Few people speak about conservation with as much heart as Beatriz Carmena, a passionate nature enthusiast and coordinator working to make conservation a meaningful and sustainable way of life for local communities along Mexico’s Oaxacan coast. From sea turtle protection to environmental workshops and cultural exchanges, Beatriz and her team welcome CAS Trips students to experience hands-on conservation in one of the world’s most biodiverse coastal regions.
We sat down with Beatriz to learn more about her journey, the power of conservation, and what makes Mexico and its people so special.
To start off, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what first sparked your interest in conservation work?
Since I was a kid, I have always had a lot of empathy for animals. Growing up in Spain, I think it was really my mom’s enthusiasm for nature that shaped me. I spent many weekends outdoors with her, developing a deep love for the environment.
I decided to study environmental engineering, which allowed me to do my internship working with sea turtles in Oaxaca —truly a dream come true, a job I never expected. I connected with Oaxaca right away and knew I wanted to do something more.
And so you have! What does your role as Coordinator involve daily?
In trying to find the best way to support local groups in their conservation work, I started traveling as a volunteer myself, to Portugal, England, and India, looking for rural and environmental projects that could inspire me. That’s how the idea came about to receive volunteers for short periods who could directly fund conservation and rural development projects.
It was very challenging at first because I didn’t have much professional experience beyond volunteering. Being the only one responsible for a group of people was scary! My first volunteer group arrived during COVID, and all the restrictions made it a challenging but memorable experience. We had to adapt to new safety protocols, find creative ways to continue our work, and support each other through the uncertainty.
As coordinator, I handle everything — contacting volunteers, sharing information, organizing logistics with local groups (accommodation, meals, transport, materials), and accompanying volunteers during most activities. These days, I’m lucky to have the support of other coordinators, since I oversee three different projects: turtle and deer conservation in Ventanilla, rural development in Manialtepec, and the volunteer program in Escobilla. If I’m not in one project, I’m in another!
I have seen you quoted elsewhere as saying your mission is to “turn conservation into a high-quality way of life.” What does that mean to you personally, and how do you see it come to life in the community you work with?
Before starting my current project, I saw how local groups worked every day as volunteers — patrolling beaches, facing poachers, and struggling to make a living. During my thesis in Escobilla, I noticed that people involved in turtle conservation still identified as farmers or fishermen because protecting turtles didn’t provide enough income to feed their families, even though they spent six or more hours a day doing so.
Now, ecotourism provides crucial funding, allowing people involved in conservation to make a living. But visitors often don’t see the effort that goes into the work. I thought it would be wonderful to have volunteers who could both support the conservation directly and experience it alongside local teams.
I also believe the best way to honestly know a place is to work with the people who care for it. That’s how I felt during my time volunteering on the Oaxacan coast, twice for five months each in 2016/17 and 2017/18.
The communities along Oaxaca’s coast have such a special connection with the sea and its wildlife. What have you learned from working alongside the local people there?
They’re incredibly in tune with nature, with the moon, the sun, and the rhythms of life. Sostenes, one of the founders of the cooperative Centro Ecoturístico Escobilla, wakes up without an alarm, just by knowing when the moon will rise and calling the turtles to the shore. Many people are like him. They can tell the time from the position of the sun, or predict animal behavior simply by observing. This deep connection and understanding of nature is truly inspiring.
They remind me how disconnected city life can make us from nature. In Escobilla, people even talk to wildlife. One woman told me she speaks to the ants near her home, asking them to move away peacefully. And they do! They also speak softly to snakes to calm them before moving them, and ask the forest’s permission before entering.
It’s a different way of being, one full of respect and understanding. And it’s made me realize how easy it is to overlook the beauty of what surrounds us every day.
Sea turtle conservation is at the heart of your work. What’s something most people might not know about these incredible animals or their nesting process?
Here are some fun facts!
- They return to nest on the same beach where they were born.
- They can hold their breath for 4–7 hours, depending on activity.
- Olive ridley turtles have an arribada phenomenon — up to 120,000 nesting in a single day!
- Males have longer tails, and once they reach the sea, they never return to land.
- A single turtle can lay between 60 and 120 eggs, depending on the species.
- Temperature determines the sex: higher temperatures produce females, lower temperatures produce males.
- Only about one in every 1,000 hatchlings reaches adulthood.
And they can live up to 70 years!
Amazing! You’ve welcomed many student groups through CAS Trips. What is it like to work with young people on these projects? Do you see their perspectives shift during their time in Mexico?
I love how curious and open students are, how everything is new for them. They’re constantly amazed by the projects and the people they meet. I really hope these experiences inspire them to stay involved in conservation and to bring better environmental practices into their everyday lives.
Do you have a favorite memory or story from a CAS Trip that has stayed with you?
There are always so many fun moments when students come to Mexico; they bring so much curiosity and laughter. One that still makes me smile was a student trying their first tamal and accidentally eating it with the leaves still on!
Apart from conservation work, students also get involved in community and cultural activities such as English lessons, workshops, and beach cleanups. Why do you think it’s essential for them to experience this broader aspect of life in Escobilla?
If you miss the chance to live with the community, you miss an essential part of truly knowing a place. I didn’t decide to live in Mexico just because it’s beautiful. It’s the people, their knowledge, their energy. Mexicans are warm, welcoming, and funny, with a deep understanding of things many Westerners can’t imagine: magic, the healing power of plants, and the guidance of spirits.
All of this, the culture, the people, the turtles, has shaped a new version of me.
Mexico is known for its warmth, heritage, and delicious food! What are some of your favorite local traditions or dishes to share with visitors?
I love tamales! I often organize workshops for volunteers to make them together. One of my favorite experiences was joining an initiative to clean and decorate the graves of loved ones during Día de Muertos. It is such a beautiful and meaningful tradition.
In other villages, the community gathers to plant trees, clean, or repair streets for special events once or twice a year. It’s called tequio, unpaid community work done to help the village thrive. I think it’s one of the most beautiful traditions of the coast. And of course, I love celebrating El Grito de la Independencia on September 15th, Mexico’s most patriotic and joyful night!
Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of conservation efforts along the Oaxacan coast?
I would love to see new conservation groups grow strong enough to make a living through their work — so that the entire coast becomes a sustainable, thriving destination full of life.
Finally, if you could give one piece of advice to students coming to Mexico for their CAS Trip, what would it be?
Be very open-minded and don’t have expectations. Mexico is different for everyone. Every visit, every experience, reveals something unique. If you miss one thing, it just means something else special is waiting for you instead.
Thank you, Beatriz, for sharing your story and your passion for conservation! Your work reminds us that protecting the planet begins with connection, to nature, to people, and to the place we call home.
You can learn more about Beatriz and the scope of her conservation efforts through her organization, Tartarukus, here!
