Cozumel’s Mangrove Restoration Drives Community Environmental Action

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — This Saturday, the Cozumel community gathered at the Punta Sur Ecotourism Park to strengthen mangrove conservation through an environmental awareness day that combines meditation practices and experiential learning. The activity seeks to promote a deep connection with nature, reflecting on the importance of marine ecosystems for coastal health.

The session began with a guided meditation, facilitated by teacher Luis Miguel Pérez Martín, which fostered personal reconnection with the natural environment and raised awareness about mangrove conservation. Subsequently, Jesús Benavides Andrade, director of Punta Sur Park, explained the ecological functions of mangroves and detailed restoration efforts driven after the damages from Hurricane Wilma, highlighting that community participation has been key to the program’s success.

The practical learning model applied in the park has allowed students and different social sectors to acquire direct knowledge about ecosystems, fostering greater environmental responsibility. The initiative is part of the framework of the New Agreement for Well-being and Development of Quintana Roo, promoted by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, and seeks to drive a more conscious and committed citizenry with the protection of the region’s natural heritage.

For several decades, conservation actions in Cozumel have stood out for their active community participation, considered an example at national and international levels. The recovery of mangroves not only preserves biodiversity but also strengthens the resilience of coastal communities against adverse effects of climate change, consolidating a sustainable development approach.