This document summarizes a sea turtle conservation program in El Salvador run by FUNZEL. The program has 5 areas: 1) Managing sea turtle hatcheries for conservation and income. 2) Establishing financing mechanisms. 3) Supporting local community development. 4) Promoting public awareness. 5) Developing research. Over 2 million olive ridley and tens of thousands of other sea turtle hatchlings have been released. The program works with over 1,300 volunteers and has trained over 300 people in alternative livelihoods to reduce egg poaching. Public awareness campaigns have reduced sea turtle egg consumption from 90% to only 4% of Salvadorans. Research is helping understand sea turtle strandings and mortality in El Salv

1. Sea Turtle Conservation and Improvement of
Coastal Communities Livelihoods Program in
El Salvador

2. Background

3. El Salvador is a small country located in Central
America
• Smallest country
• Densely populated
• Beautiful beaches

4. Sea turtles in
El Salvador

5. Olive Ridley turtle hatchling release.

6. Hawksbill

7. Green turtle hatchling release.

8. Leatherback turtle hatchlings coming out of their
nest.

9. Sea turtles
Conservation Program

10. Main objective:
• To strengthen and consolidate an integrated program for sea turtle
conservation management.
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Objectives

11. 5 PROGRAM AREAS:
• MANAGE SEA TURTLE HATCHERIES AS A CONSERVATION AND ECONOMICAL
ALTERNATIVE
• ESTABLISH FINANCING AND SUSTAINABILITY MECHANISMS
• SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
• PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS
• DEVELOP RESEARCH
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Strategy

12. ADD ANY INFORMATION HERE
Location

13. FUNZEL is substantially improving the management
of hatcheries and increasing the number of
hatchlings born and released into the ocean.
Management of sea turtle
hatcheries

14. Sea turtle egg.

15. Helping hatchlings coming out the nest after
birth.

16. Hawksbills

17. San Blas beach hatchery.

18. Social and conservation goals
achive
• L. olivacea 2,093,476
• C. mydas 12,304
• E. imbricata 45,103
• D. coreacea 51
1,164 Families
with improved
direct income
around $20 more
per month

19. Establish financing mechanisms
to generate needed funds

20. FUNZEL’s staff and volunteers selling sea turtle
promotional souvenirs

21. Hatchling release with children's of Maya’s
School at San Blas beach.

22. Establish financing mechanisms
to generate needed funds
2011 2012 2013
Leverage Funds $54,067.00 $64,568.00 $67,199.83
$0.00
$10,000.00
$20,000.00
$30,000.00
$40,000.00
$50,000.00
$60,000.00
$70,000.00
$80,000.00
Dollars
Leverage Funds
•Improve local capacities to managed a sea
turtle hatcheries
•National and local business improve
awareness and included Sea Turtle
Conservation as part of CSR
•More than 1,300 volunteers work with
FUNZEL

23. Support community development
through the establishment of
economic alternatives to egg
poaching

24. FUNZEL’s technician talking with ACOTOM
members.

25. Don Miguel, “tortuguero” of San Diego beach
talking with DAVIVIENDA’s personnel.

26. Support community development
through the establishment of
economic alternatives to egg
poaching
• 9 ACOTOM Develop and trained.
• More than 300 people trained and
legally affiliate
• By 2014 sea turtle season at least
7 ACTOM will have funds to work.
• FUNZEL with partners will work in
at least 10 beaches.

27. Promote public awareness to change
people’s attitudes towards sea
turtles and the environment

28. Beach cleaning campaign.

29. Speak of sea turtles cycle of life.

30. Beach cleaning campaign volunteers.

31. Sea turtle costume for kindergarten
presentations.

32. National school students visiting a hatchery.

33. Image of “Yo soy de playa y ellas también”
campaign.

34. Promote public awareness to change
people’s attitudes towards sea
turtles and the environment
• More than 90% of
Salvadorans were OK
with eating Sea Turtle
eggs in 2008
(Romanoff, 2009)
• Only 4% of Salvadorans
say the eat Sea Turtle
eggs and other 30% will
eat them if the have
the opportunity
(Samayoa et al., In
Press)
Medio Apariciones Campaña
TV (TCS, Canal 33, Canal
12, Canal 10, TVX, GenTV y
Canal 17)
124 Yo no como huevos de
Tortuga y entrevistas
FUNZEL
Radio (Grupo SAMIX,
102.9; 102.1, Fuego 107.7,
Scan, Coorporación Radio
Estereo)
39 entrevistas FUNZEL
Prensa (La Prensa Gráfica,
El Diario de Hoy
17 Entrevistas FUNZEL
Cine 10 Dias Yo soy de Playa ellas
también
Mupis 60 Dias Yo no como huevos de
Tortuga
Vallas 1 Las playas de La Libertad

35. Develop research to better
understand and manage sea
turtles

36. Stranded Olive ridley turtle offshore release after
successful recovery.

37. Develop research to better
understand and manage sea
turtles
51%
20%
7%
6%
6%
6% 4%
Causas Antropogenicas de varamiento
de Tortugas Marinas
Lesiones en caparazon y plastron Ahogados
Anzuelos Redes
Capadas Decapitadas
Amputadas
• Of all the mortality of sea turtles
massive, yet not explain, stranding
is the more frequent cause (55%)
• Anthropogenic causes are 37%
• We have find a liver and kidney
problems frequent in Olive Ridley
• We have a lot of research to arrive
at conclusions.

38. Luis Ventura, “tortuguero” of Maculis beach
preparing a Hawksbill hatchling release.

39. ¿What is next?
• Consolidate the Sea Turtle Program and
start other programs
• Explain sea turtle mortality
• Experts in coastal development and
environmental impacts
• Experts in Eco-tourism alternatives
Contact us:
FunzelSV
info@funzel.org
www.funzel.org