Eco-Alianza Unites with Grupo Tortuguero
in a New Decade of Sea Turtle Conservation
By Kama Dean

Following ten years of successfully protecting endangered sea turtles throughout Northwest Mexico, the Grupo Tortuguero kicked off a new decade of conservation at its 11th Annual Meeting in Loreto on January 30 through February 1.  Eco-Alianza de Loreto joined this year as a co-organizer and sponsor, and played host to the 300 community representatives from around the Baja California peninsula and Mexico that came together to share their experiences saving sea turtles throughout the region.  This meeting was particularly exciting for both Grupo Tortuguero and Eco-Alianza marking the first the groups have organized an event as independent Mexican non-profit organizations.

In 1999, a loosely connected band of fishermen, scientists, conservationists and coastal residents working to save sea turtles came together to form the grassroots sea turtle conservation network, Grupo Tortuguero. They shared a singular vision: Restore the sea turtle populations of the Californias. The movement grew quickly for several reasons; a unique combination of open and inviting disposition, the urgency and clarity of the cause and the camaraderie felt by all who joined.

For the past five years, Pro Peninsula has worked to strengthen this network by planning annual meetings, coordinating the sea turtle monitoring communities, and spreading the word of conservation throughout the region. Capitalizing on Grupo Tortuguero’s first ten years of successful conservation work, we are entering a new decade of sea turtle conservation in Mexico with the newly formed Mexican non-profit and new leadership within the organization.  This meeting brought together network members old and new to celebrate this transition and bring in the new era with a bang!

This meeting would not be possible without the help of a vast collection of sponsors who come together each year to support Grupo Tortuguero.  We thank all of you for uniting with us in this new decade!  Sponsors for the 11th Annual Meeting of the Grupo Tortuguero include:

Underwater Images (www.uwimages.org), Tony and Linda Kinninger, Asupmatoma (www.mexonline.com/tortuga.htm), Conservation International (www.conservation.org), Eco-Alianza de Loreto (www.ecoalianzaloreto.org), Alan Harper and the JiJi Foundation (www.jiji.org), International Community Foundation (www.icfdn.org), Charles and Kathy Mitchell, the Pesenti Family,  Smart Marketing (www.smartmarketingcenter.com), Glenn and Martha Thompson, Wildlife Trust (www.wildlifetrust.org), Barbara Andrews, Baja Books and Maps (www.bajabooksandmaps.com), Fernando Bretos, John and Gayle Dean, Fishermen’s Fleet (www.fishermensfleet.com) and Jaime Lawson, Journey Mexico (www.journeymexico.com), Nicole Mihnovets, Deborah Purce, Kelly Stewart, Colette Wabnitz, BajaPhotos.com (www.bajaphotos.com), Heather Glass, Baja Ferries (www.bajaferries.com), Art Design and Baja Life Magazine (www.bajalifemag.com).

It is the mission of Eco-Alianza is to build an organization with a broad vision aligned with the region’s future.  No one organization can do it all; we are all in this together and Eco-Alianza pledges its full support to work in close partnership with Grupo Tortuguero in the new era of sea turtle conservation on the peninsula.