Background

Desarrollo Marina Vallarta, S.A. de C.V., designs and implements an Informational Program to Raise Awareness of Environmental Protection that targets consultants, builders, owners, and users of the Development. This program is conducted through posters placed throughout the turtle camp (part of the Mayan Palace Acapulco’s Marine Turtle Protection Program) and through lectures on environmental education.

Desarrollo Marina Vallarta, S.A. de C.V., has established cooperative agreements with renowned research centers and with competent authorities (SEMARNAT, Acapulco City Hall, schools, and associations of the State of Guerrero) in order to implement a rescue program for marine turtles.

Desarrollo Vallarta, S.A. de C.V., works to preserve animal species. The company contacts turtle camps (such as the Playa Encantada near the project zone) in order to set up Programs for the Reproduction of Wild Fauna Species in Captivity; there are now programs for both marine turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) and iguanas (Iguana iguana)

These programs include:

• Marine turtle population studies.
• Scheduled activities at reproduction centers for both marine turtles and iguanas.
• Educational and recreational activities geared towards young people who visit the centers.
• Designing each center, and the reproduction and protection programs for both species.

MARINE TURTLE PROTECTION PROGRAM

(Lepidochelys olivacea)
Coastal Region of Playa Diamante
Mayan Palace Acapulco<

Since 1995, the Mayan Palace Acapulco Hotel has contributed to the protection and conservation of nature through its Marine Turtle Protection Program.

On its premises there is a “turtle camp” where, from June to December, visitors can observe the nightly arrival of female turtles that leave the ocean to lay their eggs. They can also see incubation sites and read statistics related to protected nests (number of nests, date of capture, number of non-viable eggs, number of turtles that do not lay eggs, and number of new turtles). Yet other features include a photo album, film screenings, slide shows, posters, and a history of the previous seasons. Finally, visitors can watch as these small turtles are returned to the sea.

TOTAL PROTECTED NESTS, COLLECTED EGGS, AND
BABY TURTLES LIBERATED FROM 1995 TO 2006

SEASON	NUMBER OF PROTECTED EGGS	TOTAL EGGS HATCHED	NUMBER OF PROTECTED NESTS
1995	15,051	12,350	155
1996	19,177	16,922	192
1997	58,363	46,673	610
1998	51,773	43,773	598
1999	33,007	28,056	330
2000	41,647	27,621	450
2001	45,711	28,738	471
2002	33,935	21,407	366
2003	34,089	18,699	-474
2004	48,071	24,523	518
2005	111,632	86,396	1211
2006	133,519	102,798	1616
TOTAL	492,456	355,158	4427