeturtles.org with a letter of support from Costa Rica’s eco-tour operators. There will be a forthcoming press release supported by the top NGO’s in the world conservation community. Todd will be sharing these with Nature Blog as soon as they are available.

Climate Change Affects Sea Turtles Nesting Sites

President Oscar Arias spoke eloquently at the United Nations about the need for action on global warming.  

Scientists have warned that, even if we were to immediately stop emitting all greenhouse gases, we cannot reverse some of the consequences we are already witnessing.   Melting polar ice caps and rising seas could spell doom to seaside resorts and homes, as well as one of Costa Rica’s flagship species, the sea turtle.

As sea levels rise, sea turtle nesting beaches will be flooded and the turtles will have to find nesting sites further inland from today’s shoreline. Yet, President Arias has proposed to downgrade Las Baulas National Park to a wildlife refuge, although the park includes one of the most important nesting beaches for the critically endangered Pacific leatherback turtle.

This proposed downgrading would allow new beach houses and condominiums right behind nesting habitat, preventing the leatherbacks from finding higher ground to lay their eggs as sea levels rise.

Hundreds of scientists and more than 30 conservation groups throughout the world, including some of the largest and best known (Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, etc.), have called on the government of Costa Rica to provide maximum protection for this critical nesting site and defeat the down-listing proposal.

Mr. Arias has tried to build on his Nobel Prize “Peace President” legacy, even starting a Peace with Nature Commission. Yet, his encouragement of the downgrading of this national park makes a mockery of his rhetoric to protect nature, and it questions the sincerity of his commitment to address the impacts of global climate change.

We ask President Arias to withdraw his proposal and join with the world that is trying desperately to rescue this magnificent species from extinction.   In so doing, he would help cement his legacy as the “Peace With Nature” president.

Todd Steiner 
Executive Director
Turtle Island Restoration Network
Olema, California, USA

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