Billion Baby Turtles T's

PuruKai's Billion Baby Turtle t-shirt sales support sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica. Our friends at SEETurtles and WIDECAST will save five baby sea turtles for every shirt sold.

Most of our friends know that the Billion Baby Turtles project supports sea turtle conservation efforts like ours. Billion Baby Turtles funds, at work all over Central America, go towards paying local residents to patrol important turtle nesting beaches, protecting turtles that come up to nest, and ensuring that the eggs are protected.

The folks at PuraKai explain their name and business model:

Save five turtles. Buy a t-shirt.

The story of Purakai is the story of capturing the spirit of two great cultures. The name PuraKai is derived from the Costa Rican phrase Pura Vida, and Kai, the Hawaiian word for ocean. Giving PuraKai the meaning of “Pure Ocean”.

As eco-minded entrepreneurs we feel the there is a better way to make clothing. Clothing made without herbicides, pesticides, GMO's, or harmful dyes, without toxic run off from cotton fields polluting our surf, ruining our beaches, and destroying our fragile coastal eco-systems. Clothing a surfer, stand up paddler, freediver, spearfisherman or other water lover can wear proudly.

Advancing Bird Conservation Across the Americas

This week, Sarah Otterstrom, our Executive Director, and Julie Martinez, our Environmental Education Coordinator are at the 5th International Partners in Flight Conference and Conservation Workshop.

We have made a 40-year commitment to bird research and conservation in the Paso del Istmo Biological Corridor. Our integrated approach includes mapping habitat areas, characterizing land cover, reforestation, education, and community outreach. Visit our Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Initiative project profile to learn more.

Read more about our bird conservation initiatives here on our blog.

Cambiando Actitudes y Comportamientos para la Conservación de Aves Migratoria
Changing Attitudes and Behavior for Migratory Bird Conservation in Nicaragua

Educación Ambiental // Environmental Education
Desde hace 2008, más de 300 niños en 6 comunidades han cambiados sus huleras para binoculares. Además, hemos trabajado con más de 100 niños como parte de nuestro programa de “Guarda recursos Junior” para promover la conservación de aves y otros especies en el Paso del Istmo.

Since 2008, 300 children in 6 communities have traded their slingshots for binoculars. Additionally, our “Junior Ranger” program has taught over 100 children about the conservation of migratory birds. 

Conservación // Conservation
Conjunto con propietarios de terrenos privados, hemos reforestado 400 hectáreas de pastizal degradado con especies de arboles que proveen recursos claves para aves migratorios.

We have worked hand-in-hand with landowners to restore abandoned pastures for the conservation of migratory birds by planting tree species that provide key resources for these species. 

Ciencia // Science
En colaboración con el Instituto Internacional de Bosques Tropicales del USFS de los Estados Unidos, desde el 2009 hemos monitoreado las poblaciones de aves migratorios en los fragmentos de bosques más de 30 especies migratorias.

In collaboration with USFS’s International Institute for Tropical Forestry we have monitored the status of migratory birds in forest fragments and reforested areas since 2009. Our team has documented over 30 migratory bird species in our study area. 

Amenazas // Threats
La pérdida de hábitat afecta a toda la biodiversidad de la zona, sobre todo el despale para el establecimiento de potreros. Además ha crecido la presencia de los parques eólicos, con efectos desconocidos en la fauna migratoria.

Habitat loss affects all forms of biodiversity in the area, especially the conversion of forest to pasture. Wind power has grown rapidly in the region, with no consideration of the impact on migratory animals. 

Help us protect and restore migratory bird habitat, monitor migratory bird populations, facilitate bird education, and promote sustainable tourism for birders. Donate today.

Surfonomics: viewshed v. break

In 2002, a surfer named Chad Nelsen enlisted an economist at Duke University to help put a price tag on a popular surfing spot on Puerto Rico’s northwest coast. Nelsen’s idea was novel: to prove that the waves breaking on the beach constituted a multimillion-dollar asset and persuade the local town to take pains to preserve it.

source: Washington Post

Building on advances in natural resource economics, the new field of surfonomics seeks to better understand how waves and the surfers who ride them are driving economic development in coastal communities.

