Uniting Indigenous Knowledge to Protect Coastal Ecosystems and Sea Turtles.
Biodiversity
Protecting nesting sites, supporting hatchling survival across the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, and other species that rely on healthy coastal ecosystems.
Ecosystem Conservation
Restoring and safeguarding wetlands, beaches, and marine habitats for communities and wildlife.
Indigenous Stewardship
Working alongside Indigenous communities to drive conservation, cultural revitalization, and sustainable livelihoods.
Coastal Communities from Colombia to Mexico
Ancestral Tides is an Amazon Conservation Team special initiative to protect coastal ecosystems and sea turtles by connecting indigenous-led conservation efforts and revitalizing associated indigenous knowledge.
For 30 years, ACT has partnered with indigenous peoples in the Amazon to co-create novel and holistic conservation projects. During this time, we have also selectively worked by invitation with a handful of indigenous peoples outside of the Amazon.
In the last years, through natural geographic expansion and direct requests from indigenous communities to jointly protect sea turtle habitats, Ancestral Tides was born.
Expanding the Scope of Indigenous Environmental Stewardship
Terrestrial and marine ecosystems are often seen as distinct and separate systems. However, ecological connectivity extends from the land down into the ocean and vice versa. Indigenous ecological stewardship also extends into the ocean, despite current official reserve categories that limit their domain to terrestrial management.
Indigenous peoples living near the coast have profound relationships with the ocean, which not only provides bountiful food sources, but also holds great cultural and spiritual significance for them.
Sea Turtles: Connectors Between Land and Sea
In Latin America, there has been very little focus on indigenous-led biocultural coastal ecosystem efforts. This is also true of efforts to conserve sea turtles, a species emblematic of the connection between the two great biomes.
Utilizing both indigenous knowledge and Western scientific traditions, we aim to simultaneously conserve these coastal ecosystems and sea turtles while revitalizing associated cultural traditions.
Furthermore, by linking community-led conservation efforts in Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico, we will begin to build regional solidarity in coastal conservation and facilitate cultural dialogues.
Where Ancestral Tides Began
Accomplishments by the numbers
Sea turtle hatchlings released
Sea turtle nests protected
Kilometers of beach covered in biological monitoring
Indigenous and local communities leading conservation of sea turtles and their ecosystems
Testimonials
"In the past, we didn't use to give much importance to sea turtles, but after the training with ACT and working with sea turtles directly, I realized the importance of their protection. I would like my daughters to work in sea turtle conservation so they can continue this work with the new generations, when we are no longer around". -Yinela Salazar, Community leader of the Emberá people, Darién, Panama.
"My greatest dream is that my entire community sees what we see and feels the same way, and that one day, the sea turtles will no longer be in danger of extinction". -Mayra Astorga, Community leader of the Comcáac people, Sonora, Mexico.
"With ACT in La Guajira, we have been able to strengthen awareness processes within our community and raise awareness of the importance of these species for their conservation, creating human touch and environmental awareness. We also want to continue these processes that translate into the conservation of such important species for our people". - Oscar Ceballos, Community leader of the Wayúu people, La Guajira, Colombia.
Conserving Flamingos and Coastal Ecosystems
Along Colombia’s Caribbean coast, ACT supports efforts to protect wetlands that sustain the American flamingo, an umbrella species whose survival reflects the health of entire coastal ecosystems.
Safeguarding these habitats helps conserve countless other species while supporting the communities that depend on these landscapes for their livelihoods.
Conservation Led by Communities
Working alongside Wayúu communities, the project strengthens Indigenous-led conservation through ecological monitoring, sustainable livelihoods, and the revitalization of traditional knowledge.
Local stewardship plays a key role in protecting both flamingo populations and the coastal ecosystems they call home.
About the Wayúu People:
Wayúu society is traditionally matrilineal and organized into clans connected to specific territories and totemic animals. Women play central roles as leaders and organizers within their communities, and female authorities often represent their people in public spaces.
Family and community life are guided by strong kinship structures that continue to shape stewardship of coastal territories today.
Why Flamingos Matter
Flamingos are indicators of ecological balance.
Their famous pink color comes from the algae and small crustaceans they eat, and their presence signals healthy wetlands that benefit wildlife, fisheries, and surrounding communities alike.
Ancestral Tides Annual Report 2024
Through our Ancestral Tides program, the Amazon Conservation Team partners with Indigenous and local communities to protect sea turtles and the coastal ecosystems they call home—from the Gulf of California to Colombia.
Together, we’ve worked to safeguard five species of sea turtles, including the critically endangered hawksbill turtle. By combining ancestral knowledge with modern biological monitoring, our approach has helped thousands of hatchlings survive their epic 10,000-mile ocean journey and return to the very beaches where they were born.
We're excited to share some of the highlights from the past year in our Ancestral Tides Annual Report 2024.
Stories From The Field
Along the coasts from Mexico to Colombia, communities are advancing Indigenous-led coastal conservation and protecting the species that connect land and sea.
Explore stories from the field on biodiversity, cultural revitalization, and ecosystem stewardship.
