In Nautla, Veracruz, 50 university students from Germany, the United States, France, Taiwan, Belgium, Brazil, Slovakia, and Mexico gathered at the Veracruz Center for Research and Conservation of Marine Turtles, driven by the Yépez Foundation, to participate in beach clean-ups, environmental education, and conservation of endangered species.
The meeting aims to exchange knowledge and experiences among young people from different disciplines and countries, reinforcing ecological awareness and the commitment to biodiversity.
Alyssa Olsen, from New Zealand, a student of Engineering and Environmental Sciences, highlighted the advances made by the Yépez Foundation in mitigating environmental problems: “I came to connect with like-minded people and learn more about environmental issues in Mexico; it’s a very good experience”.
Meanwhile, Henna Hartman, from Finland, valued the opportunity to experience Nautla: “I wanted to see up close what they do in that area, where they do great work”.
Sofía Higareda and Diego Culber, from Anáhuac University Mexico, emphasized the importance of applying in the field what they learned in class: “One thing is in the classroom and another is putting it into practice”.
Results of the activities
During a clean-up day, the students collected 150 kilograms of trash in just 600 meters of beach, highlighting the magnitude of the solid waste problem in natural areas. They also participated in marine turtle conservation tasks, reinforcing the protection of critical nesting sites in the Gulf of Mexico.
The director of the Foundation, Ricardo Yépez Gerón, emphasized that most foreign students bring successful experiences from their countries, enriching local work. He also recalled that the Foundation was recognized by the Tecnológico de Monterrey for five consecutive years as a training partner, collaborating with more than 500 students in social service and professional practices.
Importance of conserving marine turtles
The protection of turtles in Nautla is vital for:
- Ecological balance: they maintain the health of seagrass beds and reefs, essential for commercial species like lobster and shrimp.
- Critical nesting: Nautla’s beaches concentrate 80% of the nesting in the state of Veracruz.
- Cultural and tourism value: the ecotourism of releasing hatchlings generates awareness and economic benefits for the community.
- Fight against extinction: conservation combats incidental fishing and egg poaching, ensuring the survival of species that take up to 15 years to mature.
The international meeting in Nautla demonstrates how global and community collaboration can strengthen the conservation of endangered species and the protection of marine ecosystems. The participation of university students not only provides practical solutions but also fosters a shared environmental culture that transcends borders.