From this this month's issue of Surfrider's Making Waves:  "When the value of a natural resource is unknown, it is often assigned a value of zero."

We may be loathe to quantify the value of nature, but would quantifying nature help us protect it? Our neighbors in Costa Rica are known for ecotourism's contributions to their flourishing economy. Have you ever stopped to consider how much of that can be attributed to surfing?

Perhaps nowhere in the world has benefitted from surfing as much as the country of Costa Rica. Located in Central America, the county was once as impoverished as its neighbors. In the 1980 ’s and 1990 ’s, encouraged by governmental reforms that provided increased safety and improved infrastructure for travelers, surfers began to travel to Costa Rica in droves, due to its multitude of high quality waves, warm water, and proximity to what was then the world ’s biggest surf market - the United States. Costa Rica often used the image of surfing to promote itself to the world, and now boasts the healthiest economy and highest standard of living in the entire region. This is not to say surfing has been the only driving force in Costa Rica ’s success as a tourism economy, but the sport has inarguably had a positive influence. Here are some statistics from Costa Rica ’s Government Tourism Board:

Surfers Visiting Costa Rica in 2006: 100,278
Average Stay: 17 days
Average Spent per Day: US $122
Approximate Revenue Per Person: US $2074
Approximate Revenue for Costa Rica: US $207,900,000
Population of Costa Rica: 4,400,000

Much like many of our enterprising Costa Rican neighbors, Paso Pacífico's geotourism efforts are aimed at helping international visitors understand the ecological significance of the region where we work and helping local community members maintain traditional livelihoods in the face of rapid development. We are grateful to the support of the surfing community (Nicaraguan and international) in our efforts.

Partner with us! If you're a surfer, join our Surf Ambassadors program. If you're an economist, help us with a surfonomic analysis of eco-tourism development along Nicaragua's Pacific coast. If you can't join us on the ground, join us in spirit: donate to our ocean conservation efforts.

In the News: 24th Annual Waterman's Ball

"For the surf industry, last weekend was prom."

For the fourth year in a row, we were pleased to attend the Waterman's Ball, the surf industry's annual environmental fundraising event, hosted by SIMA:

“Do what you love and help along the way,” a statement from Special Recognition Award recipient Jon Rose, was an overarching theme of this year’s Waterman’s Weekend as the surf industry gathered to raise money for the SIMA Environmental Fund grant beneficiaries.

“All of the money raised tonight goes to lead SIMA’s ongoing effort to protect beaches and oceans, efforts that have contributed millions of dollars to critical protection of our most cherished resource,” SIMA President Doug Palladini said as he reminded attendees why the Waterman’s Ball is so important to the world of surfing.

Paso Pacífico's representatives:
Kate, Wendy & Teresa

The event is more than just a fundraiser. It's a night to honor those who have contributed the most to both the sport of surfing and to ocean conservation efforts. Working with SIMA and the International Surfing Association the past few years, we are pleased to be included in this tribe of ocean lovers dedicated to protecting their playground.

ESPN's Jake Howard gives us a rundown of the night's honorees and says of Waterman of the Year, Fernando Aguerre: "one of Aguerre's great talents is his ability to make one feel at ease, like an old friend." We agree with Jake. If you haven't already seen it, take a few minutes to watch the video of Fernando with our junior park rangers at the ISA World Juniors in June.

TransWorld Business reports that "by the time the live and silent auctions were over more than $400,000 was donated to a variety of ocean-related charities." 

Thanks to Nicaragua's own CHICABRAVA for donating a week-long surf camp and Eco-Surf Adventure, and thanks to the members of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) and the SIMA Environmental Fund for supporting ocean conservation efforts around the world.

Read more about our Surf Ambassadors program and our ocean conservation efforts on our website and here on our blog.

For more photos from the event, check out the Waterman's Ball slideshows at Shop-Eat-Surf.com and Surfline. The photos you see here are courtesy of Teresa Lang (and a nice woman who snapped our group shot).

