Manuela Patricia Hernández Gómez is one of Conservation Nation’s 2023 emerging conservationist grant winners. She is a renowned biologist and herpetologist who is passionately dedicated to the conservation of tropical and marine reptiles, as well as coastal and tropical ecosystems.
Manuela graduated from the University of Magdalena in 2017 with a degree in biology. It was there that her love for herpetology grew – and it led to a master’s degree in 2021 from the same university.
However, Manuela’s love of learning is lifelong. In addition to those two degrees, she has completed diploma programs in ecological corridors and tropical amphibian conservation. And since 2018 she has been a member of the administrative staff of the Bosque Colombiano Foundation, which focuses on completing important conservation projects. (Manuela has left a significant mark on the conservation community there, as she has been involved in completing eight projects!)
We’re so excited to welcome such a passionate, committed, and experienced conservationist to our community.
Herpetological Hospital: Saving the Iconic Hawksbill Turtle on the Colombian Atlantic Coast
Manuela’s project focuses on the conservation of the iconic hawksbill turtle – specifically the 106 mother turtles that nest each year along the Colombian coast. Her goal is to create a protected marine area to reduce the threats that these turtles face by 90 percent.
Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered, so the conservation of the animal – and creation of safe nesting areas – is critical. These turtles currently face illegal trafficking and poaching, often for their beautiful shells; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; and habitat destruction.
In addition to creating a safe nesting habitat through the creation of a first aid office for rescued and injured turtles, Manuela will train 300 indigenous Kankuamo people in sea turtle conservation. Young people trained during this project will go on to be leaders in the conservation effort, ensuring this project continues for at least 10 years – and giving hawksbill turtles a fighting chance to continue surviving and thriving!
