The Leatherback Project is an NGO founded and lead by Callie Veelenturf, a marine biologist who conducts ocean conservation projects to protect endangered marine turtle species and advance rights of nature legislation.

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Multi-year funding has been pledged, alongside other funders, for the Pearl Islands Archipelago Marine Turtles, MPAs, Rights of Nature and the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor expansion in the Gulf of Panama.

 

Starting with Saboga Island, the goal of the project is to create a new turtle marine reserve that will help study and protect local marine turtle populations with the participation, and for the benefit of local communities.

 

Callie Veelenturf and her local teams have also drafted and helped pass two rights of nature laws enacted by the Panamanian legislature and signed by the president of the country. 

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