Jesús "Chuy" Lucero
Coordinator, Grupo Tortuguero
Chuy Lucero was born in 1962 to a fisherman family in Puerto Adolfo López Mateos, Baja California Sur, México. Upon finishing high school, he dedicated himself mainly to coastal fishing in López Mateos and Cabo San Lázaro. However, it was during his brief stint in Cabo Pulmo, working as a raft tour guide for tourists going snorkelling, diving, or sport fishing, that he first became involved in the conservation of sea turtles. It was here that Chuy participated in a workshop given by Raquel Briseño from the Mazatlán Aquarium and Pedro Márquez from the Don Manuel Orantes Turtle Camp. This workshop discussed sea turtle conservation in general, and it included specific training regarding how to handle and protect sea turtle nests (such as the Olive Ridley and Leatherback nests near Cabo Pulmo). Shortly thereafter, Chuy was already participating in beach surveys, many times traversing the beaches on foot, due to a lack of other forms of transportation for the group. Slowly Chuy began integrating himself into the Grupo Tortuguero, and through his exceptional dedication and extensive experience in the waters of the Pacific, he emerged as a prime candidate to be the next field coordinator for the Grupo Tortuguero.

Melania C. López
Scientific Coordinator
Melania holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Baja California Sur and a Master’s degree in Marine Ecology from CICESE (Centro de Investigación Científica y Estudios Superiores de Ensenada). Her main interest is the conservation of sea turtles in the Baja California Peninsula and so far has focused her research on the nesting areas of olive ridley sea turtles in the southern part of the peninsula. Her interest in sea turtle biology has led her to participate in diverse projects in Baja California and meet with local groups eager to help in the conservation of these animals, as well as know more about the social problems of their communities, which is an important part in the conservation of sea turtles.Melania can be reached at melania@grupotortuguero.org.

Johath Laudino Santillán
Environmental Education Coordinator
Johath was born in Mexico City, México and received his degree in Marine Biology from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur. As an environmental educator, his mission in life is to use learning/teaching techniques to help the greatest number of people possible develop a sensitivity toward nature’s beauty and the use of natural resources, as well as pride in where they live. He has developed projects to help elementary school teachers find the simplest and most instructive ways to present different environmental conservation topics. In addition, he has conducted workshops concerning biodiversity, sea turtles, responsible consumption, the separation of solid waste, and the development of awareness and respect for the environment. Currently he has a radio program in the city of La Paz about the importance of protected natural areas and is also carrying out a project in environmental education for the communities of Grupo Tortuguero. Johath can be reached at johath@grupotortuguero.org.

Pro Peninsula
Pro Peninsula, a U.S-based organization dedicated to environmental preservation in Baja California, is the coordinating body of the Grupo Tortuguero. Pro Peninsula works with Grupo Tortuguero to manage the sea turtle monitoring project, promote community-level outreach and education and organize biannual network meetings. Pro Peninsula, whose mission is to empower communities and organizations on the Baja California peninsula to protect and preserve their environment, is pleased to work with the Grupo Tortuguero to see that the movement continues to mature and grow. Pro Peninsula team members Kama Dean, Chris Pesenti and Daniel Durazo can all be reached at info@propeninsula.org.