Site Assessment for Tortuguero (based on Martha Honeys Scorecard)

1. Involves travel to natural destination

Tortuguero !osta "ica is a coastal to#n located in $ortheast !osta "ica that is
1%&.' s(uare miles. It is surrounded by a series of canals rivers and the !aribbean Sea.
)ue to its location it can only be reached by means of boat or air trans*ortation.
Tortuguero has mild tem*eratures ty*ically around +' degrees high levels of humidity
and an annual *reci*itation of 1,' inches. Thus these conditions ma-e it conducive for
numerous s*ecies of *lant and animal life to flourish. The Tortuguero $ational .ar-
*rotects about %&&&&& acres of tro*ical #et forests marshes s#am*s lagoons and
beaches. /f the %&&&&& acres %% miles are a stretch of beaches in #hich four different
s*ecies of sea turtles come to nest and lay their eggs. Tortuguero is the most im*ortant
nesting site for 0reen turtles on the entire 1estern Hemis*here. The $ational .ar-
dominates every as*ect of life in Tortuguero #hich has allo#ed it to *rotect the uni(ue
*lant and animal #ildlife that live there and continue to be a natural destination for both
residents and tourists to e2*lore and en3oy.
%. Minimi4es im*act
5cotourism in Tortuguero attem*ts to minimi4e im*act. /ne of the main #ays they
minimi4e im*act is regarding the conservation of sea turtles. They *ut restrictions on the
hours and the number of *eo*le that are allo#ed to go on the beach and see the turtles
during the nesting season. This is to ensure that large amounts of *eo*le do not disturb
the turtles in their natural habitat and allo#s them to continue the *rocess of laying their
eggs in *eace. This also hel*s minimi4e im*act on the environment because the less
*eo*le there are the less trash and *ollution they can cause. If there is not a big cro#d
then there #ill also be no need to ste* off the designated *ath and destroy some of the
#ildlife. 6arge cro#ds also tend to be loud #hich could scare the turtles off and disru*t
the *rocess #hich in turn could lead to the turtles not #anting to come bac- to
Tortuguero.
Another #ay that ecotourism here minimi4es im*act is the canal restrictions. The
regulations state that only a certain number of boats can be in each canal at the same
time. This hel*s *rotect the #ildlife and environment in several #ays. If there are too
many boats in one area the animals #ill begin to lose their habitats. Habitats may also
become destroyed by the boats trying to create larger *ath#ays to *ass one another. The
restriction on canals also hel*s minimi4e im*act because this hel*s *revent the #idening
of the #ater and soil erosion. If there are t#o boats in the canal at the same time they
#ill be on the very edges of the #ater and since it is not very #ide they #ill be *ushing
all the #ater to the sides causing the soil to slide do#n into the #ater eroding the land
*iece by *iece.
6astly ecotourism in Tortuguero hel*s minimi4e im*act by having eco7friendly hotels.
The hotel #e stayed at #as built right in the rainforest so instead of cutting do#n all of
the trees and clearing the lot they built around it. There #as an abundance of *lant and
animal s*ecies that could still live in the vicinity of the lodge because they -e*t most of
the habitats and #ildlife intact. There is also no air conditioning or hot #ater in the
rooms so they are conserving a lot of energy and shrin-ing their carbon foot*rint by
eliminating these t#o things. They also had recycling bins to ensure that all of the
recyclable items #ere going into the *ro*er containers to hel* the environment. 8inally
there is no 9trash: left in Tortuguero. All trash is shi**ed out of the area via boat to
*revent the creation of an environmentally ha4ardous landfill.
;. <uilds environmental a#areness
In addition to minimi4ing im*act ecotourism in Tortuguero also #or-s to build
environmental a#areness. 8or instance the $ational .ar- #as established there in 1=,&.
