Past Projects

The first project of ALTENER was carried out in cooperation with WIDECAST Costa Rica, an organization working for the recovery and sustainable management of depleted sea turtle populations in the Caribbean Sea region. With its isolated center being off the energy grid, WIDECAST needed energy supply to enhance the quality of conservation work. The installation of solar panels with batteries was a step forward to a more efficient turtle protection.

Social Significance

How can solar panels change the functioning of one isolated rescue center? The WIDECAST center was located off the energy grid, which means that it was condemned to use a gasoline-run generator to be able to perform any educational activity. Education is an important part of conservation. Now, the solar system provides enough energy to reduce the use of a generator and the center is able to perform seminars, trainings and presentations for groups of volunteers and school children, simply by using green energy. The new solar panel installation also enhanced research activities, as it is now possible to charge all scientific equipment needed for carrying out beach patrols and data collection. The solar energy directly reached the turtles in the small rescue center, which benefit from installing an electric water filter for the turtle tank, improving the water quality for sea turtles in rehabilitation. In addition, the constant energy supply generates more security in a center isolated like Pacuare, since being able to regularly charge cell phones guarantees a connection with the outside world. Moreover, the installation of the solar system in Pacuare has simply improved the quality of life for staff and volunteers, who can now enjoy basics that became a standard for the majority of people, like being able to use a fridge and having light in their cabins, bathrooms and shared areas.

More about WIDECAST

The project was initiated for the Sea Turtle Rescue and Conservation Center (www.widecast.org), located at Pacuare beach. This very remote beach between Tortugero and Limón, only accessible by boat, is a nesting site for several species of sea turtles - Leatherback, Green and occasionally Hawksbill turtles. The center organizes nightly and daily beach patrols and operates a hatchery and small rescue center for injured turtles. WIDECAST’s conservation project in Pacuare is a great example of working together with the local community, where former poachers have been trained in sea turtle conservation and work together with volunteers to protect the critically endangered animals. The organization also strives to increase alternative livelihoods for coastal communities, to take the need for poaching and hunting turtles away and to achieve long-lasting sustainable sea turtle management. Education as well as outreach activities are an essential tool to raise awareness in the region, where illegal poaching and traditional hunting is still an issue.