Protecting the Mesoamerican Reef System: Eco-Bahia Foundation and Akumal Ecological Center Host 3rd Festival
The Eco-Bahia Foundation and the Akumal Ecological Center celebrated the third festival of the Mesoamerican Reef System, an event focused on education and integration to highlight the conservation, monitoring, and restoration of this important ecosystem.
The event was held at the Raices Theater facilities in Bahia Principe Grand Tulum, where lectures with great learning were given. The academic sector (high school students) participated, as well as a panel of representatives from government institutions, NGOs, and the private sector.
The academic sector’s participation was made up of three teams representing Puerto Aventuras College and the Center for Technological Studies of the Sea (CETMAR). Their presentations focused on recognizing the problems faced by reef ecosystems and their possible solutions.
It is worth noting that the presentations of both schools were very insightful, emphasizing the important interaction that ecosystems have from inland (the jungle, cenotes, caves, underground rivers, mangroves, reefs), and that the ocean’s health depends on our actions from consumption.
The event’s agenda included presentations by panelists, specialists who presented the conservation projects they are implementing. The following participated:
- INEPESCA – Sara Gutierrez Plata
- SEMA – Erika Flores Hernandez
- CEA – Baruch Figueroa Zavala
- MULUK – Carolina Garza Lomeli
- Unidos por la Madre Naturaleza – Aysha Carolina Pena Torres
- Scubaquatic – Ignacio Vega
- Akumal Dive Center – Arturo Orozco
The successful projects they have carried out and presented are related to reef restoration, the introduction of crabs as natural cleaners of many varieties of algae that grow on the reefs and inhibit their growth, the artificial and natural methods used in elk horn coral reefs, sustainable tourism diving education, and the training offered to volunteers to help in conservation programs.
“We closed the festival with a very informative and interesting question session, arousing the curiosity of many and promoting environmental awareness with these events that contribute to one of our main environmental education programs. We appreciate the work these sectors are doing to protect the Mesoamerican Reef System. Definitely, participation linked through alliances will allow for significant and important changes,” commented Yuritzi Espino, Manager of the Eco-Bahia Ecological Foundation.
By Lorena Herrasti
