Adara González
- Project name: Engaging stakeholders in evaluating the leatherback turtle conservation status on El Agua Beach, Margarita Island Venezuela
- Project site: El Agua Beach, Margarita Island, Venezuela
- EDGE species: Leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea
- Active: 2024 - ongoing
Biography
Adara works part-time at the NGO Fundación para la Defensa de la Naturaleza (FUDENA) in Venezuela.
She hopes that the EDGE Fellowship will allow her to practice marine biology and contribute to the science of her country and the conservation of species necessary for the ecosystems where they live. Adara also hopes that the opportunity will allow her to learn from different professionals from Latin America, and from this, she will become a better professional marine biologist.
EDGE Project
Adara’s project aims to evaluate the conservation status of the leatherback on El Agua Beach, Margarita Island, with the involvement of local stakeholders.
Her objectives are to:
- Analyse historical data about the nesting and hatching of D. coriacea on Margarita Island.
- Establish standardised data collection for 2025 onwards to improve monitoring.
- Investigate the effect of temperature and the presence of an invasive plant (Scaveola) on the reproductive success of the leatherback.
- Develop an environmental education campaign.
- Understand local attitudes and leatherback exploitation drivers.
- Explore options for sustainable funding models of long-term monitoring programmes with resorts and hotels.
