ACHIEVEMENTS Jan - Jun 2014

OFICIAL LAUNCH OFECOTURISM PROJECT

After 4 years of extensive work, Amigos de Sian Ka’an is proud to o�cially launch the new ecotourism destination in the Mexican Caribbean: Maya Ka’an. The destination o�ers visitors the opportunity to perform sightseeing activities in valuable natural environments through local tours operated by Mayan communities, promoting conservation and sustainable development in the Mayan Area.

Among the attractions of Maya Ka’an, you will �nd the Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka’an, decreed in 1986 as a Natural Protected Area and 1987 as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, with three main destina-tions: Punta Allen, Muyil, and Punta Herrero. Complementing the ecotourism o�er in this new destination, you will �nd six Mayan communities in the municipalities of Felipe Carrillo Puerto and José María Morelos, namely: Señor, Tihosuco, Chunhuhub, Kantemó, Noh Bec and the municipal capital city of Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

Maya Ka’an o�ers nature activities, cultural tourism and community engagement such as specialized tours of catch and release �shing, bird observation activities with local guides, and unique site visits such as the Cave of Hanging Snakes. Additionally, activities range from dolphin and turtles observation tours; to reef, lagoon, cenote and mangrove visits; and community interaction tours with Mayan elders and community members to get acquainted with little-known stories in Quintana Roo such as the Caste war. Maya Ka’an o�ers experiences designed for travelers in search of a vacation di�erent from those o�ered in Cancun and the Riviera Maya; a vacation with low environmental impact, in small groups, and directly bene�ting the local communities. Hereby, Amigos de Sian Ka’an achieved to open new markets which ensure the conservation of natural resources and bene�t the population of the Sian Ka’an Reserve and the Mayan Area of Quintana Roo.

Maya Ka’an, a destination that opens in�nite opportunities in the future, is a concept promoted by Amigos de Sian Ka’an, the Secretary of Environment, the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI), and the Riviera Maya Promotion Trust. It was made possible with the generous funding provided by The Multilateral Investment Fund of the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB - MIF), UNDP Small Grants Program, Fundemex, Microsoft, Fundación ADO, Alianza WWF – Fundación Carlos Slim, Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, and The Nature Conservancy.

Amigos de Sian Ka’an proudly presents our achieve-ments of the �rst semester of 2014. Over the last six months the organization accomplished a number of

objectives that signi�cantly enhanced the preservation, protection and sound use of the natural resources of the

Yucatan Peninsula.

OFFICIAL LAUNCHECOTURISM DESTINATION

OFFICIAL LAUNCH ECOTURISM DESTINATION

TECHNOLOGIES FOR WATER MANAGEMENT

Through the introduction of appropriate technologies for integrated water management based on the master plan of the Yucatan Peninsula promoted by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) in rural areas, Amigos de Sian Ka'an started in 2014 a project, which contemplates 1,988 direct and more than 1.3 million potential bene�ciaries.

Some of the objectives of the project are: • The improvement of the living conditions of the inhabitants in extreme poverty and to contribute in the creation of an environmental culture among the Mayan communities.• To carry out a comprehensive delivery of packages of appropriate water technologies in the 3 states of the peninsula. Each package includes home level systems of rainwater catchment, a cistern, a bicycle pump, an ecological laundry, a family orchard, an ecological toilet and a slow sand �lter to purify drinking water.

Amigos de Sian Ka'an leads the project in Quintana Roo, which includes the delivery of 117 packages to 10 communities in the municipalities of Lázaro Cardenas, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, José María Morelos and Tulum. Funding for this project was provided by the Fundación Gonzalo Río Arronte, with the participation of the Mexican Institute of Water Technology, the Yucatan Peninsula Watershed Council and support from volunteers of HSBC Mexico.

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

The Biosphere Reserve Banco Chinchorro (RBBCH) is part of the Mesoamerican Reef and is an important nesting, breeding, feeding site and shelter for many marine and terrestrial species. Unfortunately, their terrestrial biodiversity is under pressure from invasive exotic wildlife such as black rats and feral cats, listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) among the 100 most damaging species in the world, accidentally introduced to the islands by boat. In 2010, the alliance between the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), the Ecology and Conservation Group of Islands (GECI) and ASK began preparations to carry out the eradication of invasive species, for successful ecological restoration of the group of islands.

