Help Rebuild the Gulf of Mexico Barrier Reef

As the Marine turtle festival is coming soon we would like to share an article about environmental education and marine turtle conservation in Quintana Roo state. Thanks to Ana Mancera, Lluvia Soto and all the people involved in writing it. We hope you will enjoy it and get to know more about the work that is done in the Area!!

Environmental education is an instrument to raise awareness in the community regarding both global and local environmental threats, and the relationships and interactions between man and his environment. In addition, it helps serve to inform and remind us about the importance of all living beings and ecosystems on Earth, and to promote their use in a way that guarantees the sustainability and quality of life for current and future generations.

The State of Quintana Roo is the primary tourism destination in Mexico, visited annually by national and international tourists, who are attracted by the beauty of our beaches, the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, the presence of the third largest barrier reef system in the world, Mayan culture, and the native plants and animals found in its ecosystems.

Given these characteristics, and considering its 865 kilometers of coastline along which sea turtles nest, environmental education is of great importance. Through it, participants learn about the species of sea turtle found along our beaches; their biology (physical characteristics, feeding behaviors, reproductive cycles, etc.); their distribution, and their interactions with the coastal ecosystems.

This type of environmental education needs to be directed towards the diverse sectors found in our State:

1. The general population of Quintana Roo
2. Tourists, both national and foreign
3. Service providers (guides, tour operators, etc.) that lead sea turtle
observation activities either near the reefs or on beach walks at night
4. Operators of large and small hotels along the coast
5. Governmental agencies, which experience personnel changes with the
periodic changing of administrations

Through workshops, talks, public events, brochures and documentaries it is possible to explain the importance of the presence of sea turtles, what to do when we encounter them on the beach, and why we should avoid consuming sea turtle products. In addition, it can ideally help us in building a culture of conservation, in which green practices are applied for dealing with environmental problems, helping to promote sustainable development.