Leatherback turtle season begins in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic officially launched the nesting season for the leatherback, the largest sea turtle in the world and which is in danger of extinction worldwide, the Ministry of the Environment reported on Tuesday. The institution maintained that the launch was carried out on Limón beach, in the municipality of Miches, El Seibo province. The turtle spawning season runs from March to September each year. The Vice Minister of Protected Areas and Biodiversity, Federico Franco, stressed that the initiative of the governing entity for the environment also seeks to serve as a link between the actors who are involved in the same tasks of turtle conservation on the beaches of Miches and the region of Caribbean.

At the event, Costa Rican biologist Claudio Quesada gave a talk on the role of the State, civil society, and private investment in the conservation of sea turtles, based on his experiences leading the Pacuare Reserve, a natural laboratory for conserving sea turtles in Costa Rica. It serves as an open classroom for college and university students on ecological issues. Meanwhile, Yonattan Mercado, administrator of Protected Areas of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, pointed out during the launch that the Miches area is an important nesting site for leatherbacks, the largest species of sea turtle that is in danger of extinction around the world.

At the event, representatives of private companies in the area confirmed their commitment to sustainable tourism and the protection of biodiversity and offered advances on the conservation initiatives that will be carried out during this season.