The baseline monitoring allowed the eradication plan Cayo Norte Major and Minor, ensuring that there is no negative impact to the environment. The eradication campaign formally began in the case of the black rat in early April 2012 in North Mayor Cayo Menor and Cayo Norte. The campaign to control stray cats, found only in Cayo Centro, began in the �rst quarter of 2012 and continues to date.

Environmental education, directed by ASK and implemented since 2014, is a tool whose goal is to involve habitants of RBBCH to take action in the project. This component includes for example practices that prevent the introduction of new exotic �ora and fauna, the implementation of solutions to the problem of solid waste management and improved environmental practices for day-to-day activities. ASK’s monitoring has con�rmed the absence of invasive species and an optimal population growth of local species of �ora and fauna in the reserve.

The Ecological restoration of Banco Chinchorro is possible due to partnerships with CONANP and GECI; and �nancial support by WWF-Carlos Slim Foundation Alliance.

The local cooperative “Orquideas de Sian Ka’an” (Orchis of Sian Ka’an), strongly supported by Amigos de Sian Ka’an, were able to start operations in April 2014 in Punta Allen, within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve (RBSK for its Spanish acronym), being the only sole group of women – �shermen’s wives – to provide ecotourism tours in central Quintana Roo which will contribute to regional sustainable development.

Their service, which will be available in hotels in Tulum and the Mayan Riviera, is comprised of three tours: an interpretive trail leading to the area known as Black Lagoon (Laguna Negra); a kayak ride through the internal Sian Ka’an canals; and a bicycle tour for �ora and fauna observation in the tropical forest.

Traditionally, �shermen combined �shing activities with snorkel and diving tours within the same area. However, thanks to support received from the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) – Carlos Slim Foundation Alliance, the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP for its acronym in Spanish), and Amigos de Sian Ka’an (ASK) the 25-women group is now able to consolidate their organization and initiated operations in April 2014.

The local respect and pride transmitted by these women towards their natural environment is a clear evidence of the need to incentiv-ize low-impact tourism activities for the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve conservation e�orts, which has registered a considerable amount of visitors during the last years due to its ecological wealth and proximity to tourism attraction poles.

NEW STRATEGIES FOR LAGOON SYSTEM

Together with the Department of Tourism of the municipality José María Morelos and the Secretary of Environment, Amigos de Sian Ka'an strives to establish guidelines and strategies for sustainable development of the Chichankanab Lagoon System, a Natural Protected Area decreed in 2011. The lagoon is a unique ecosystem and ideal for various activities of recreation. Together with communities and local government, ASK is participating in the process of developing proposals for how to open up new economic opportunities for the surrounding communities.

In 2011, Amigos de Sian Ka'an, in collaboration with the Government of Quintana Roo, obtained the decree of three new protected areas in Cozumel, Chichankanab and Bacalar. Lagoons which sum up to 30,000 hectares with major attractions. Now, the next task is to position the natural beauty of the South of Quintana Roo worldwide and so increase the economic bene�t of local communities.

ORCHIS OF SIAN KA’AN

THANK YOU!2014 has already brought some great achievements for conservation in the South of Mexico. Those are the results we can get when supporters like you step in and join our Actions for Nature. However, there is still a lot to be accomplished by the end of the year! Con-tinue making a di�erence today through:• Paypal on www.amigosdesiankaan.org• A national transfer or check by contacting conservacion@amigosdesiankaan.org • An international transfer through the Friends of Mexi-can Development Foundation by contacting Molly Hickok (mhickok@ghspm.com)

… and help bring more incredible results.

MUCHAS GRACIAS!

AWARD FOR 28-YEARTRAYECTORY

We are very proud to announce that in June Amigos de Sian Ka’an has received the Fundación Migual Alemán award for its continuous work for environmental conservation, preserving natural habitats and promoting sustainable development in the Yucatan Peninsula for over 28 years.