climate crisis risk in the Mediterranean - Corriere.it

With the warming of the seas due to the climate crisis, sea ​​turtles have arrived on the Italian, Spanish and French coasts, and since 2013 nesting has increased rapidly, reaching in the last two seasons the record number of 146. Depositions occurred on the Tyrrhenian coasts of Italy (84.5%), followed by Spain (13.9%) and France (1.5%). And on the occasion of World Sea Turtle Day which is celebrated on June 16th Legambiente raised the alarm urging action to ensure the conservation of the species in the western Mediterranean.

It is from these considerations that the project was born Life Turtlenest, co-financed by the "Life" program of the European Union and coordinated by Legambiente, which aims to improve the conservation of the Caretta caretta turtles, implementing the protection of nesting sites through the awareness of the bodies managing protected areas and administrations, beach managers, tourists and swimmers. Indeed, 87% of the nests discovered in the western Mediterranean are located on beaches with a high anthropic impact (in or near bathing establishments or structures built on the beaches); 88% of the coasts are also exposed to light pollution; Almost a third of the nests it was transferred because the females spawned too close to the water or in unsuitable places (for example sand mixed with earth and pebbles) as a possible response to the obstacles present on the beach and to the intense light or noise pollution.

But if climate change drives turtles towards new areas, unfortunately, often these beaches cannot be considered suitable for welcoming the species, so much so that between 2021 and 2022 115 failed nesting attempts were recorded. This number is decidedly underestimated since monitoring is not systematic and complete everywhere. The inhospitality of the coasts also affects baby turtles who, used to following the moon to orient themselves and get to the sea, often find themselves disoriented by artificial lights. The first documented "anomalous" nest was found in July 2001 on a beach in the province of Almeria in southeastern Spain.

«The presence of sea turtles along our coasts, as well as representing one richness in terms of biodiversityalso constitutes a resource from a socio-economic point of view. The fact that the mother turtle chooses to nest in some locations constitutes, in fact, an added value by representing an identity element that can be used as a territorial marketing lever», he explains Stephen DiMarco, Coordinator of the Projects Office of Legambiente and project manager of Turlenest. "It is therefore necessary that, in addition to the scientific community, economic operators, local administrators and communities also become aware of the added value that the turtle represents and work together to adequately protect this species".