Page 76 - CARIBE TOURIST GUIDE

Dr. Archie Carr RNVS
Return to map
Ecological Importance
Attractions
Sea turtle nesting beach and coastal vegetation
The sandy beaches are the nesting sites for the four species of sea turtles that come to nest in the re- fuge. Coastal vegetation plays an important role in this process by li- miting the passage of turtles away from beach areas.
The great green macaw and the scarlet macaw
The Dr. Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge was created to protect one of the most important nesting sites in the Western Hemisphere for the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and to protect the nesting beaches of three other species of sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea, Eretmochelys imbricata and Caretta caretta).
In addition to this key ecological characteristic, the refuge conserves secondary remnants of very humid tropical forest and preserves 26 species of vascular plants, 24 species of fish, 12 species of amphibians, 32 species of reptiles, 133 species of birds and 15 species of mammals. Among these species is a population of the endangered great green macaw (Ara ambiguus), with about half of its global population (approximately 1,530 individuals) believed to live in northern Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua. It should be noted that the RNVS-AC is part of the Northeastern Caribbean Wetland, one of the country’s Ramsar wetlands of international importance.
The RNVS-AC is located north of the community of Tortuguero, on the bar that separates the Caribbean Sea from the Tortuguero Lagoon, between coordinates 552000-553500 East longitude and 1168000-1170500 North latitude (CRTM05).
Foto: Andrew Socio
The great green macaw (Ara ambi- guus) is an endangered bird spe- cies. This species has begun to re- cover its population in Tortuguero National Park and the RNVS-AC, an area that is currently one of its main nesting sites.
76
Estuary of the Tortuguero Lagoon
Estuaries provide valuable habitat for shorebirds and a large number of freshwater fish species that are fished by humans. Thirty-three species of marine-coastal birds have been reported, representing 14 families and 7 orders.
ACTo Office of Protected Wilderness Areas.
Tel: 2710-2929 | 2710-2939 acto.recepcion@sinac.go.cr
https://acto.go.cr/