 ASOCIACION SALVEMOS LAS TORTUGAS DE PARISMINA (ASTOP) - COSTA RICA Every year, Leatherback, Green and Hawksbill turtles come to Barra de Parismina, Costa Rica, to lay their eggs on Parismina beach from March to October. Poachers steal the turtles and their eggs to sell on the black market for profit. Although this practice is illegal in Costa Rica, as it contributes to the depletion of the endangered sea turtle populations, it is hard to enforce without the help of the local community’s participation. In April of 2001, a handful of local residents, along with the Costa Rican Coast Guard initiated Asociacion Salvemos las Tortugas de Parismina, or Save the Turtles of Parismina (ASTOP). This community-based, non profit, conservation organization is dedicated to protecting sea turtles and their eggs from poaching, while initiating sustainable development and providing a viable alternative economy to poaching in the small Caribbean community of Parismina. Prior to the formation of ASTOP, 98% of the Green turtles were killed for their meat and 98% of all three species of turtles?nests were poached on Parismina beach. Since the project started, poaching has decreased to 38%. In addition to saving 10,000 neonates annually, ASTOP economically supports approximately one third of the village. Because ASTOP is a true grassroots project, we have also been successful at redefining the cultural importance of turtle conservation. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the generous help of our volunteers. ASTOP welcomes individual and group volunteers from all over the world that want would like to help us protect sea turtles, and support our community. As a volunteer, you will work alongside our local turtle guides. On the nightly patrols, you will guard nesting turtles, learn to identify turtle tracks, count the number of eggs, record tag numbers and assist with relocating eggs. Day tasks include monitoring the hatchery, cleaning the beach of debris, safeguard the hatchlings on their first journey to the ocean, and participating in nest exhumations. See HERE for special group packages. Interested volunteers may email the turtle association at parisminaturtles@gmail.com. |
E S P A ?O L
 
|