Nicaraguan Eco-Surf Adventure

Are you going to the Waterman's Ball this weekend?

If so, look for the Nicaraguan Eco-Surf Adventure package donated by our amigas at CHICABRAVA, which includes the following:

• a one-week CHICABRAVA surf camp in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua


• CHICABRAVA water bottle, tank, and reusable shopping bag


• Entre Lago y Mar DVD highlighting the natural beauty and environmental conservation efforts in the region


• guided trip to a sea turtle nesting beach with Paso Pacífico's Turtle Rangers 

Be sure to bid on this week of adventure. The lucky winner will find herself surfing Nicaragua's world class waves at the CHICABRAVA All Girls Surf Camp & Women's Surf Retreat and visiting a sea turtle nesting beach. If the timing is right, the winner will see nesting sea turtles and/or sea turtle hatchlings (but that's up to the turtles and the moon so we can't guarantee it). No matter the timing, we will answer all your questions about sea turtle ecology and conservation in the Paso del Istmo. With 330 days of offshore winds, we can just about guarantee the waves, so all you need to do to plan a great week of surfing is check the CHICABRAVA camp calendar.

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

thanks to Lake Nicaragua, steady offshore winds ensure great surfing all year long

Karen Lacayo, one of the rangers from our women-run sea turtle nursery, watches as hatchlings emerge from the nest. Ostional, Nicaragua.

Read more about surfing in Nicaragua and about our Surf Ambassadors program.

Work at Paso Pacífico // Oportunidad de trabajar con nosotros

Coordinador del Proyecto

PROYECTO EMPRENDIMIENTO Y LIDERAZGO AMBIENTAL PARA EL GEOTURISMO/FOMIN ATN/ME -13732-NI 
Paso Pacífico, con el apoyo del FOMIN/BID requiere seleccionar y contratar consultor para ocupar el cargo de coordinador de proyecto. El objetivo de este cargo es el de garantizar la coordinación operativa y estratégica que requiere la ejecución y alcance del propósito del proyecto, así como coordinar la Unidad Ejecutora para la obtención de los resultados deseables.  

Para tal efecto invitamos a los consultores que cuenten con conocimiento y experiencia evidenciable a presentar carta de interés acompañado de su CV y la evidencia pertinente. La selección se efectuará conforme a los procedimientos indicados en las Políticas para la Selección y Contratación de Consultores financiados por el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, edición actual.  

Los interesados pueden solicitar Términos de Referencia y Matriz de Calificación a la siguiente dirección: claudialucia@pasopacifico.org. Hacer llegar carta de interés y el CV a más tardar el 15 de Agosto del 2013 a las 23:00pm a la siguiente dirección electrónica liza@pasopacifico.org.  

Se evaluaran solamente consultores que cumplan con los criterios mínimos establecidos en los Términos de Referencia.

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Project Coordinator

Environmental Leadership and Entrepreneurship for Geotourism Project/FOMIN -- ATN/ME-13732-NI
Paso Pacífico, supported by the Multilateral Investment Fund of the InterAmerican Development Bank (FOMIN/BID), seeks a project coordinator. The objective for this role is to guarantee the operational and strategic coordination necessary to implement the goals outlined in the Environmental Leadership and Entrepreneurship for Geotourism Project.

We invite experienced and knowledgeable consultants to submit a letter of interest, along with your CV, and any additional supporting materials. We will make our selection in accordance with the IDB's current policies for selecting and contracting with consultants.

Potential applicants interested in obtaining the official job description and official checklist of candidate requirements should submit a request to claudialucia@pasopacifico.org. We will only consider applications from consultants who meet the minimal criteria as outlined in the checklist of candidate requirements.

Interested parties who meet the position's minimal requirements should apply by furnishing their letter of interest and CV to liza@pasopacifico.org no later than August 15, 2013 at 11:00pm (Managua time).

Más información sobre esta programa aquí: 

Environmental Leadership and Entrepreneurship for Geotourism