Quintana Roo’s Epic Mangrove Conservation Day in Cozumel & Cancun

The government of Quintana Roo in Mexico is known for its commitment to environmental preservation. This was evident during the recent International Mangrove Conservation Day, where state authorities organized several activities in Cozumel and Cancun.

The Foundation of Parks and Museums of Cozumel (FPMC) led the way on the island, focusing on the protection and restoration of mangroves at the Ecotouristic Park Punta Sur. This initiative involved the local community, individuals of all ages, ecological specialists, and researchers from around the world. This collective effort has positioned the ecological reserve as a living laboratory.

Jesús Benavides Andrade, the director of Punta Sur, shared that the devastating impact of Hurricane "Wilma" in 2005 led to the launch of an ambitious mangrove ecosystem restoration program. This program has been successful and is now being replicated in other locations. The restoration process involved opening water channels, elevating terrain, and planting various types of mangroves. As a result, pioneer vegetation has returned, and bird species diversity has been restored in areas like the central mogote in the lagoon basins of Xtacún, Chunchaká'ab, and Colombia.

Experts emphasized the crucial role of mangroves in Quintana Roo's ecosystems. They serve as a natural coastal defense against weather events, a fish reservoir, and a carbon trap.

In Cancun, the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem was marked by reforestation and environmental sanitation activities in the Manatí Lagoon State Reserve. This reserve is a Protected Natural Area featuring wetlands, coastal lagoons, and mangroves. These mangroves play a vital role in regulating water quality on coasts, maintaining fishing areas, and mitigating the effects of climate change through their natural mechanisms for storing atmospheric carbon, known as “blue carbon sinks”.