Proyecto CONAP
We are working in collaboration with the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) and the local community on various islands to learn more about sea turtle habitat use in the Archipelago, the history and culture of human use of sea turtles, prevalence of sea turtle bycatch, and the major threats that sea turtles face in the Gulf of Panama.
Location: Pearl Islands Archipelago, Panama
Project Type: Nature Conservation
Prinicipal Collaborators:
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Ministry of the Environment
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Servicio Nacional Aeronaval
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Earth Law Center
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Fundación Tortugas Del Mar
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University of Central Florida Marine Turtle Research Group
Funded By:
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National Geographic Society
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Philip Stephenson Foundation
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Isla Secas Foundation
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Rolex
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Marine Conservation Action Fund of the New England Aquarium Earth Law Center
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FoundationBig Andrew
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SEE Turtles
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Additional private donors
Project Overview
Identifying new-to-science nesting and foraging grounds, combatting the illegal wildlife trade, and collaborating with local communities.
Throughout Proyecto CONAP (Nature Conservation in the Pearl Islands Archipelago), we have observed a decline in healthy coral cover and personally witnessed coral bleaching events on the reef. While climate change is a well-documented threat to reef ecosystems worldwide, we have yet to fully assess the local threats impacting Saboga’s reef.
Understanding these threats is crucial, as this area serves as a vital foraging ground for endangered green and hawksbill turtles. This program will provide invaluable insights into what makes this area a crucial sanctuary for these species and the risks posed by further degradation of the reef ecosystem.
What is the primary focus of the project?
This project aims to elevate global awareness of the Pearl Islands Archipelago as a critical habitat for endangered marine species and a key link in regional migratory corridors. Through satellite tagging of East Pacific leatherback, hawksbill, and green sea turtles, and by exploring the region for high marine biodiversity, the initiative seeks to gather vital conservation data.
What additional conservation efforts could this project encourage?
The project also supports efforts to expand global protected areas by establishing the Saboga Island National Wildlife Refuge, integrating the archipelago into the CMAR (Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor), and positioning Saboga Island as a model for implementing the Rights of Nature. Additionally, it promotes sustainable development by empowering local communities through environmental education, ecotourism, and active participation in research, fostering a blue/green economy rooted in conservation.
Project Components
In partnership with the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) and local communities across several islands, we are exploring sea turtle habitat use in the Archipelago, the cultural and historical relationship between humans and sea turtles, the extent of sea turtle bycatch, and the primary threats these species face in the Gulf of Panama. This collaborative effort forms the foundation for the five key components of our project.
Background & Goals
Protecting Biodiversity and Empowering Communities:
A Conservation Initiative in the Pearl Islands Archipelago
Before 2019, the Pearl Islands Archipelago was a hidden gem. Local communities saw sea turtles and other marine life, but the world did not yet recognize how important this area is for endangered marine species. Thanks to a National Geographic "Early Career" grant, we teamed up with local communities and Panama’s Ministry of Environment to launch the first scientific study here.
Sea turtles are our ocean’s ambassadors. Protecting them means protecting the whole marine ecosystem.
We discovered four sea turtle species using the islands for nesting, feeding and breeding, including critically endangered hawksbill, green, and leatherback sea turtles. The Archipelago is part of a vital migratory route connecting key marine habitats across Central and South America, yet it’s not officially included in regional conservation agreements like CMAR. With private land and community presence, creating one big protected area is tricky, but smaller community-managed refuges are possible.
Saboga Wildlife Refuge
A New Era of Protection
On September 12, 2024, Panama’s Minister of the Environment, Juan Carlos Navarro, signed Ministerial Decree No. DM-0631-2024 (published in Gaceta No. 30122-A on September 19, 2024), officially designating the Saboga Wildlife Refuge. This protected area spans 83.01 square kilometers (~32 square miles) and includes 10 islands and islets within the Pearl Islands Archipelago.
The creation of the Saboga Wildlife Refuge is the result of years of dedicated effort through this initiative, which brought together science, community voices, and government collaboration to turn a shared vision into reality. Led by our team in partnership with the local community of Saboga, the Ministry of the Environment of Panama, the Panamanian Authority of Aquatic Resources, the Panamanian Air and Navy Service, and Fundación Tortugas del Mar, we conducted over two years of field research to assess the size and ecological significance of the marine turtle population within the newly protected area.
