Meditate and Restore Mangroves in Cozumel

Cozumel — In an exercise connecting personal well-being with environmental action, the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC) conducted another session of its monthly program "Footprints of Awareness" in the Punta Sur Ecotourism Park, where community and nature met through meditation, environmental education, and the restoration of the mangrove ecosystem.

The experience began on the beach of Punta Sur, where attendees, guided by meditation master Luis Miguel Pérez Martín, participated in an introspection session in direct contact with the environment and the natural energy of the landscape.

As part of the tour, the group traveled to the Xtacún Lagoon. There, the director of Punta Sur, Jesús Benavides Andrade, shared the progress of nearly two decades of community work focused on restoring the mangrove ecosystem. He emphasized the program's pillars of learning: mindfulness, active commitment, correcting approaches, and consolidating skills.

During the activity, participants learned about the importance of these ecosystems as natural barriers against climatic phenomena, their function as a refuge for biodiversity, and their key role in carbon capture—fundamental elements for the environmental balance of the region.

They also joined ecosystem restoration activities, undertaking actions aimed at maintaining hydrological flow, raising terraces, and dispersing propagules in mangrove development areas to strengthen the natural recovery of the wetland.

In this context, the general director of the FPMC, Juanita Alonso Marrufo, highlighted that these activities strengthen community participation and environmental education. She stated the program aligns with the New Agreement for the Well-being and Development of Quintana Roo, promoted by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, which advocates for a sustainable and inclusive development model.

With initiatives like "Footprints of Awareness," the FPMC creates experiences that foster a connection with nature, promote holistic well-being, and strengthen the culture of conservation within the community.