CEA Electronic Communications are in English and Spanish. Para leer este boletín en español, favor de pulsar aquí. All the staff at CEA would like to wish everyone a peaceful holiday and best wishes for the New Year. We have combined our November and December Newsletters into one because of the heavy workload we have had over the past two months, cleaning up after Hurricane Wilma. We are finally getting things back in shape and are making plans for our 2006 conservation objectives. CEA would like to thank everyone for their support this year, without which, we could not continue our work. Happy Holidays! Hurricanes Trash Turtle Season by Paul Sánchez-Navarro This past summer was expected to be a strong season for turtles, both loggerhead and green, along the Mexican Caribbean and strong it was, but in storms that pounded beaches and destroyed turtle nests. Akumal’s beaches lost almost two-thirds of the nests that were laid before Emily hit in July, but the next day mothers were again arriving to lay eggs. There were nests hatching in September and October, until Hurricane Wilma began thrashing the beaches. After two hurricanes, it was difficult to keep track of the numbers of nests and hatchlings, especially as we lost all the stakes marking the remaining nests. However, we did know there were at least 51 loggerhead and 125 green turtle nests during the entire season, and about 1,135 loggerhead and 3,030 green hatchlings over the whole season. And then, in a turtle season full of surprises, CEA friend Sherry Halas of Seattle stopped by our office a few days ago to report hatchlings emerging from a nest long after most of us had considered the season to be over. On Dec. 3 while walking along Jade Beach around 10 p.m., she found a group of perhaps 30 hatchlings, half of them disoriented and heading in the wrong direction. She immediately called her husband and friends and set to work gathering the little ones that had wandered onto the lawn attracted by pool lights. They released them on the shore, a few feet from the water’s edge, so they could find their own way into the surf. Thank you Sherry, for helping these animals and for sharing your story with us! CEA would like to thank everyone who helped protect the mother turtles coming ashore to nest and the babies going to sea, and who worked to make sure that Akumal’s beaches were in good shape to host the miraculous process of life that occurs in the nest. We also would like to call attention to residents and visitors who do not yet understand the role humans can play in keeping these species alive, and who continue to destroy the beaches by maintaining too much beach lighting during the nesting season or otherwise interfering with the reproductive process of the turtles. We invite you to join us in 2006 to make it a recovery year for these endangered species. FIRST ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL CULTURE WEEK, DECEMBER 21-27 Join us in celebrating Mexico´s first annual Environmental Culture Week. On Wednesday, December 21st, CEA will host an art show at 6:00 p.m at our Informations Center, and a traditional Mexican dance troupe at the Ukana stage at 7:00 p.m. The art exhibition will continue for the rest of the week. Greg Brown photo used by permission from MonteDesigns This holiday season we send special wishes to a very good friend of CEA's, Greg Brown, who has suffered a stroke and is still in a hospital near Atlanta. We ask that you keep him in your thoughts as he slowly progresses. Hoping that he recovers soon, we send him our supportive wishes and prayers. Sustainable Forestry in the Selva Maya by Kate Riley There is perhaps no vista more characteristic of the Yucatán, than a shapely thatch roof amidst the sand and swaying palms, inviting you into its cool shade. These traditional structures, or palapas, are represented world wide, and likely arose from their natural simplicity, airiness, and impermeability. Unfortunately, their popularity is causing the endangerment of many plant species, and Quintana Roo is no exception. A normal palapa roof may last 8–10 years, depending on the weather. With the hit of two hurricanes this year, most of the thatch in the Riviera Maya lost some hair. CEA was faced with replacing most of the roofs on the property, and though we evaluated more sustainable techniques like ferrocement, the aesthetics and practicality of palapa are hard to outweigh. Click here to read the entire article. First Annual CEA Festival This event is being planned for February 2006. Stay tuned for more details about the big celebration. Condition of the Reef Many people are asking about the damage to the reef from Hurricane Wilma. Unfortunately, we have not had the capacity to do scientific monitoring of the impact, due to all the work of getting our offices, dorms and property. There are many observations of damage, including breakage on the fringe reef protecting Akumal Bay, but with the combination of general bleaching in the entire Caribbean, Hurricane Emily and Hurricane Wilma, a proper survey of the reef is required in order to determine the extent of any damage. We hope to be able to monitor the reef as soon as possible. Global Research on Coral Reefs by Paul Sánchez-Navarro As Director of CEA, I was invited to participate on a Regional Advisory Panel to the Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management Project (CRTC Project). The Global Environment Facility funded this project as the beginning of a long-term effort to look at the impacts of human activity on coral reefs and try to influence decision-makers to reduce these impacts. The three main project objectives include: 1) building scientific capacity to provide information needed for management and policy, so that coral reef ecosystems under threat from climate change and multiple human stressors can be sustained for current and future generations; 2) filling critical gaps in our understanding of coral reef vulnerability and informing policies and communities about better coral reef management; and 3) linking expertise and resources of the global coral reef community around key research questions. I was able to discuss the Mesoamerican Reef System, its current status, threats and policies, and opportunities for conservation. We then discussed ways in which research findings could be communicated to communities and decision-makers. The Advisory Panel