Achievements Amigos de Sian Ka'an 2014

ACHIEVEMENTS 2014

Certainly, 2014 was a milestone concerning how Amigos de Sian Ka'an addressed environmental conservation and sustainable devel-opment. As part of the Mexican Tourism Fair in May that took place in Cancun, we internationally launched Maya Ka'an - Earth’s Pulse. Your Heartbeat, the brand new ecotourism destination in the heart of the Maya Zone of Quintana Roo. Maya Ka'an o�ers a unique opportunity to combine the conservation of the Sian Ka'an World Heritage Site with the sustainable development of Mayan communities, diversify-ing the tourism activities that the Mexican Caribbean o�ers to the world. Maya Ka'an is one of the most important steps taken by Amigos de Sian Ka'an in its 28 years of existence and presents great opportunities and exciting challenges for commercial, tourist, environmental and social consolidation.

Maya Ka’an is an achievement that �lls us with great enthusiasm since it has brought so many outcomes within the project: the work of 18 consultants who developed 27 studies that support the destination and its brand; the de�nition of numerous sustainability criteria for the destination; the preparation of 4 educational tools that help local companies achieve national sustainability criteria; as well as, the collaborative e�ort of 17 local ecotourism businesses, including 9 now certi�ed by the Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) which have formed their proper Community Tourism Network. Furthermore, we continue to strengthen the sales and marketing of local handicrafts through the cooperation Mayak'ab and are working with communities in the municipality of José María Morelos with funding from Kellogg Foundation and ADO Foundation.

All these achievements over the years were possible due to �nancial support from the Multilateral Investment Fund (FOMIN) as part of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) together with the Alliance WWF - Carlos Slim Foundation, the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, the ADO Foundation, FUNDEMEX, MICROSOFT, UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature, SEMARNAT through its Department of Tourism and Amigos de Sian Ka'an itself. The application of those resources, however, was carried out with support from the Trusteeship of the Riviera Maya, the Secretary of Tourism, the Secretary of Environment of Quintana Roo, the Federal Secretary of Tourism, SEMARNAT, the National Commis-sion of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), the municipalities of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, José María Morelos and Tulum and many of its citizens, such as, Governor Roberto Borge Angulo who provides support and is head of the Consultative Council of Maya Ka'an.

Maya Ka’an is a vision that became reality and at Amigos de Sian Ka’an, we are very proud to share it with Quintana Roo, Mexico and the world.

Another year comes to an end and with it important results achieved by Amigos de Sian Ka’an that demon-

strate the e�orts of a professional and diverse team and a committed and participating board, accompanied by

dozens of organizations, groups, communities, businesses, public agencies and consultants. The

support of numerous individuals, companies, interna-tional organizations and foundations who believe in the work of Amigos de Sian Ka'an for nature and society of the Yucatan Peninsula has made those e�orts possible. Hereby, and with great pride, we present a summary of

Amigos de Sian Ka'an’s achievements in 2014.

OFFICIAL LAUNCHECOTURISM DESTINATION

MAYA KA’AN EARTH’S PULSE. YOUR HEARTBEAT.

CLIMATE CHANGE ANDGREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

One of the biggest global concerns today is climate change caused by excessive greenhouse gas emissions. The Yucatan Peninsula and particularly the state of Quintana Roo are pioneers and national leaders in attending this complex problem. Thus, Amigos de Sian Ka'an joined the work of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Economic Development and developed, together with technical support by EarthCheck and the sel�ess partici-pation of dozens of hotels, the �rst inventory of greenhouse gases in the tourism industry. In summary, we found a carbon footprint of 69.38 pounds of CO² per guest / night.

This information is vital for the design and implementation of mitigation and compensation mechanisms of CO² emissions. It also allows Quintana Roo to contribute to global e�orts in this important �eld and to set a worldwide example by being a tourist destination that not only stabilizes but even reduces its emissions in the medium run. This remarkable e�ort was possible thanks to funding from the Alliance WWF - Carlos Slim Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through their Program for Low Emissions Devel-opment in Mexico (MLED).

SUFFICIENT AND CLEAN WATER FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES

As part of the Master Plan of the Watershed Council of the Yucatan Peninsula, Amigos de Sian Ka'an is implementing a peninsular wide project to provide integral water management systems to 10 rural communities in Quintana Roo. These systems, installed in every house, allow capture and storage of rainwater for use in household chores and treat wastewater generated by washing clothes in arti�cial wetlands. In addition, each household, which until now had no toilet, has now composting toilets that improve their habitant’s quality of life, do not generate contaminated water and produce compost for backyards and vegetables. Two communities also receive water management systems in their schools. This project, changing the lives of hundreds of families, is initiated and funded by the Gonzalo Rio Arronte Foundation and has supervision and technical support of the Mexican Institute of Water Technology, Water and Social Welfare Civil Society and the Committee on Water Supply and Sewerage (CAPA).

