Our Programs Coastal Program Ecotourism and Biodiversity Finances and Operational Support Mayan Forest Private Reserve of El Zapotal Pronatura Center Program of Information for Conservation   Search in the Site:     Search Photos:     International Representation Pronatura US   National Representation Pronatura México Regional Representations Pronatura Northeast Pronatura Northwest Pronatura Veracruz Pronatura Chiapas Pronatura Base

Coastal Program   Throughout the history of humanity, man has shown a great dependency towards aquatic systems, particularly towards wetlands. The most important prehispanic cultures, as was the Mayan culture, have been proved to be intimately related to coastal wetlands and cenotes. The benefits of wetlands include a great variety of goods, services and different functions for society, as for the wild flora and fauna. The great amount of organic matter that it receives from other aquatic and land ecosystems, aside form that generated in these environment (mostly decomposition of flora), makes it a very fertile ecosystem, that can sustain a wide amount and diversity of plants and animals, that in various cases translates in a very high productivity of the fisheries related to it. Traditional and alternative tourism associated to some of the wetlands has turned in to one of the main providers of income for the locals. The recreational importance of hunting, fishing and bird watching is probably one of the better known functions of the wetlands. Other functions are: to filter different contaminators, to capture and provide fresh water, and to protect against natural disasters. Even as coastal wetlands are priority habitats due to their high biological value and various benefits to human beings, they are very threatened by pressures that point to their destruction. Pollution caused by liquid and solid wastes, alteration of their hydrology, salinization and fragmentation are the main threats they encounter. The Coastal Program is created with the purpose of focusing efforts towards conservation, protection and management of wetlands in the coastal zone of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is designed to develop projects meant to capture, systemize and manage information on wetlands, to design and develop planning methods, to identify and develop productive activities that are compatible with conservation of these wetlands and to understand and value them. The program works on the following themes: • Conservation, monitoring and investigation of priority species. • Environmental education. • Creation and reinforcement of local abilities. • Conservation Planning. • Lands destined to conservation. • Productive activities (Alternative tourism). The program is focused on more than 500, 000 ha of wetlands located in 5 reserves of the coastal zone in the Yucatan Peninsula, from Campeche to the northeast of Quintana Roo. It is in this large area that PPY works through strategic alliances in the academic, governmental, private and civil sectors. In this corridor of protected areas there are large extensions of wetlands, jungles and dunes, in excellent state of conservation. For more information please contact: Eduardo Cuevas (ecuevas@pronatura-ppy.org.mx), or Ma. Fernanda Cepeda (mfcepeda@pronatura-ppy.org.mx).   Our Projects    Characterization of consumption and merchandising of products and subproducts made of Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Yucatan  See more Conservation of Marine Turtles on the North Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula  See more Conservation Planning for the Biosphere Reserve of Ria Lagartos  See more Updating the Program for Conservation and Management of the Biosphere Reserve of Ria Lagartos  See more Analysis of Data from the Marking of Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) During a 15 Year Period.  See more Migrating Patterns of Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) on the Platform of Campeche and its Implications in Management and Land Use Planning on the Coastal Zone.  See more Characterization of the Whale Shark Habitat (Rhincodon typus) and Transferring Information to the Communities  See more Systemizing Information for the Characterization of “Laguna de Términos” and its Freshwater Fluctuations  See more Planning the Conservation of: “Pantanos de Centla” (Centla Swamps) and “Laguna de Términos” (Terminos Lagoon)  See more

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