New island community aims to protect turtle nesting grounds

Sales of homes on a  new Panama island residential community, targeted to preserve the nesting habitats of sea turtles, will begin in September.
The future of the air-breathing reptiles concerns nature-lovers everywhere and any any encroachment into their habitat is watched carefully.
From April through October, nesting is when endangered and threatened sea turtles get their chance to expand their shrinking populations. The Panama coastline is a key nesting ground for many sea turtle species, and its warm, equatorial waters are home to five different types: the hawksbill, loggerhead, green, leatherback and olive ridley species. This time of the year, newly hatched turtles can be seen struggling across Panama’s sandy beaches towards the sea.
“People occasionally come across a nest of sea turtle hatchlings on some of the area beaches,” said Ben Loomis, President of Amble Resorts and their Panama real estate project, The Resort at Isla Palenque. “The sight of these rare little sea monsters really heightens your sense of responsibility and protectiveness.” Loomis and his development team recently won an ASLA Honor Award for their ecologically sensitive master plan. Next month, Amble will launch sales of their homes on aa island property in the Gulf of Chiriqui, scheduled for delivery in 2012.

Loomis says: “To prevent hatchlings from being disoriented, we’re limiting the use of bright artificial lighting near the coast,” said Loomis. “And to make sure mother sea turtles can come ashore to make their nests, we’ll avoid constructing artificial barriers near the shore.” Once The Resort at Isla Palenque opens in 2012, waste water treatment and recycling practices will be implemented to responsibly dispose of waste, keeping the ocean pure and protecting area wildlife.
Panama’s coasts provide many nesting havens for sea turtles during this vital season. Chiriqui Beach in the Bocas del Toro Province remains one of the most important sites for nesting leatherback turtles in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Sea Turtle Conservancy says that as many as 7,170 to 14,005 endangered leatherbacks nest between northern Costa Rica and central Panama. On the Pacific side of Panama, the Gulf of Chiriqui is home to a rich variety of marine life, including multiple sea turtle species.
“If more people can get close to natural wonders like these sea turtles, in a responsible way without harming them,” says Loomis, “Then they’ll feel that same sense of responsibility and protectiveness I do.”
Amble Resorts was founded by Loomis in 2007 to develop and own upscale hotels and resorts to provide “ecologically and culturally sensitive travel experiences.”
The company’s new Panama real estate project, aims to open in late 2012 with a boutique hotel, ingeniously designed residences, and sumptuous amenities says a press release from the company.
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