Sustainable Tourism
Sea Turtle Nesting Basics
Saturday, November 24, 2007
We have Leatherback turtles nesting right now in
Bocas del Toro Panama so here is some basic
information on nesting for all sea turtles.
Female sea turtles instinctively return to the same beach as they were born to nest each year. Sometimes they even emerge from the ocean less than one hundred yards from the spot in which they were born.
Eggs are generally laid one month after mating and almost always during the cover of night on a deserted beach. Any light other than natural moonlight and starlight can be seen by the turtles and will cause the turtle to turn back to the sea to wait. Even the most subtle match strikes can be detected.
Sometimes a turtle will abandon a nest if she encounters an obstacle or if the sand does not have the right consistency or moisture content. Another turtle may nest regardless of what else is going on around her. If a turtle fails to nest and returns to sea it is referred to as a “false crawl”
Most females nest at least twice during a given season although certain turtles may nest only once and others may nest as many as ten or eleven times.
Because of their size, each turtle uses a different method to move on land which allows researchers to determine species without actually seeing the turtle.
Female sea turtles instinctively return to the same beach as they were born to nest each year. Sometimes they even emerge from the ocean less than one hundred yards from the spot in which they were born.
Eggs are generally laid one month after mating and almost always during the cover of night on a deserted beach. Any light other than natural moonlight and starlight can be seen by the turtles and will cause the turtle to turn back to the sea to wait. Even the most subtle match strikes can be detected.
Sometimes a turtle will abandon a nest if she encounters an obstacle or if the sand does not have the right consistency or moisture content. Another turtle may nest regardless of what else is going on around her. If a turtle fails to nest and returns to sea it is referred to as a “false crawl”
Most females nest at least twice during a given season although certain turtles may nest only once and others may nest as many as ten or eleven times.
Because of their size, each turtle uses a different method to move on land which allows researchers to determine species without actually seeing the turtle.
Tread lightly
Thursday, November 08, 2007
When you head out on an eco adventure what does it
mean to tread lightly? Should you use motorized
equipment? Can you visit places where you must use
only your own power to get to and from such a
location? Or can you use a combination of motor power
and muscle power?
We try to use a combination of both motor and muscle to fuel our eco adventures. There are places within the Bocas del Toro archipelago that are absolutely incredible, but if you were left to sheer muscle power to reach them then you wouldn’t likely get there. Some of the places we visit are a 45 minute ride in one of our motorized boats from our central location. However, once we reach our destination there are precious ecosystems which should be protected from motorized equipment if at all possible. Thus the use of muscle power begins.
We will likely walk or kayak to tour these locations in order to reach the most pristine of locations without disturbing nature any more than necessary. Some of our excursions include a walk of about 10 to 15 minutes and then once at the launching point you might also kayak or swim to get a better view of the island in total. If we tread lightly we are at least doing our part to preserve the area for the future.
We try to use a combination of both motor and muscle to fuel our eco adventures. There are places within the Bocas del Toro archipelago that are absolutely incredible, but if you were left to sheer muscle power to reach them then you wouldn’t likely get there. Some of the places we visit are a 45 minute ride in one of our motorized boats from our central location. However, once we reach our destination there are precious ecosystems which should be protected from motorized equipment if at all possible. Thus the use of muscle power begins.
We will likely walk or kayak to tour these locations in order to reach the most pristine of locations without disturbing nature any more than necessary. Some of our excursions include a walk of about 10 to 15 minutes and then once at the launching point you might also kayak or swim to get a better view of the island in total. If we tread lightly we are at least doing our part to preserve the area for the future.
Sustainable Tourism
Monday, September 10, 2007
Sustainable adventure. How can we meet the needs of
the present generation without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own
needs? It isn’t easy, but it can be done with a bit
of education.
Travel lightly.
Bring what you need and nothing more – but then again do not bring too much.
Take tours using your own fuel – kayaks, hikes, snorkels, etc. Limit your time in motor powered vehicles when and where possible.
Experience an area with responsible guides.
How does your guide work with local indigenous people? Do they help them develop sustainable practices to help them earn an income and maintain their habitat for the future? Do they do anything about helping these people develop land reserves to maintain life as they know it?
What kind of tours does your guide offer? Those using human power or those using extensive amounts of motor power?
Are your guides going to be in business in the years to come? The best sustainable business practice is to remain in business so that one can make a difference.
Learn from your experience.
Make a small change in your life at home. Purchase services and supplies from providers who support sustainable practices.
Show your children how other people in the world live. They will learn to appreciate what they have.
Travel lightly.
Bring what you need and nothing more – but then again do not bring too much.
Take tours using your own fuel – kayaks, hikes, snorkels, etc. Limit your time in motor powered vehicles when and where possible.
Experience an area with responsible guides.
How does your guide work with local indigenous people? Do they help them develop sustainable practices to help them earn an income and maintain their habitat for the future? Do they do anything about helping these people develop land reserves to maintain life as they know it?
What kind of tours does your guide offer? Those using human power or those using extensive amounts of motor power?
Are your guides going to be in business in the years to come? The best sustainable business practice is to remain in business so that one can make a difference.
Learn from your experience.
Make a small change in your life at home. Purchase services and supplies from providers who support sustainable practices.
Show your children how other people in the world live. They will learn to appreciate what they have.