New national marine park in Mexico

> This message was originally submitted by Georgina Bustamante
> (gbustamante@tnc.org) to GCFINet.
>
> ------
> President of Mexico Decrees Xcalak National Marine Park
>
> On June 5th, Mexico's first ever National Marine Park initiated by a
> community (rather than by the federal government) was decreed by President
> Zedillo during World Environment Day celebrations in Cozumel. The decree
> culminates five years of hard work by the community of Xcalak, working
> through the USAID-funded `Conservation of Critical Coastal Ecosystems in
> Mexico' project. This national endorsement and implementation of a
> community's own vision of its future represents a major step in the region's
> efforts towards self-management and the promotion of low-impact tourism
> development along the Costa Maya (rather than the
> large-scale commercial development style of Cancun to the north).
>
> Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo, the Xcalak
> National Marine Park includes coral reefs, fringing mangroves, coastal
> lagoons and narrow beaches. As part of the Meso-American Barrier Reef
> ecosystem, the area is rich in marine biological diversity, and is a highly
> productive breeding and feeding ground for many species of fish, nesting
> turtles, as well as 155 species of birds. At the tip of Xcalak peninsula,
> 250 miles south of Cancun, is the tiny coastal village of Xcalak with about
> 300 people, all of whom depend on the sea. The Park will become official 30
> days after the public notification date of June 1st.
>
> The Mexico coastal activities are jointly supported by USAID's Mexico
> Mission
> and the Global Environment Center through the Coastal Resources Management
> II
> cooperative agreement with the University of Rhode Island/Coastal Resources
> Center. Continuing USAID-funded coastal activities for Mexico will
> include, among other activities, the preparation of a management and
> operational plan for the new Xcalak National Marine Park.
>
> Barbara A. Best, Ph.D.
> Marine and Coastal Resource Advisor
> USAID/G/ENV Rm 3.8 Tel:202-712-0553
> 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Fax:202-216-3174
> Washington, DC 20523-3800 BBest@USAID.gov
> ****************************************** Georgina Bustamante, Ph.D.
> Caribbean Marine Conservation Coordinator
> The Nature Conservancy, Caribbean Division
> 4245 North Fairfax Drive, suite 100
> Arlington, Virginia 22203-1606
> Tel. 703-841-4875
> Fax 703-841-4880
> Email: gbustamante@tnc.org
Received on Wed Jun 21 12:32:56 2000