Date: 4 July 2023
Authors: César Arroyo y Adriana Lechuga.
Nomination by: GroBios A.C. (Socio-ecological Projects for the Conservation and Protection of Biodiversity in Michoacán-Guerrero, México).

As a student in the Center for Technological Studies of the Sea, Number 27 “Leona Vicario” in Port Vicente Guerrero, Mr José Luis Leyva Bello (originally from San Luis de la Loma, Tecpán de Galeana municipality, México), began his work in marine turtle conservation at the Turtle Camp in Piedra Tlalcoyunque in 1986. Motivated by conservation, he reopened the camp where he had worked in previous years, but had become inactive. 

Dedication to conservation is what drives Sr. José Luis Leyva, and it is why he has been a key figure in the formation of the Playa Piedra de Tlacoyunque Sanctuary in Tecpán de Galeana, in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Through the ups and downs, he has guaranteed that efforts to protect marine turtles continue. He has had the opportunity to attend two national conferences of the Director General of Marine Science in Veracruz, Mexico, where he shared his experiences and successes in leatherback conservation. 

Currently, Sr. José Luis Leyva works in the Center for Technological Studies of the Sea, Number 27 (CETMAR 27), actively participating as a member of the Guerrero Turtle Network focused on protection and research of marine turtles, especially leatherbacks.