1ith the creation of the *ar- came restrictions on the lumber and number of *eo*le in the
canals at once la#s *rohibiting turtle hunting and regulations on ho# many *eo*le can
be on the beaches during turtle nesting and hatching seasons. Also through the $ational
.ar- the Sea Turtle !onservancy #as created to educate locals and tourists of the history
lives and im*ortance of the turtles so that they could understand the im*ortance of the
turtles roles in the environment and the role #e as *eo*le *lay in conserving and
*rotecting them. Through the creation of the *ar- conservancy and la#s regarding the
environment locals are no# more conscientious of the environment. 1hen intervie#ing
our local 5ddie #e learned that the o*ening of the $ational .ar- met a lot of resistance
from citi4ens because it abru*tly changed the #ay of life in Tortuguero. Ho#ever
according to 5ddie after about 1' years Tortuguero began to see the benefits of the
$ational .ar- Sea Turtle !onservancy and ne# la#s *rotecting the environment
because the environment #as being *rotected and ecotourism to Tortuguero became the
largest source of income for the to#n.
<ecause ecotourism is so *revalent in Tortuguero hotel o#ners ma-e the effort to
build environmentally friendly hotels that raise environmental a#areness. 8or instance
in the .achira 6odge #here #e stayed there #as no air conditioning. Ho#ever because
there #ere so many trees there to shade the lodges and a ceiling fan in each room air
conditioning #asnt a necessity to stay cool. 1hile different than most homes in the >S
this sho#ed us that air conditioning isnt al#ays needed so maybe #ell use less air
conditioning bac- home and rely more on fans and natural shade such as trees. In
addition each room had signs reminding us to turn lights off #hen they #erent being
used and to thro# toilet *a*er in the trash can rather than flush it do#n the toilet. <y
turning lights off and not flushing toilet *a*er energy is being saved because #e are
generating less electricity and #ater. These *ractices raised environmental a#areness
because they caused *eo*le to really thin- about ty*ical routine *ractices that are never
thought of and the role they *lay in reducing less energy #hich ultimately reduces the
carbon foot*rint they create.
?. .rovides direct financial benefits for conservation
5cotourism in Tortuguero has had a *ositive im*act on financially su**orting
conservation efforts. Tortuguero strives to conserve its natural area in order to *rotect the
turtles that de*end on this area for their nesting sites. The $atural Sea Turtle
!onservancy or ST! is the main ecotourist attraction in Tortuguero and it receives a
steady income via ecotourist #hich in turn is used to achieve their mission through
9research habitat *rotection *ublic education community outreach net#or-ing and
advocacy: (Sea Turtle !onservancy n.d.). In order to enter the conservancy and #atch
the sea turtles nest on Tortugueros beaches tourists and locals ali-e are charged an
entrance fee. In %&1% alone %'%?& *aid visitors came to the conservancy. 6ocals have
embraced the conservation efforts and fees and #or- to su**ort these efforts because they
reali4e that 9live sea turtles on the beach have greater value for the villagers than dead
turtles in the ste#*ot.:
In the most recently recorded year (%&1%) +'@ of the ST!s income #as used directly
for conservation sea turtle *rograms and only 1&@ #as used for develo*ment of the
museums and '@ for administration. In addition to the entrance fees the $atural Sea
Turtle !onservancy *rovides several other o**ortunities for outsiders and locals to
financially su**ort the conservation of sea turtles in Tortuguero and the surrounding
environment. These include direct donations ST! membershi*s symbolic ado*tions of
turtles 9Turtle 0uardian: monthly donation *rogram legacy giving tribute and
memorial donations *artnershi*s and s*onsorshi*s and various souvenirs. !urrently
there are A1+? members that directly su**ort ST!s conservation efforts.
8inally the ST! *rovides a 9#ishlist: of 9critical needs: in need of s*onsorshi*s.
Su**orters can directly s*onsor one of these 9critical needs: through the #ebsite to hel*
su**ort the *rogram. Some of these 9critical needs: include boat fuel security systems
satellite transmitters com*uter e(ui*ment u*grades and so on. All of these efforts
combined create a strong financial su**ort system for conservation in Tortuguero.
