Luis Jorge Rivera Herrera is one of those unassuming heroes who may not capture the popular imagination, yet whose presence leaves a clearly visible mark and helps protect a heritage shared by all humanity. Rivera Herrera, a Puerto Rican naturalist, is one of the six winners of the Goldman environmental prize 2016, a kind of "Nobel prize for the environment" — the highest honour which, since 1990, has recognised activists from around the world dedicated to protecting nature.

Rivera Herrera contributed, by leading a popular campaign, to the establishment of an important nature reserve where leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), an endangered species, nest. He also successfully opposed, through a battle lasting seventeen years, the construction of a mega-resort that was to have been built within the protected area.

Many wonderful natural areas on the planet are threatened by massive and senseless development. How did you manage to oppose the construction of a large resort in the area where the nature reserve was subsequently established?

It was thanks to the perseverance with which we pursued this battle, which lasted a full seventeen years. We were fortunate to have, from the outset, a large amount of scientific data available from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (Dner). As early as 1992, the Dner, in collaboration with a local NGO, had drawn up a proposal to extend the boundaries of a nearby nature reserve to include most of the land that is known today as the Nec, or Northeast Ecological Corridor Nature Reserve. However, the Commonwealth rejected the proposal, choosing instead to favour the construction of two resorts within the designated area. On the basis of the scientific information gathered, we pursued several legal cases to prevent the construction of the proposed structures within the Nec. These legal actions lasted from 2003 to 2011. In 2005, the Coalition for the Nec was established, primarily thanks to the involvement of the Sierra Club, which was instrumental in engaging public opinion and driving the passage of the bill that granted the area protected nature reserve status. So, in short, to achieve the establishment of the reserve we had to draw on a range of scientific and legal strategies.

Tartaruga liuto — A leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) on a Puerto Rican beach. It is the largest turtle in existence: it can reach up to two metres in length and weigh as much as 600 kilograms

What was the spark that set your battle in defence of Puerto Rico's environment and biodiversity in motion?

In Puerto Rico, many environmental organisations have been active since the 1960s, formed in opposition to the industrialisation process that affected the island during the 1950s and that caused the destruction of mangrove forests and wetlands, particularly along the coastal zone. Petrochemical industrial complexes sprang up, which helped undermine the daily livelihoods of many fishing communities and also restricted public access to beaches. This rapid transformation, which reduced access to vital resources, convinced many Puerto Ricans to oppose it.

What is the conservation status of leatherback sea turtles? What are the main threats they face, and what can we do to protect them?

Fortunately, these reptiles can still be found in oceans around the world. In the North Atlantic, the leatherback sea turtle is classified as an endangered species, although its population has been recovering over the past ten years. Turtles are threatened by habitat destruction, light pollution, industrial fishing and egg collection. Climate change also poses a serious threat to this species, as many of their nesting sites will be eroded, and therefore affected, by rising sea levels. An increase in global temperature also threatens to alter the ratio of male to female hatchlings. In sea turtles, as in other reptiles, sexual differentiation depends on sand temperature during the incubation period. If the sand temperature is warm, more — or even all — females are born; conversely, if it is cool, the majority of hatchlings will be male. Global warming will therefore cause an exponential increase in females, with potentially very serious impacts on their populations.

The Northeast Ecological Corridor Nature Reserve was established in 2012 following strong public pressure

Do you think it is possible to reconcile tourism and conservation? Can ecotourism represent a threat to endangered species such as leatherback sea turtles?

Certainly, the two activities can be reconciled and can be mutually beneficial. The environmental impact of tourism has become more apparent over the past two decades, as visitor numbers have increased. It is important to promote our natural riches, while remaining aware of the need not to upset their balance. Organising visits to beaches where leatherback sea turtles nest could have a negative impact on the species if the necessary precautions are not taken to avoid interrupting or disturbing females during egg-laying.

Rivera Herrera, the man who defeated the resorts to save the turtles