Effects of Climate Change in Nesting Sea Tturtles

Abstract

Temperature and sea level rise; among other signs of climate change; are affecting the distribution; feeding; reproduction and migration patterns of marine turtles and many other organisms already threatened by destructive human activities worldwide; making them more vulnerable. Costa Rica is not the exception; however the consequences would differ along its territory. The interaction between the Cocos and Caribbean tectonic plates under the Nicoya Peninsula is apparently the main cause of the relative sea level rise of 4 mm/year in this region. However; if global ice melting and sea level accelerate overcoming local effects; as it appears to be occurring; the result would be a generalized sea level rise. An increase of 1 m in the sea level of Playa Grande would imply a beach recession of 50 m inland. The beach and infrastructure of that zone would be flooded and eroded by the tide break; and most of the inundation would occur from behind; advancing through the mouth of the Tamarindo estuary; into the surrounding wetlands; and other adjacent territories. It is urgent to take local climate change mitigation and adaptation measures to reduce the vulnerability and increase the resistance and resilience of ecosystems and human societies. The marine turtles conservation project of Junquillal beach; is a case study generating and exporting learned lessons in the field of community conservation and climate change adaptation.