Launched in June 2011 with our 2011 Belize Sea Turtle Census, the Adopt A Beach Program relies on the support of coastal property owners and protected areas managers to adopt beaches and monitor them for signs of sea turtle activity and keeping the beach "turtle friendly." Please read more about the program below and submit the form and "Adopt A Beach" today!  July through September is peak nesting season and so we need your help to monitor the 100s of miles of beach that we have in Belize!  Even if you only adopt only a mile or less of beach this will add to our database so please sign up now!

Adopt a Beach Today!

 
The 2011 Adopt a Beach program is working hand in hand with the 2011 Belize Sea Turtle Census to determine what species of turtles are nesting in Belize, how many are nesting and where they are nesting.We are encouraging all hotels, resorts and beachfront property owners to "Adopt a Beach" to get involved and become actively engaged in this program.

Belize has 100s of miles of turtle nesting beaches which cannot all be monitored by just a few people. The cooperation of Belizeans and tourists is needed to make this census possible, so that as much beach as possible can be monitored.

Sea turtles use beach front and littoral forest to lay their eggs and any tracks or nests need to be reported so that we have an idea as to how many turtles are nesting in Belize and where they are nesting.

Help is also needed in the monitoring of changes in beach patterns throughout the seasons and over the years. Turtles return to the beaches of their births, to lay their own eggs, and if the beaches are receding or inaccessible to turtles, their populations will decline. We may be seeing the last sea turtles if we don't act today and try to "Protect Turtle Today, for Tomorrow."

Why Adopt a Beach??
Monitoring the beach patterns and turtle activity is essential for the conservation of beach topography and marine life populations.  The effects of urban development, climate change, and poaching can be studied, tracked, and managed.

How to Monitor?
Everyone that signs up will receive their own Nesting Beach Observation Kit which has data forms and a laminated Nesting Beach Fact Sheet that will guide first time participants on how to monitor the beach for sea turtles.  It's very easy, basically someone needs to walk the adopted beach every morning to look for turtle tracks up the beach.  It's very easy and anyone can help!

If any tracks are sighted then participants are asked to contact the nearest NGO (listed on the Nesting Beach Fact Sheet) with trained scientists that will come and inspect the tracks and nest to determine what type of turtle nested on your beach.  60 days later you can alert your guests to a most spectacular reward, hatching of about 100 baby sea turtles!

If you would like to characterize your nesting beach you can work with the scientists from your nearest NGO and you can work with them and learn how to characterize the beach so that changes over time and impacts from climate change can be monitored.  Nesting beach characterization kits will also be available to purchase if you would like to monitor the beach yourself on a regular basis.

ECOMAR is encouraging everyone with access to beaches to Adopt a Beach and help "Protect Sea Turtles Today for Tomorrow! If you're ready to sign up please complete the short form and someone will be in contact with you to get you set up and monitoring your beach!

Sign me up!

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