Biocultural Coastal Conservation | Ancestral Tides with Juan Carlos Cruz

What is biocultural coastal conservation — and why does it matter for the future of our oceans? In this episode, conservation scientist Juan Carlos Cruz of the Amazon Conservation Team explains how Indigenous knowledge and Western marine science are being woven together through the Ancestral Tides initiative.Across Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Colombia, and Suriname, coastal Indigenous and local communities are protecting sea turtles, coral reefs, mangroves, and critical nesting beaches using community-based conservation strategies. This work combines biological monitoring, sea turtle tagging, hatchery protection, GPS tracking, fisher partnerships, and livelihood-based conservation — all grounded in ancestral knowledge systems.We explore: • What biocultural conservation actually means • Why sea turtles are biocultural keystone species • How Indigenous-led conservation strengthens marine ecosystems • The connection between coral reefs, fisheries, and food security • How land and sea conservation must work togetherSea turtles migrate thousands of kilometers across oceans — linking forests, beaches, reefs, and coastal communities. Protecting them requires protecting the full ecological and cultural system they move through.This conversation highlights a growing global shift: conservation that centers community leadership, respects traditional knowledge, and recognizes that protecting biodiversity also means protecting culture.Support our science communication by joining us on Patreon or sending us a gift on PayPalSpecial thanks to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for sponsoring this episode.Episode Guests: Juan Carlos CruzVisit the Amazon Conservation Team websiteVisit the Ancestral Tidesw webpageReview the Ancestral Tides Annual ReportEpisode Transcript  and more information on the Pine Forest Media websiteFollow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmediaHosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art by Jomiro EmingTheme music by Nela RuizFind some more Pine Forest Media podcasts belowListen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple PodcastsListen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple PodcastsListen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.