This same work is also carried out in the state of Yucatan by BEPENSA Foundation and in the state of Campeche by Peace Fund. In order to improve the treatment of wastewater in the entire peninsula, we also published a Manual of Good Practices for the Operation of Water Treatment Plants in alliance with CAPA. Owing to the sponsorship of the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI), Calizas Industriales del Carmen (CALICA) and the Watershed Council of the Yucatan Peninsula we developed this manual for institutions operating in the public and private sector. Through those activities, Amigos de Sian Ka'an continues its e�orts to eliminate water pollution in the whole Yucatan Penin-sula and to improve lives of thousands of residents.

Foto: J. Soriano / Archivo GECI

Recently in Quintana Roo, as in many other parts of the world, there has been an increase in the presence and distribution of invasive plants and animals originating from other regions and a�ecting native species. Such is the case of casuarina, an Australian pine-like tree competing for decades with mangroves and other ecosystems. Equally worth mentioning is the red mite that causes illness or even death of palm trees.

The National Forestry Commission, the Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) and Amigos de Sian Ka'an have joined forces in a program to eradicate casuarina and red mites in the Biosphere Reserve Sian Ka'an, in the Tulum National Park, the Island Contoy and Protected Wildlife Area Yum Balam. Through these two programs, 101,000 acres of casuarinas and 5,000 acres of red mites e�ected wood were removed. Both campaigns were accompanied by broadcasting and environmental education activities.

In the South of Quintana Roo we have continued collaborating with CONANP and the Island Ecology and Conservation Group (GECI) in the eradication of cats and rats in the island group of Banco Chinchorro. Raising awareness for the problem and explaining solutions to local �shermen has prevented reinfestation of the species in the northern island part Cayo Norte, where awareness campaigns are carried out by GECI since last year.

REMOVINGEXOTIC SPECIES

CSIQUINTANA ROO

As part of an initiative by CONANP, and with support from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), we brought the famous television series CSI to the coral reefs of Quintana Roo. The organization Coral Reef CSI has developed a number of forensic tools to investigate, document and where appropriate test, environmental crimes committed to the reef. Regarding its expertise in the subject, Amigos de Sian Ka'an organized a workshop for authorities, NGOs, and others, to provide informa tion on how to develop and implement a number of forensic techniques that help to obtain and register scienti�c evidence to facilitate the prosecution of those involved in the destruction of reefs. Stranding, inappropriate or illegal construction work, looting of corals and �sh and many other faults occur on a daily basis in one of the most threatened and damaged ecosystems we have – the Meso-american Reef- which at the same time is the reason for Quintana Roo being Latin America’s leading tourist destination today. These techniques help us to take new steps in the legal evolution for environmental matters in Mexico and prepare us for the new legal frameworks that will become e�ective in the upcoming years in the country.

Another important project being part of our marine conservation program is a model developed by The Nature Conservancy and Amigos de Sian Ka’an, which determines viable geographic areas to build �shing shelters in the waters of the Mexican Caribbean. These shelters are legal tools that promote the conservation of the reproductive processes of �sh holding their populations for environmental health and commercial �sheries. The models gener-ated will be used by Kanan Kay Alliance, a consortium of �shing cooperatives, civil associations and government agencies focused on the design and creation of such shelters.

PUBLIC POLICY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Since its foundation, Amigos de Sian Ka'an’s vocation has been to in�uence public policy in order to ensure the sustainability and certainty of its conservation actions. Besides promoting Natural Protected Areas as we traditionally do, in 2014, Amigos de Sian Ka’an participated through numerous other programs in the development and adjustment of public policies; such as the Watershed Council of the Yucatan Peninsula (where we preside the Users General Assem-bly); the basin committees in Rio Hondo and Tulum; the committees for clean beaches and sanitation; as well as, the committees on environmental management of the municipalities of Benito Juarez, Solidaridad, Tulum and Bacalar (as a full member). In these systems, we contribute signi�cantly with information, suggestions, comments and even objections. We also took advantage of participating in the Committee on Environmental Crimes in Southern Quintana Roo, the State Committee for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and several more.

2014 has brought great achievements for conservation and sustainable development in Mexico. Those are the results we can accomplish when supporters like you step in and join our Actions for Nature. Nonetheless, greater projects also mean greater responsibilities. Continue making

a difference today through:

• A donation via Paypal on www.amigosdesiankaan.org

• A national transfer or check by contacting [email protected]

• An international transfer through the Friends of Mexican Development Foundation by contacting Molly Hickok ([email protected])

… and help bring more incredible results!

MUCHAS GRACIAS!

AWARD FOR 28-YEAR TRAYECTORY

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

This award is the result of the strong work principles Amigos de Sian Ka’an has pursued since its foundation but also of the capac-ity for innovation and leadership that has always characterized us. Above all, it is a recognition by one of the top environmental personalities of the country for each member and associate of Amigos de Sian Ka’an.

THANK YOU

Foto: J. Soriano / Archivo GECI