CEA Electronic Communications Edition XXIX, February 2005 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FELIZ DÍA DEL AMOR Y LA AMISTAD Akumal Bay Management by Paul Sánchez-Navarro As part of the efforts to use our resources wisely, the Akumal community has gotten together to begin a bay management program. The first step in the program is the installation of buoys along the shore to mark off swimming areas. Boats will no longer tie up on the shore. The second step of the project is to install mooring buoys in the bay for a specific number of boats, including visiting boats. CEA will work with the Akumal Development Council, local dive shops and fishermen to develop a management plan for the bay, taking into account the needs of each sector as well as those of resident and nesting turtles, along with coral and fish species. This project will include research in how the bay is used, identification of the threats to a healthy bay and determination of best practices for the bay. The overall goal is to change how we use the magnificent bay, protecting both visitors and wildlife. We will develop an exhibit in the CEA Center to share advances in the project and to make bay management information available to the community and visitors. Ten Years of Turtle Conservation in Akumal Our Turtle Program Coordinator, Ivan Caballero, represented CEA at the XXV Symposium on Sea Turtle Conservation and Biology, which took place from January 16–22, in Savannah, Georgia. Some of the most important specialists in turtle conservation from all over the world presented their recent efforts. During the symposium, Ivan had the opportunity to present his study of 10 years of CEA’s efforts in turtle conservation in Akumal. This important event provided CEA with tools to continue working on protecting the turtles that come to Akumal and to enhance relations with other institutions, especially in how to create real expectations for sea turtle survival. Ivan’s presentation soon will be available on our Web site. We also will be posting the volunteer guidelines for the 2005 turtle season. University of Vermont in Akumal by Sky Lew Sustainable Development in the Maya Riviera Seven students, mostly engineering majors, attended the University of Vermont course in Akumal. The course was a diverse study of renewable energy solutions and natural wastewater treatment. Renewable energy lectures covered the basic principles of electricity and electric loads, photovoltaics, battery storage, inverter selection, solar prediction, climate appropriateness and proper placement of photovoltaic arrays. Students received hands-on experience by examining local solar electric and hot water systems. Wastewater lectures centered on use of constructed wetlands as an appropriate technology for the region. Among the many visits to constructed wetlands in the area, the students visited Pueblo SacBe, an eco-village near Playa del Carmen. Pueblo SacBe is an 88-hectare "sustainable community" in the making. Students toured the development’s first few buildings and critiqued their renewable energy, water and wastewater infrastructure. The main project of the course was for the students to estimate the electrical usage for CEA and to propose upgrades to its infrastructure. This included possible upgrades to electrical appliances, as well as installation of a photovoltaic system. Students did have time to explore their beautiful surroundings by shopping, beachcombing and snorkeling the coral reefs. With CEA hosting the class, we benefited from other presentations including topics on the Coral Reef, Sea Turtles, Dinosaur Extinction, and BioDiesel. The class also visited many cenotes (sinkholes) famous to the region. Everyone had a very memorable and great experience. Natural Healing Arrives at CEA Center EcoShop We would like to announce our new collaboration with Dr. Lizbeth Mendoza, who is featuring a wide range of herbs and other natural healing products at our EcoShop. She presents the following article as an introduction to locally available traditional remedies: Medicinal Trees Around Akumal Profound understanding of nature and the knowledge of the curative properties of plants and animals were the basic elements of the Pre-Hispanic curative practices. Nearly 4,000 species of medicinal plants have been identified and registered in México. Three examples of commonly available plants are: (click here to read the examples.) 2004/2005 Scholarship Fund Report by Mauricio Bautista Vega CEA offers a brief report of the Scholarship Fund for local school children which the organization helps manage. We thought a good way was to relay comments from those students who received the support. The three students who received the grants this school year are Verónica Yahaira Dzul Domínguez, Geidy Karina Basto Euan, and Alexander Dzul Tuz. Click here to read more. Armando Sastré Joins CEA CEA would like to officially welcome Armando Sastré as our Administrator and Property Manager. He began in August 2004, but has been avoiding posing for a photo for the newsletter since then. Armando comes to us from Mérida, where he was founding partner of an organization called Naturaleza Compartida, which developed a strategy for sustainable natural resource use in Calakmul, Campeche. From 1992 to 1999, Armando was Socioeconomic Coordinator of the Ria Lagartos, Ria Celestún and Calakmul regions of Pronatura Peninsula Yucatán. He has a degree in administration from UNAM in México City and is finishing a Master’s degree in Sustainable Tourism from the University for International Cooperation in Costa Rica. Armando is married and has two children. Staff Birthdays February 13 — David Nuñez, Development Coordinator Upcoming Events Two Renewable Energy Workshops for Akumal and the Yucatán February 28, 2005 Akumal, México Sponsored by: RENEW Wisconsin, the Yucatan Environmental Foundation, SoListo, and Southwest Windpower You can tap two of the Yucatán's most plentiful resources—sun and wind—to reduce energy costs in your residence, your business, or the properties you manage. You can also design a renewable energy system to reduce power outages! Two half-day workshops at CEA will introduce you to wind turbines (morning) and to solar collectors for electricity generation and water heating (afternoon). The workshops are ideal for your home, condo, property, or business—whether in Akumal or any place else in the world. To register for the workshop and to get more details, click here. Check our Web site often to learn more about CEA's programs and upcoming events. Get-together at CEA March 1 We're going to have a fabulous potluck "Get-together" at the CEA Center on Tuesday, March 1 at 6 PM. This is NOT a fundraiser; it's a "come-and-have-fun-night" with a wonderful group of musicians and vocalists. Roger Burton, Denny Mahan's cousin and a homeowner in Akumal, will be flying in from Dallas, with his wife, Denise, and a group of professional musicians who will be his houseguests. Guitars, keyboard, harmonica, maracas and possibly some drums will play many of your favorite songs and will make for a fun evening! Be sure to bring your favorite appetizer and/or a bottle of wine! Special Thanks to those who have already joined in our Turtle Adoption Program. We have added some new items this year. You can now adopt the nest, the entire family and become a member all with one contribution right online. We will be posting pictures once the turtle season kicks off. Please be sure to tell your friends about the organization! 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.