will provide advice to the project on the issues in each of the main regions of the world—Mexico, Philippines, Tanzania and Australia—on how best to approach activities and disseminate information within these areas to targeted audiences. We will also work to see how research findings can be applied in practice to improve coral reef ecosystem management. The research element of the Mesoamerican Reef ecosystem will be carried out at what is called a “Center of Excellence” at the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) campus in Puerto Morelos. By participating in this project, CEA will be able to link its local activities of coral reef conservation in Akumal to a global network of scientists and, hopefully, be able to apply improved tools to manage our reefs. It was a wonderful experience to be able to share ideas about the issues we face in trying to protect the Mesoamerican Reef System, and to gain a better understanding of the threats to coral reefs at a global scale. It’s great to reaffirm that we are not alone in the struggle. There are some very dedicated and capable people working to make sure that reefs are functioning as vital life systems for the future. Protecting the Bays of Akumal by Kurt Boettger and Lucy Gallagher-Freymuth As the human population in Akumal grows and the associated development begins to intrude on the ecology of the area, certain measures are necessary in order to maintain a proper balance of people and the environment. Stemming from the desire of all those who live, work and play in and around Akumal to maintain the marine ecology, which is the lifeblood and main attraction of this incredible region, CEA is moving forward with plans to establish the surrounding coast as an official marine protected area (MPA). The specifics of what the implementation of this plan means to Akumal have yet to be determined, because MPAs are designed in a case-by-case scenario and each MPA throughout the world is different, being made to adapt to the problems and solutions of the area. What is known is that the establishment of an MPA will give proper authority to the best practices for the social, economic, and ecological environment of the area and will help strengthen the relationship between Akumalians and local authorities in protecting the coastal waters. Click here to learn more about these plans. Third Annual Sea Turtle Festival a Success by Kurt Boettger Finally the third annual turtle festival was held in Tulum on November 11 and 12, and was a big hit with many participants and spectators, from turtle conservationists to local children, and most everyone in between. Originally scheduled for the dates of October 21 and 22, it was postponed due to Hurricane Wilma. As a member of the organizing committee, CEA helped arrange the event which brought attention to the cause of sea turtle conservation. The festival included live music, a kite flying contest, a sand sculpture contest and an educational puppet show featuring CEA staff members. Several turtle conservation organizations took part in the festival, attempting to raise money and spread the word regarding the future of our beloved marine turtles. A major highlight was the puppet show on Friday evening, which was cut short because the CEA staff and their adjoining puppet characters were overrun by dozens of adoring children. Sustainable Development in the Riviera Maya, Akumal, México A two-day conference, hosted by CEA in conjunction with the Yucatan Environmental Foundation, will present the principles, strategies, and techniques primarily for professionals on Friday, February 17, 2006, and for small scale buildings (homes, condos, and small businesses) on Saturday, February 18, 2006. Learn more about the Sustainable Development Workshop. Sign up for the workshops online. Staff Birthdays Nov. 3 - Paul Sánchez-Navarro, Director December Environmental Calendar Global No Pesticide Use Day: December 3 "No Pesticides Day” draws attention to the life-threatening impacts of chemical pesticides on people and the environment. Each year approximately three million people are poisoned and 200,000 die from pesticide use. While many of the reported ill effects are acute cases of pesticide poisoning, chronic long-term effects such as cancer and reproductive problems are of increasing concern. International Volunteer Day: December 5 We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all CEA volunteers—past and present and future—for their hard work and dedication. Without you our efforts would be fruitless and our goals impossible. Having to cancel so many volunteer positions after losing our dormitories to Hurricane Emily has been difficult for us all; at a time when we need help the most we are unable to accept it. As soon as we are done rebuilding we will reactivate our volunteer program in full and hope to see more of you soon! Buy-Nothing Christmas An interesting alternative to the countless offers, ads and invitations to buy more stuff. January Environmental Calendar No eco-dates for January … but may the promise of the New Year help us to live in greater harmony with our planet. CEA Needs Your Crayons! CEA will be launching its new Coloring Book soon (be sure to ask for one during your next visit to Akumal) and is planning on giving away copies to local schoolchildren over the holiday season. We would like to include a box of crayons, colored pencils, or a watercolor set with each book. Please help us by dropping off a few sets at our office during your holiday vacation, or by making an online donation. CEA Wants You, Needs You and Can't Manage Without You! Are you a bilingual resident of the Riviera Maya with plenty of time on your hands? If so, we could really use your help greeting visitors in our Information Center this holiday season. If you love to talk to people and are interested in helping out, please e-mail David Nuñez. Happy Holidays from all the staff and volunteers at CEA. Please continue to tell your friends about CEA! Many CEA Members join after being referred to CEA by people like you. If you have questions about how you can become more involved, please contact us. The Yucatan Environmental Foundation is the U.S. 501(c)(3) fiscal agent for CEA. All donations made through YEF for CEA are tax-deductible in the U.S. If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, or simply need to contact CEA, please click here.