Congratulations to Amigos de Sian Ka'an

We would like to share some exciting news from our local partners Amigos de Sian Ka'an. A really big achievement for Amigos de Sian Ka'an and a great conservation accomplishment for Quintana Roo state which is the state in Mexico where we live. 

Big congratulations as we know this accomplishment took many years of work and effort from a lot of different people!! Amigos de Sian ka'an has preserved so far more than 1,000,000 hectares in the Yucatan Peninsula and they continue working for more!! 

Below you can read the letter shared by Gonzalo Merediz, Amigos de Sian Ka'an executive director: 

Dear friends:

I am glad to recognize the National Protected Area Commission (CONANP) after achieving the decree, signed by the President of Mexico, of a new protected area covering almost 38,000 hectares (94,000 acres) of wetland, coastal, and marine ecosystems in Cozumel Island, Quintana Roo. This accomplishment significantly benefits the conservation of numerous endemic species and subspecies, the well preserved local ecosystems, the Mesoamerican Reef, and the island’s population with the high ecotourism potential of Cozumel.

This fundamental step for Quintana Roo’s sustainable development was possible because of Cozumel society and fishing cooperatives commitment, the agreements among the municipal government, the state government (that formally protected 19,000 hectares, 47,000 acres of forests and wetlands in Cozumel) with CONANP, as well as the interest of the State Water Commission. I want to thank those people that, within Amigos de Sian Ka’an, made the work and studies that made this declaration possible: Marco Lazcano, Albert Franquesa, Miriam Reza, José Luis Jiménez and our Board Chair, Nassim Joaquín D. Amigos de Sian Ka’an participation in this project was possible because of the support from the North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA), The Nature Conservancy, the Summit Foundation through the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI), and ASK own funds generated with the generosity of our benefactors. I would also want to recognize Dr. Alfredo Cuaron’s contribution for the consolidation of this decree.

Now it is moment to celebrate and to focus new efforts in consolidate the joint management of the set of state and federal protected areas in the beautiful island of Cozumel.

Greetings!

Congratulations to Amigos de Sian Ka'an