Ecosystem detriment and severe poverty still are among the greatest challenges for sustainable development. Conservation biology has proposed different approaches to link local livelihoods and the conservation of natural resources. Nevertheless, there are still gaps concerning the relations among conservation and development. In the towns of Junquillal, Ostional, Costa Rica, and Río Caña in Panamá different conservation initiatives are being implemented to promote the protection of the nesting beaches for sea turtles. The objective of this research is to identify ties between the interventions proposed by these conservation initiatives and local well-being. During field research semi-structured interviews were conducted with heads of households, surveys with residents of each locality, focus groups with members of each initiative and participant observation in various community activities. The results obtained address that, according to people’s perception, all three initiatives are successful; they all have fulfilled conservation objectives and promoted synergies between the community resources. In conclusion, wild life conservation initiatives should invest in compensation tools with greater effect over common well-being, and fairness in aspects as participation and access to the conservation benefits are essential for a local sustainable development.