Prior to its designation as a Managed Resource Protected Area, El Nido was declared a Turtle Sanctuary in 1984, due to its vital role as a habitat for marine turtles to mate, nest, forage, and develop. All five marine turtle species found in the country have been recorded there, with three species, namely, green, hawksbill and olive ridley, nesting on its beaches. Despite this, these species remain threatened by rising sea levels, high temperatures, predation, poaching, fisheries interaction, and coastal development—all contributing to mortality without sustained intervention. In response, the El Nido Marine Turtle Conservation Network (ENMTCN) was created in 2017 to promote a collaborative, science-based approach for turtle conservation in El Nido. Since then, it has saved over 2,000 nests, released more than 150,000 hatchlings, rehabilitated 10 strandings, led a campaign against motorized vehicles in beaches, sustained 4 years of incubation temperature monitoring, and engaged thousands of locals and tourists.
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