Coastal Development Threatens the Future of Turtles
October 27th, 2008 | by admin |The turtle has always been a symbol of longevity, knowledge and peace to many. To our Pre-Colombian ancestors, the turtle was believed to have healing powers and represented deity.
Today, a small group of Costa Rican specialist and environmental supporters have called to public attention the dark future of the turtle’s already fragile existence. The growing residential and commercial development taking place in Costa Rica’s coast has indirectly affected the survival of the species.
In a recent environmental and wildlife study, researchers have released alarming figures in which they basically show the reality of the disappearing sea turtle. The most shocking statistic was for the province of Guanacaste where tourism has flourished in a dizzying manner.
Playa Grande, Guanacaste, was well known for its significant leatherback turtle population. However, in just 15 years, the leatherback population has decreased in 96%. In Costa Rica’s Atlantic Coast the situation isn’t that different. The largest hawksbill turtle population in Costa Rica consists of a meager 25 individuals that can be found at the Cahuita National Park in Limon.
Aside from the illegal trade of the sea turtle’s meat, shell and eggs, its population and habitat has been seriously threatened by man. The real estate development that has boomed in Costa Rica’s beachfront has suffocated the turtle’s habitat.
The erosion caused by this development has carried out important amounts of sediment to the ocean’s floor. This sediment destroys not only the turtle’s habitat, but all coral life as well. Corals are extremely important due to its ability to process carbon dioxide. In addition, human waste that is carried into the ocean stimulates the growth of a specific alga that harms its surrounding marine life.
Environmentalists have requested the Costa Rican government to toughen their laws and regulations when it comes to high impact environmental projects and to hire capable agencies that can deliver a true and precise environmental impact study for future projects.
