Karla Georgina Barrientos Muñoz
Scientific director and co-founder
Our story
We keep adding years, but above all, dreams
Fundación Tortugas del Mar was born on 16 October 2014 in Envigado, Antioquia: far from the coast, but very close to the sea. It was born from a certainty: Colombia’s sea turtles needed science, education and, above all, people willing to work together for them.
Since then we keep adding years, but above all, dreams. We have walked alongside fishers who now hand over alive the turtles they once sold, children who grew up to lead monitoring programs, and communities that turned their beaches into sanctuaries.
This Foundation is possible thanks to thousands of people: the communities of each territory, our allies, volunteers, donors and the whole Turtle Family. Thank you all for helping us make dreams come true.
Our mission
“To contribute to the knowledge, recovery and conservation of sea turtle populations and their associated ecosystems in the Colombian Caribbean and Pacific, driven by scientific research, environmental education and community and inter-institutional collaboration.”
#Research
Systematic monitoring with globally standardized protocols. We measure, tag and photo-identify to understand how turtles live along our coasts.
#Education
Children's books, community workshops, courses and talks. You can protect the sea even from the mountains.
#Conservation
Joint work with fishers, communities, children, institutions and companies so every turtle can go back home.
Scientific director
Karla Georgina Barrientos Muñoz
Scientific director and co-founder
Nearly 20 years ago, at La Playona, alongside the leatherbacks and the COCOMASUR community, I understood this would be my decision and life mission. Since then, every turtle that returns to the sea reminds me why we do this together.
Biologist from the Universidad de Antioquia, with nearly 20 years of work with sea turtles. She is the Colombia Coordinator of WIDECAST (Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network) and has been a member of the International Sea Turtle Society since 2011. She co-authored the sea turtle entries in Colombia's Red Book of Reptiles (Instituto Humboldt / UdeA), wrote the children's book "Colombia, Mar de Tortugas" and was technical advisor on "Lorenza la Tortuga Marina" (La Guajira, with a Wayuunaiki translation). She leads the scientific work with the Colombian Navy in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve.
The field team
Behind every release there are people from the territory who make it possible.
Alejandra Toro
Field leader, Isla Fuerte
Miller Valencia
Local expert, Bahía Málaga
Allies
We don't do any of this alone. This is our joint work with communities, organizations, companies and institutions.
- Consejos Comunitarios
- COCOMASUR
- WIDECAST
- SEE Turtles
- Conservación Internacional
- Madreagua
- Punta Faro
- La Playita Isla Fuerte
- DivingLife Studios
- Parques Nacionales Naturales
- Armada de Colombia
- MinAmbiente
Logos coming soon
Education and experiences
"Colombia, Mar de Tortugas"
A children's book written by Karla Barrientos.
"Lorenza la Tortuga Marina"
A children's book from La Guajira, with a Wayuunaiki translation and technical advice from Karla Barrientos.
Certified course in Nuquí
Training on marine mammals and sea turtles in the Chocó Pacific.
Talks in Medellín
You can protect the sea even from the mountains.
Conservation Menu
Partnerships with restaurants to think about where our food comes from.
Viajes ConSentido
Community-based, scientific ecotourism in Arusí, Nuquí, with Madreagua.
Transparency
We want you to know how we work and where every gift goes.
- Legal name
- Fundación Tortugas del Mar
- Tax ID (NIT)
- To be confirmed
- Special Tax Regime (RTE)
- To be confirmed
- Annual report
- To be confirmed
Every peso is used in the field(to be confirmed)