Conservation - MEXICO Project Information for Conservation in Mexico

Our Conservation Project in Mexico

All turtle nesting beaches in Mexico are protected by SEMARNAT (The Department of Environmental Affairs and Natural Resources). In recognition of our commitment to conservation we have been entrusted to manage a section of coastline stretching 30km. On a section of the coast we have set up a camp called Campamento Tecoman where volunteers both live and conduct research. One of the conditions of our agreement with SEMARNAT is that we undertake significant scientific research on the land allocated to the camp and we have a wide range of established and new projects which survive thanks to our volunteers.

The Role of the Volunteer

At the heart of our work is the protection of the nests of five species of sea turtle (Olive Ridley, Green, Loggerhead, Leatherback and Black). Tasks include the patrolling of a 30km stretch of beach, collecting eggs from natural nests and returning to incubate them in our protected area. This work is essential as poachers also patrol this beach and any nests that we do not rescue are unlikely to survive. We also collect very useful information regarding the population, ecology and biology of the turtles.

Working with turtles takes place mainly during two night shifts, one from 10:00pm to 3:00am and the other from 3:00am to 8:00am, depending largely on hours of daylight and changing turtle activity. From January to May there are less turtles nesting each night, allowing us to concentrate more on the other activities at the camp such as extending the new corral (the protected area in which collected eggs are reburied). We also run weekly boat trips to monitor the marine wildlife, including humpback whales and dolphins.

Volunteers usually work in pairs on a rota system so that everyone gets a chance to experience the full range of work. Nightly activities include beach patrols using our quad bikes, monitoring the corral and releasing turtle hatchlings.

The camp is run entirely by Projects Abroad staff and volunteers, and everyone is expected to help out. Each day, two volunteers are on camp duty, responsible for a range of chores. Every couple of days there is a trip into the local town where internet access is available, and volunteers take turns at making the trip so they can email home and buy a few luxuries such as chocolate if they want! We also often arrange weekend trips away from the camp, allowing everyone to take a well-earned break.

The Crocodile Farm

The Crocodile Farm “La Colorada ” is located on the shores of the La Colorada Lagoon that is connected to the Alcuzahue Lagoon which is located 25km from our main base.

The Crocodile Farm was created in 1985 by the Government of the State of Colima and the State SEMARNAT office as a Regional Project. The management of the project was given to the local association of fishermen in the area (Laguna Alcuzahue). However, due a lack of funding the project was abandoned and there is now a new focus on conservation and a re-introduction of the crocodiles into the nearby areas.

The Crocodile Farm is home to two of the three species of Crocodiles that can be found in the area, the Swamp Crocodile (Crocodrylus Moreletii) and the River Crocodrile (Crocodylus Acutus)

By working with the Crocodile Farm, Projects Abroad is eager to support the project’s new aims and to assist with the conservation programme.

Our volunteers work in different areas, and the work is split into several stages. We are concentrating at the moment on the new born crocodiles by building a new terrarium for them, and we are helping to locate the potential breeding females so the scientists we work with can monitor their nests.

The Biodiversity Project

Biodiversity Study “El Chupadero” Lagoon.

Located just five minutes walk from our main headquarters is the “El Chupadero” lagoon. Here we are conducting a very interesting biodiversity study that will allow us to demonstrate the importance of this area to wildlife with the aim of getting the area declared a protected reserve.

Having been given the task by the SEMARNAT federal office in the State of Colima, our main intentions is to give enough proof of the existence of endangered species of birds, mammals and reptiles in the lagoon to result in a declaration of the place as a Natural Reserve Area. The lagoon is 40km long and we hope to find many species of rare animals.

Armed with binoculars and collection files we go out in our small boat onto the Lagoon. We have designated routes to cover the area in a methodical way and the more we advance the more interesting the study becomes.

There is a lack of conservation awareness and education in the area and the habitat is in under threat from agriculture. There is also pollution in the area and the animals are seen as food or shot as sport, and sold in the international and national exotic species trade. There is rarely sufficient funding from the Government to provide the resources to conduct research and protect the area, the deforestation of mangrove trees in the area is also a worrying trend and we hope that if we can get the area classified as a protected reserve we can start to improve the situation.

Species that we know inhabit the area include a great variety of tropical birds such as the Tropical Kingbird, Great Kiskadee, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-crowned night-heron, Green heron, White Ibis and the Roseate Spoonbill. There are also reptiles like Green and Black Iguanas, Crocodiles and Boa and river snakes. There are also many small mammals and birds of prey like the Black and Grey hawks and with our on-going research we’re sure that we will discover many more species.