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January 2008
CEA Electronic Communications are in English and Spanish. Para leer este boletín en español, haz clic aquí.
Click on the images to see larger versions.
Turtle Nesting Season Notes
by Alma Boada S.
The 2007 Turtle Nesting Season was a challenge, since Hurricane Dean damaged so many nests. However, we were able to make sure that 14,118 baby turtles made it to the sea this year. There were 203 nests and we lost at least 44 to the hurricane. We thank everyone who helped us with the program.
To support our Turtle Program, please consider adopting a turtle. It is a perfect Valentine's Day gift for your loved one, while showing your love for the turtles. 2008 is the International Year of the Reef and you can join our efforts to protect the beautiful sea turtles, one of the many species that depends on a healthy reef.
Look Who's Helping!
All of us at CEA want to extend a big Thank You to all the wonderful people who are donating to our Auctions this year. We are pleased to announce that we will have not only our Third Annual Silent Auction but we also will have a Live Auction at our Gala Event and an Online Auction.
Here are just some of the people contributing these exciting items to our fabulous auction. Please contact us with your auction item donation so that you can do your part to make this the most successful CEA Event ever!!
Click here to see our Festival Schedule.
If you would like to participate in this year's CEA Festival, please contact Alma or Lydia. We are always looking for volunteers, entertainers, craft demonstrations and, of course, items for our Silent Auction. Or if you would like to sponsor part of the event, please let us know. In the past, we have focused mainly on vacation rentals in and around Akumal, but this year we hope to expand and offer unique experiences from many locations.
If you would like to make your reservations for the Gala Event February 21, 2008 online, please click here.
Bay Management Program Update
by Paul Sánchez-Navarro
The Akumal Bay Management Program has progressed over the past year. We have been able to create a consensus with the local hotel owners, dive shops and tour operators to define the basic rules for managing the bay. The regional Port Captain has also participated and supported the process. Likewise, the federal Ministry of the Environment is working with us. After one year of studying the practices in Akumal Bay, we have seen that the large number of outside tours, both from land and sea, are having the greatest impact in the bay. They bring huge numbers of people each day to swim with the sea turtles and observe the coral and fish species. Soon the program will be limiting these outside tour operators, while working with local tour operators to reduce the number of snorkelers in the water each day.
CEA will keep you posted on our Web site and in newsletters throughout the year. We are certain that these measures will help maintain local businesses while ensuring the protection of the sea turtles.
To inaugurate International Year of the Reef, we encourage you to participate in our Underwater Photo Exhibition. Click here to learn more.
Climate Change Consciousness
Climate Change is an important issue for our times; it will affect all of the planet's ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as humanity. Please help make 2008, the International Year of the Reef, the year that we help coral reefs and marine ecosystems survive.
Please do all you can to reduce the amount of fossil fuel you use throughout your day.
- Walk instead of drive when you can.
- Use less electricity whenever possible.
- Plant a tree.
- Don't cut down trees.
- Buy cars that have high fuel efficiency.
- Find out more.
Please click here to see a good video, in Spanish, on Climate Change.
Christmas Dinner
On December 20 we all enjoyed our Christmas Dinner. We thank Don Andrés and Don Inocencio, our maintenance guys, who cooked cochinita pibil for all the team. Thank you staff and property workers, for believing in our work and being a part of CEA.
Calendar of Events
February 20 & 21, 2008 – Third Annual CEA Festival, Save Our Seas, will be the don't-miss event in Akumal!
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 sponsor 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.
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