What role did the local community play in the designation?
In the lead-up to the refuge’s designation, the Saboga community was surveyed twice, once by The Leatherback Project and once by the Ministry of the Environment. Both times, every respondent supported the creation of the National Wildlife Refuge. This groundswell of community support reflects a shared commitment to preserving this extraordinary marine ecosystem for generations to come.
Which marine species will this refuge help protect?
The Pearl Islands Archipelago is home to a rich array of endangered marine species. As of 2024, 22 hawksbill and green turtles have been fitted with satellite transmitters, and over 112 individual turtles have been identified and tagged within the refuge.
The Saboga Wildlife Refuge will protect critical nesting and foraging habitats for endangered sea turtles and 41 bird species, including the iconic blue-footed booby, serving as a migratory corridor for endangered elasmobranchs, such as whale sharks, mobula rays, humpback whales, and Bryde’s whales. Notably, humpback whales return each year from July to October to give birth and raise their young in the area now under protection.
Protecting this biodiversity is vital, not only for ecological balance and ecosystem health but also for the food security and well-being of local communities.
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The creation of the Saboga Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of the first implementation measures of Law 287, that recognizes the Rights of Nature in Panama. This action is so important, as it shows the world an example of what respecting the intrinsic Rights of Nature looks like in practice: generating new protected areas to safeguard healthy ecosystem functioning and exemplifying living in harmony with Nature,”
-Callie Veelenturf, Founder and Executive Director, The Leatherback Project
Impact & Results
Local Leadership and Policy Milestones
In 2025, we trained four members of the Saboga community, Aida Magaña, Josel (Indio) Bravo, Ibdiel Gutierrez and Arielin Cajar, who have been active members of The Leatherback Project’s long-term sea turtle monitoring program in Saboga Island since 2021. Now, they are taking on leadership roles in a new reef restoration initiative in collaboration with Reef Restoration Panama and Ocean Soldiers.
This project launch is a result of the established Saboga Wildlife Refuge, a monumental achievement that signifies a powerful implementation measure of Panama’s Rights of Nature Law 287. The new era of conservation that began after the passing of Law 287 generates conservation measures and rulings based on the intrinsic Rights of Nature, including humans, to survive and thrive.
What are our key developments and next steps to sustain this vital initiative?
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Diver Certifications & Training
Our team is trained and ready to monitor and restore Saboga’s reef. Certified divers will continue to build their skills, ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the restoration program.
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Advanced Training in Colón
Team members will spend several weeks at Reef Restoration Panama’s headquarters in Colón, gaining hands-on experience in establishing and maintaining coral nurseries. Under the guidance of Jean Carlos, the organization’s founder, they will also complete advanced dive training to deepen their expertise in reef restoration techniques.
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Undergraduate Thesis Collaboration
We’re proud to support and mentor the next generation of conservation leaders in Panama, who are focusing their theses on coral reef evaluation and restoration. We remain committed to supporting more Panamanian students in their academic and professional growth in marine conservation.
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Scientific Monitoring
We aim to install temperature data loggers to monitor reef conditions, alongside quarterly surveys of coral and algae cover over the next three years. Our certified divers will be trained in these monitoring techniques to ensure consistent, high-quality data collection.
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Partnerships & Government Support
This initiative is carried out in close collaboration with Reef Restoration Panama, Ocean Soldiers, and Panama’s Ministry of Environment, combining expertise and resources to strengthen reef conservation efforts.
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Fundraising for Equipment
We are actively raising funds to equip our team with the tools and resources needed for long-term coral reef monitoring and restoration, ensuring the sustainability and impact of this critical work.
Be A Part of the Movement
Join Us in Protecting the Ocean and Empowering Communities
Radical collaboration is at the heart of all our conservation projects.
This initiative exemplifies the power of partnerships, bringing together the Saboga community, the Ministry of Environment of Panama, and dedicated NGOs to restore and protect vital marine ecosystems.
While we have made incredible progress, we still have a long way to go to fully establish this program. Any support will help us restore and protect coral reefs, sea turtles, and create ethical eco-tourism opportunities for local communities.
