The purpose of this project is to implement a conservation program that will contribute to the recovery of the East Pacific hawksbill population, the smallest and most endangered hawksbill nesting population in the world with fewer than 700 nesting females. The intent of this project is to conduct community based nesting beach conservation projects on four of the most important nesting beaches in El Salvador and Ecuador. Activities include; 1) community based patrols to deter illegal poaching of nesting females and eggs and counting of nests to monitor population trends at Los Cobanos and Punta Amapala, El Salvador and Machalilla and El Pelado in Ecuador, and 2) relocation of nests threatened by poaching or tidal inundation to safe beach hatcheries.
Vital Support for Hawksbills in the eastern Pacific Ocean: Conservation at five top-tier Nesting Beaches (Machalilla, Ecuador)