'. .rovides financial benefits and em*o#erment for local *eo*le
The ecotourism in Tortuguero *rovides financial benefits and em*o#erment for local
*eo*le. 5cotourism is the main source of income for the locals in Tortuguero. /ne of the
main 3ob o**ortunities that have come out of the develo*ment of ecotourism is from the
hotels and lodges that are built there. 6ocals not only get *aid to hel* build these lodges
and hotels but are given the o**ortunity to #or- in the hotel once it is built as a
maintenance #or-er maid coo- rece*tionist management and so on. These hotels
bring more tourism to Tortuguero #hich in turn brings in even more income for the
locals. /utside of #or-ing in the hotels and lodges ecotourism brings other res*ectable
3ob o**ortunities to locals. 6ocals may choose to be tour guides or boat drivers for
tourists. They also have the o**ortunity to run their o#n small sho*s. 6ocals can o#n
#or- for or create merchandise for these sho*s that cater to the tourists #ants. These
small sho*s benefit from tourism because the tourists #ant to buy authentic !osta "ican
merchandise from the locals. According to 5ddie the develo*ment of ecotourism in
Tortuguero 9absolutely increased the lives of the locals.: 8inally organi4ations that
function as local government -ee* locals at the to* of the consult line #hen it comes to
ma-ing big decisions about the land. This em*o#ers the local *eo*le to maintain
themselves as an educated and decision ma-ing grou* in the area.
A "es*ects local culture
Historically the develo*ment of ecotourism violated the culture and values of the locals
in Tortuguero. $atives originally came to Tortuguero because of the turtles. There #as no
stable *o*ulation but instead *eo*le came during 9turtle season: and harvested the eggs
to ear. Then natives began to establish their homes here. Their livelihood de*ended on
living off of the land #hich meant e2*loiting the lands natural resources such as the
turtles. .rior to 1=,& locals lived by e2*loiting these resources #ithout thoughts of
sustainability. Archie !arr came at this time and #as the first to *ay attention to the sea
turtles. He convinced the *resident to create a national *ar- in Tortuguero *rotecting the
turtles and the land #ithout ever consulting the locals. This created great conflict #ith
the locals #hose lives #ere *ractically turned u*side7do#n. 6ocals #ho had for so long
lived off of the no# *rotected land and turtles did not -no# #hat they #ere going to do
for a living. According to 5ddie a local in Tortuguero 9it too- fifteen years to see the
benefits of ecotourism.: In the mean time there #as resistance from locals #ho #anted
to maintain their #ay of life. A lot of culture including food language and holidays
#ere lost in the transition of ada*ting to culture that su**orted ecotourism. Many locals
ad3usted to the ne# #ay but some decided to leave and find a ne# life else#here.
Today the local culture IS *rotecting the turtles. Through educational *rograms and ne#
o**ortunities locals changed their mentality about the *ar- and became *ro7ecotourism
and *ro7turtle conservation. $o# locals #or- hard to su**ort ecotourism in Tortuguero
#hich in turn su**orts them bac- through develo*ment such as *o#er lines and more 3ob
o**ortunities.
,. Su**orts human rights and democratic movements
In Tortuguero there #as some evidence of ecotourism su**orting human rights
and democratic movements. )uring our intervie# #ith a local named 5ddie #e learned
that there are regulations that the hotels in the region must follo# to -ee* the *eo*le of
Tortuguero informed of their *lans and allo# the *eo*le to veto them. This *ractice
ensures that the rights of the *eo*le of Tortuguero are *rotected because it allo#s the
$ational .ar- and the economy of Tortuguero to be theirs rather than belonging to
outsiders #ho 3ust #ant to ma-e money on tourism. /rgani4ations that simulate local
government consult #ith the locals before large decisions or changes are made again
su**orting the rights of the locals to maintain authority over their home.
"eferences
!onserve Turtles. (n.d.). Sea Turtle !onservancy. "etrieved Bune 1= %&1? from
htt*CDD###.conserveturtles.orgDstctm*.*h*
Tortuguero $ational .ar-. (n.d.) !osta "ica. "etrieved Bune 1= %&1? from
htt*CDDcostarica.comDattractionsDtortuguero7national7*ar-D