Symposium Held at CEA to Discuss the Destruction of Coral Reefs
To celebrate 10 years of research at Akumal, CEA hosted a symposium on May 19 and 20, which brought together more than 20 leading scientists and the local community. Reef biologists and groundwater specialists from México and the United States presented findings of their research to an audience of scientists, members of the press and government, and interested individuals. The scientists agreed that coral diseases are killing the reef coral along the Mexican coast and that the diseases are caused, in part, by contamination from human sewage. The biologists report that only 10% of the reef is now covered with live coral. Over the past 20 years, corals have died from diseases and global warming, which drive coral bleaching. This is startling information and is made even more relevant in light of the government’s plans to convert Akumal into a city of 250,000 people by the year 2028. CEA will have quite a lot of work to do in its next 10 years in order to ensure that any urban growth does not kill the reef. Click here to read more.

CEA is working to address the potential negative impacts from the development plans for Akumal. Please stay tuned to our Web site for detailed information on the plans and possible solutions.

Turtle Watching
During the last weeks of April, not a single turtle arrived at Akumal’s beaches to nest. However, by May 11, we were reminded of nature’s fearlessness when the first turtle arrived to make her nest. We now have 18 nests in the area and soon, more turtles will make their way to the beaches to nest. Check Updates on statistics from this Turtle season. A great way to support the Turtle Protection Program is to Adopt a Turtle; you can do this on-line using your credit card.

CEA always appreciates the help offered by so many volunteers, with all their enthusiasm which helps to save lives. This very difficult and unique work often goes unrecognized, but we would like to thank Jim Petersen, Pablo Arias, Gianluca Marzocchi and Alex Neuschaefer for their love and hard work to help us get this year’s turtle season activities going.

Mural Moral
- by Jim Petersen
Artist Lauren Floden, with the help of Juan Pérez, Jim Petersen and fundraiser Kate Neuschaefer, has completed the preliminary drawing and has begun painting a 17' by 7' mural for the CEA Center. Its reconstructed plaster wall is framed by various species of dead coral gathered from nearby beaches. Sponsored by Golden Paints, Turtle Bay Café & Bakery, and a group of generous donors for the wall's reconstruction, the work is to be completed in November.

All of us who are conscious of the loss of the stunning beauty of the Mesoamerican reef and its creatures must take action, bringing any and all of our gifts and talents to bear in a concerted effort to restore and protect this magnificent ecosystem. Together we hope to raise the consciousness of humanity and prick the conscience of the decision-makers to make wise decisions economically, environmentally, politically—and spiritually to choose LIFE. The artist requests that you join in the wake-up call and take action as a volunteer or contributor to CEA. CEA's volunteers and contributors choose LIFE, not for themselves alone but for all creatures that have no voices to protest their condition and no voices to ask for help. We choose LIFE as well for those of the human species who feign sleep in the face of this treasure's extinction.

The Importance of Sharing Information
- by Joe Duclos
"... to report findings and their significance to the public through education; and through education, to influence public policy." (from CEA’s mission statement)

As the pressure of uncontrolled development increases throughout the Riviera Maya, this part of CEA’s mission statement takes on increased significance in the struggle to protect the regional environment, both for today and for the future. With that in mind, CEA is launching an ambitious project to update, upgrade, and renovate the exhibits at the center in Akumal. New displays are being designed to better communicate, to residents and visitors alike, the threats facing the ecosystem and the possible solutions. Information on topics such as the water cycle and the mangrove, jungle, and reef environments; turtles; and Mayan culture will be exhibited using graphic technologies, with striking images and concise text in Spanish and English. Visitors will move through a gallery, absorbing facts about specific issues, and will come away with a sense of the interactions that influence the ecology of the region. Updated maps will show relationships between land, sea, and the scope of development activity over time. In addition, we hope to provide an interactive computer display which will provide access to CEA’s Web site, and options to explore specific topics in more depth. Lighting and ventilation upgrades will help provide a better environment for lectures, seminars, and other programs.

In future newsletters we will provide further information on the project, and on how you can help CEA achieve the goal of more effectively educating the public to then influence behaviors and policies that threaten one of the environmental gems of our planet.

Environmental Education
Working with the Autonomous Juarez University of Tabasco, CEA held a workshop on marine turtle conservation for a group of 54 students. During the five-day workshop, people from different institutions (whom we gratefully thank for their support) offered an introduction to field work with these ancestral animals. Presentations were given on a variety of topics, from turtle diseases to international efforts to decrease the many threats to the marine species. As part of the course, the students were asked to develop draft projects for marine turtle research or management. It is hoped that a few of these projects may be carried out in Akumal in the future.

Muralists Come to Akumal
- by Kate Robinhawk
Last December, Abby Kent wrote to me at CEA and volunteered to paint a mural for CEA during her vacation to Tulum. Her traveling companion, Patti Halstead, also volunteered to add relief, imbedding techniques, and some metallics to Abby’s painting. Click here for more on the patio mural story.

Upcoming Events
Turtle Walks have started. You may now make your reservations on-line.

June 8 is World Ocean Day, take a moment to show your appreciation. Show your support by signing the petition to have the UN officially designate World Ocean Day: click here.

July 22-31 is the Maya Riviera Sea Turtle Expedition. Contact Heather to make reservations.

Your Help Is Imperative
In order for CEA to move forward with our plans to enhance the CEA Center and to spread the word about the impending development, we need to raise additional funds. In addition to traditional fundraising, it is important that our staff travel between the U.S. and México, as well as within México. If you are a Frequent Flyer and have extra miles, please consider donating them to CEA. Remember, all donations made to us through the Yucatan Environmental Foundation are tax-deductible. Thank you to those who have been telling your friends about the organization. Many CEA Members joined after being referred to CEA. If you have questions about how you can become more involved, please contact us.

Thank you for your continued support of CEA. We list our CEA Members and Contributors on our CEA Friends page. Please take a moment and make sure we have you listed. If you have a story or comment you would like added, please e-mail it to us.

If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, or simply need to contact CEA, please click here.