The project s goals are to empower communities to enhance and sustain hawksbill nesting productivity at jiquilisco BAY, LOS cbanos and punta amapala: through concerted actions, they will strive to…

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Headquarters Region 9 awarded a $192,164 Project Grant through the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.645) to Asociacion Procosta, a non-profit organization in El Salvador. The project aims to empower local communities to enhance and sustain hawksbill sea turtle nesting productivity at three key sites in El Salvador: Jiquilisco Bay, Los Cbanos, and Punta Amapala. Key activities include safeguarding over 600 hawksbill nests, facilitating the successful production of more than 40,500 hatchlings, monitoring 75 new nesting females, and empowering local communities to actively engage in nest protection. The project also seeks to bolster the hawksbill ecotourism program and build community leadership to support ongoing conservation efforts. The 3-year project period runs from August 1, 2024 to July 30, 2027.

The project s goals are to empower communities to enhance and sustain hawksbill nesting productivity at jiquilisco BAY, LOS cbanos and punta amapala: through concerted actions, they will strive to increase and maintain the productivity of the three main hawksbill nesting sites in EL salvador: jiquilisco BAY, LOS cbanos and punta amapala. Our efforts will include safeguarding over 600 hawksbill nests and facilitating the successful production of more than 40,500 hatchlings. Additionally, we will continue monitoring nesting females including the identification and measurement of 75 new individuals, while also empowering local communities to actively engage in nest protection activities. This involvement aims to build local capacity to identify more potential in situ protected areas. Furthermore, we seek to bolster the hawksbill ecotourism program, fostering sustainable tourism practices and building community leaders to support conservation efforts.