Mission Statement

Salvamento Internacional de la Tortuga del Mar, SITMAR is a foundation created for the protection of the environment, promotion of scientific investigation and to contribute to environmental education in our communities.

The protection and study of sea turtle populations is at the heart of our mission; this is why we have developed a conservation program on the beaches of Carate and Rio Oro on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.
These beaches are active nesting ground for three of the eight species of sea turtles;Olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea, Black or Pacific green Chelonia mydas agassizi and Leatherback Dermochelys coriacea.

In 1999, Rio Oro was declared a National Wiildlife Refuge for the protection of the multitudes of sea turtles that nest there. Due to lack of resources and funding the local governmental agencies have not been able to physically protect this area.

That is when SITMAR Foundation came on the scene.
When we first arrived the refuge was overrun with stray dogs and poachers.
Sea turtle eggs littered the sand and people from far and wide would travel here to dig up and steal away with thousands of eggs in a single night. In the last three years this has been changing throu our protection efforts.
Our conservation program consists of nightly beach patrols to search for sea turtle nesting activity, collect fresh nests and relocate them to our protective hatchery. Daily nest surveys help collect more complete data on all the nests on the beach and their survival rate.

Our environmental education program was developed in cooperation with the conservation program. We involve the local community in awareness and protection of our ecosystems primarily by giving courses and field trips to students as well as giving informational workshops in the local community.

We need donations in order to run our programs, you can make a difference!
Contact SITMAR Today!!!