In March 2018, The Mountain launched its new “Protect” line of T-shirts, hats, mugs and tote bags featuring some of the globe’s most vulnerable, threatened or endangered animal species. There’s a higher purpose behind Protect besides just putting out jaw-dropping images of animals: The Mountain is dedicating a percentage of Protect sales back to seven non-profit conservation organizations working to ensure a future on these magnificent creatures. Today, we take a deeper look at one of those seven organizations were partnering with.

WHO: The Sea Turtle Conservancy

WHERE: Headquartered in Florida, the organization began its work in Costa Rica but has expanded its research and conservation efforts throughout Central America and the wider Caribbean.

THE SITUATION: While sea turtles have survived for 100 million years, their survival is now suddenly in jeopardy due to human activities. Sea turtles have vital roles of the ecosystem, and in particular, with sea grass and beach/dune systems. Turtles graze on sea grasses which helps to keep the grasses healthy and encourages the plants to spread across the sea floor. The sea grass provides habitats for many marine species, and as turtle populations decline the sea grass also diminishes.

Beaches and dunes do not hold onto nutrients, which are essential for vegetation. This may be a little dark, but not every turtle nest hatches, and not every hatchling will make it out of the nest. The remains become part of the ecosystem, becoming nutrients for dune vegetation. As plants grow, the roots hold onto the sand and prevent beach erosion. As turtles decline, fewer eggs are laid in the beaches and the vegetation lose a major source of nutrients.

WHAT THEY DO (NUTSHELL VERSION): The Sea Turtle Conservancy carries out worldwide programs to conserve and recover sea turtle populations through research, education, advocacy and protection of the natural habitats.

WHAT THEY DO (DETAILS):

All sea turtles found in U.S. waters are federally listed as endangered, except for the loggerhead which is listed as threatened.The natural obstacles faced by young and adult sea turtles are staggering. These threats include marine debris, beach erosion, predation and climate change. But it is human activities that are driving them to extinction, such as commercial fishing and pollution.

For nearly 60 years the Sea Turtle Conservancy has focused on saving sea turtles from extinction through rigorous science-based conservation. Concentrating their efforts on monitoring, protecting and advocating for critical beaches and habitats in the wider Caribbean and Atlantic where colonies of green turtles, loggerheads, hawksbills and leatherbacks nest.