The beaches of Bahia are well-known as a breeding area for sea turtles. In order to save the sea turtles from extinction, the TAMAR project was created, with its main facility in Praia do Forte. At TAMAR sea turtles of all shape and sizes can be seen.
TAMAR was set up in 1980 to preserve the sea turtles, who lay their eggs on the beaches and were in threat of extinction. TAMAR is one of the most successful preservation projects in Brazil, Praia do Forte is now the headquarters of the extensive national turtle preservation project and receives funding from the World Wildlife Fund.
Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA is the national sea turtle conservation and research program in Brazil. TAMAR is a network of more than 20 conservation and research stations spread out over the continental coast and oceanic islands in Brazil, with community participation and local development . The research and conservation station at Praia do Forte, in Bahia , was founded in 1980. Data on nesting female turtles and their nests have been collected yearly, and a hatchery was erected to incubate clutches at risk due to heavy use by tourists or intense night-time lighting from nearby houses or hotels. In 1987, data collection on all nesting beaches monitored by TAMAR was standardized, thereby facilitating comparisons among both areas and years.
The area monitored is visited mainly by Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), with Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), and Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) also nesting. The total area monitored by the base of Praia do Forte currently covers about 50 kilometers of nesting beach, from the Jacuipe river north to the Sauipe river and is cut by several smaller rivers in between.
