On a small island in the Panamanian Caribbean, north of the Gulf of Guna Yala, hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), a species on the verge of extinction, arrive each year to lay their eggs. Masargandup has been, for generations, a key site for their reproduction. Although surrounded by a relatively healthy reef ecosystem, the island now faces increasing threats: coastal erosion is advancing, nests are being plundered and climate change is altering the environment these turtles need to survive.

Since 2021, Masargandup has been the site of a monitoring project dedicated to protecting hawksbill turtles. With about 34 hectares and two kilometers of coastline, this island has established itself as a strategic point for the conservation of the species in the region. Classified as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the hawksbill turtle requires urgent efforts, making this project a high priority for marine conservation.

The project has a dual purpose: to conserve a critically endangered species and, at the same time, to empower the local communities that inhabit the Guna Yala Comarca, an autonomous region located on the Caribbean coast of Panama. This territory, made up of more than 365 islands, is home to a rich cultural and spiritual tradition deeply linked to the sea.

For the Guna people, the ocean is not only a source of food and sustenance, but also a sacred space, inhabited by ancestral spirits. In this context, the project represents a key conservation action, where we collaborate with Guna monitors, who integrate their traditional knowledge and cosmovision into a model of intercultural management of the territory.

Through participatory science and environmental education, we seek to strengthen community capacities to protect both the hawksbill turtle and the marine environment on which it depends, promoting conservation that is born from the territory and nourished by ancestral knowledge.

Nest monitoring and nest protection have become a crucial conservation action, carried out by local Guna monitors trained in scientific methods and guided by an ancestral cosmovision that gives turtles a spiritual significance.

The Guna Cosmovision and its relationship with sea turtles

“Because if one day the turtles stop coming, something in us is lost too.”  – Daneira Brown, Research Officer MarAlliance

For the Guna people, the relationship with nature transcends the physical to become a deep spiritual connection. Sea turtles, especially hawksbill turtles, are considered sacred beings that symbolize the continuity of life and the eternal bond between generations. According to their ancestral cosmovision, people can be reincarnated as sea turtles, a cycle that unites human destiny with that of these animals and reinforces respect and care for them.

This ancestral belief is reflected in the care that the community gives to the nesting beaches and the marine ecosystem. To protect the turtles is to protect the collective memory, traditions and the natural balance that sustains their culture. For the Guna, land, sea, plants and animals are interconnected in a system of mutual respect that guides every conservation action.

Community participation in monitoring not only provides valuable scientific data, but also has deep cultural significance. Local participation works with a sense of responsibility towards their ancestors and future generations, aware that the health of the turtles reflects the well-being of the entire ecosystem and the Guna identity. Each nest, each egg, and each hatchling that reaches the sea is seen as a manifestation of this life cycle. Thus, monitoring is not only a scientific action: it is also an act of honor and cultural continuity.

Scientific monitoring results

Between 2021 and 2024, thanks to the leadership of Daneira Brown – marine biologist, research officer originally from Guna Yala and advocate for marine conservation with an intercultural approach – our project has managed to record a total of 160 hawksbill nestings. Although monitoring began strongly in 2021, with 50 nests recorded, reproductive activity has not been constant. In 2022, records dropped to 35, followed by a partial recovery in 2023, with 45 nests. However, a further decline was observed in 2024, with only 30 nests documented.

In 2023, something unexpected happened: an out-of-season nest was recorded. It was the first. An isolated event, yes, but one that could be signaling a possible alteration in the reproductive patterns of the species.

There is no single explanation for this irregular behavior. Human pressure, natural predators, the state of the climate, and even the turtles’ own biological rhythms could be playing a role. At first glance, the numbers may appear to be just that: numbers. But behind each nest, there is a story that speaks of persistence, adaptation, and vulnerability.

Final Destination of Nests 

Most nests remained in place, although some had to be moved due to flooding, erosion, or human activity. Despite protection measures, looting remains a major problem, affecting 8 % of the nests. There were also impacts from predators and environmental changes, such as flooding.

These results demonstrate the need to reinforce vigilance in order to prevent looting and improve strategies to confront the natural threats that affect the survival of turtles.

Importance of the project and the future of conservation

This project demonstrates that, although the number of nests is not particularly high, Masargandup is an optimal area for hawksbill turtle reproduction in the Panamanian Caribbean. The waters of Guna Yala are home to four of the seven globally recognized species of sea turtles, many of which are classified as critically endangered or threatened.

Ongoing monitoring provides a solid foundation for effective conservation strategies, supported by a combination of rigorous science and ancestral knowledge. The active participation of the Guna community is essential to ensure the sustainability of the project and the long-term protection of these emblematic species.

Environmental Education

Environmental education has been a cornerstone of the project, aimed at raising awareness about marine conservation, especially among youth and community members. Through workshops we have conducted in Masargandup and nearby schools, topics such as turtle ecology, environmental threats and low-impact practices were addressed.

These activities fostered values of respect and emotional connection with nature, empowering participants to act as active defenders of the environment. Despite logistical and climatic challenges, community participation has been strong, demonstrating that local knowledge combined with formal education can transform attitudes and generate lasting change.