International Year of the Reef activities in GVI Mexico during 2008

2008 was chosen as the International year of the Reef (IYOR). IYOR became a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability, and to motivate people to take action to protect them. As such, throughout the year, GVI Mexico carried out several activities to contribute in its conservation.

Beside the permanent reef monitoring; in Tulum, Pez Maya and Punta Gruesa we did many environmental workshops and talks targeting tourists, local communities, fishermen and schools; we also organized beach cleanings and participated in collective reef clean-ups. Also, GVI Mexico director Daniel Ponce Taylor ran a marathon to raise funds and donate to Amigos de Sian ka’an coral reefs conservation projects. Likewise part of the money raised after Hurricane Dean through Global giving and GVI was donated to Mahahual coral reef conservation projects.

Throughout the year, GVI Pez Maya and Pta Gruesa participants continued with the ongoing environmental education programme in Pta Allen, Tulum and Mahahual. In addition, this year scuba instructors from Pez Maya and RO, trained fishermen and park rangers from Pta Allen up to PADI Open water and EFR so they can monitor and contribute into the reef conservation themselves. We also got involve in the fish spawning agreggations and quick reef assessment projects for the Mesoamerican Coral Reef barrier research and conservation in the Mexican Caribbean part.

One of the biggest events in which GVI participated this year was the massive beach clean up in the state of Quintana Roo, in which 320 people from the state collected 430 bags of debris which weighted 2836 kg.

2009 will bring a lot of challenges for coral reef conservation and we are ready to face them with the help of all of you!

Thank you for being part of it!!!

International Year of the Reef activities in GVI Mexico during 2008