Mexican environmental agency Profepa expands turtle nesting protection and citizen wildlife committees

The Federal Prosecutor for Environmental Protection (Profepa) is intensifying its biodiversity safeguards across Mexico. In Oaxaca, Profepa coordinated a permanent monitoring operation on Playa Escobilla and Playa Morro Ayuta during the 2026‑2027 marine turtle season. From 4–9 July, 17,206 leatherback turtles were recorded at Escobilla, with an estimated 1.72 million eggs, and from 7–10 July, 3,915 turtles arrived at Morro Ayuta, potentially producing 391,500 eggs. The effort involved joint patrols with the Navy, the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) and the PROREST program.

Separately, Profepa created two citizen environmental‑monitoring committees in the Sierra de Tamaulipas biosphere reserve. Twenty‑three volunteers from Villa de Casas (11 members) and Soto la Marina (12 members) will assist authorities in protecting key species such as jaguar, puma, ocelot, green macaw and Swainson's hawk, and in preventing environmental crimes. The committees receive continuous institutional support for patrols, community education and ecosystem protection.