Nativu Manifest: We believe in the impact of decisions with purpose to achieve surprising results.

For a long time, products based on sea turtles were exploited for human consumption, to the point of placing them in danger of extinction. However, there are people who noticed the problem and dedicated themselves to being part of the solution like Valerie Guthrie. Who is part of the Vida Verdiazul Association (AVIVE).

The AVIVE association, based in Junquillal Beach in Santa Cruz, was created to protect leatherback turtles and their spawning, but with the limitation of labor. With this need the solution is born. The solution was found in volunteering; foreign or national people willing to learn from the process of turtle nesting and wishing to help.

Among the different activities in which the volunteer participates you can find: patrols to prevent the looting of the nests, control the arrival of the turtles, helping to educate the community and collecting the eggs to take them to the Hatchery (Special area that increases the hatching possibilities of the turtles).

They also helped to reforest the area and today they have 6.000 trees planted. With this, variety of fauna increased and new species arrived such as coatis, raccoons and also new species of sea turtles like hawksbill turtle which had no record since 6 years ago.

Valerie Guthrie and all the other members of the Verdiazul Life Association, are an example and inspiration that reaffirms a fundamental part of the Nativu Manifesto:

“We believe in the impact of decisions with purpose to achieve amazing results.”

Since 2004 Valerie Guthrie was responsible for the administration of the area, having faith in the impact that her decision to stand firm would have. Today they see the fruits of their association’s work and inspire, not only the community of Guanacaste but Costa Rica in general, to be part of this project and maintain the country’s marine biodiversity.