An Overview Of Our Solution
Reef Rescue
Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosystem
Océanos/Costas
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: América del norte
Problem
Describe the problem
The objective is the establishment of a community-based restoration project promoting active restoration through the increase of coral cover with Acropora species. In consequence, colonies will provide environmental services as a key habitat for fish and lobster. The proposal includes coral nurseries that allow the stabilization of coral fragments. Restoration sites should be defined as no-fishing zones in agreement with the local community and the MPA. Therefore, it could be possible to increase the abundance of species of commercial importance (Groupers, snappers, grunts, lobster). Performing these actions, members of the local community could also generate an original and unique product for marketing: community-based ecotourism as an alternative for income, reducing fishing effort.
Biodiversity Impact
Although ecological systems have the ability to recover, human assistance is sometimes necessary to facilitate the process. Active restoration of damaged habitat can provide the best strategy to enhance and maintain ecosystem health, combining assistance of recovery processes and programs of protection of these areas. The complexity provided by Acropora (AP) in the reef is an important factor in the distribution, abundance and recruitment of some species of commercial importance. However, the massive reduction of their populations has caused the loss of habitat and structure associated with a decrease in reef fish species and invertebrates, and the decline of ecosystem services. Nowadays, it is considered that remaining populations of AP may be resistant to the disease that caused its mortality, and even to bleaching. In consequence, restoration efforts from these remnant and resistant populations are an excellent choice to recover lost species and its services. In addition, the project will try to generate alternative income opportunities for the local community by attracting more tourists willing to pay the value of the protection of this area. This could provide an alternative income for the fishermen, helping to reduce fishing effort and its consequent impact on fishery resources. We hope that the result of these actions can be translated in decreased fish exploitation and increased number of No-Fishing and restored sites. At large time scale, these sites could become source spots of commercial species in the MPA and could be exploited through sustainable fisheries.
Solution
Having nurseries and restoration sites ongoing, it would be possible to design them as Special Management Sites or No Fishing Zones in coordination with the MPA and approved by the community. This zoning would reduce the threats caused by overfishing, destructive fishing gear, bad practices of tourist activities and boat traffic impact on restoration sites. For restoration purposes, coral donor will be selected trough genotype identification, selecting those which are health and more resistant to diseases and bleaching. Coral nurseries will be placed and organized in function of genotype of fragments for their subsequent transplanting in restoration sites. A genetic combination can be done, promoting and enhancing biodiversity. The selection of resistant populations will increase reef resilience against other threats caused by the climate change. This example could be replicated in other fishermen communities in the Mexican Caribbean, therefore this project can become an example of sustainable management. // The National Park of Xcalak comprises 17,949.456 ha from what 15 sites of 1000 m2 will be selected for restoration. Nursery sites occupy an area of 100 m2. The idea on the long term is to replicate this program in different coastal fishermen communities of Quintana Roo, Mexico (Mahahual, Punta Herrero, Punta p?jaros, Punta Allen, Akumal, Puerto Morelos) to have restoration sites and No Fishing zones providing services to the reef ecosystem in the Mexican Caribbean
Replicability
How many years has your solution been applied? 1 year // Have others reproduced your solution elsewhere? No // The project is managed by our NGO in coordination with the Official representatives of the Xcalak community, the local tourist cooperative and the National Park Staff under an agreement. Oceanus provides techniques, information, training and coordination of the activities. The National park gives support to the activities with boat, logistics and legal actions for zoning and enforcement. The community and members of the cooperative participate in the activities, and receive training and information, in order to be certified to participate in the project. In the mid-term they will participate in the marketing of the ecotourism products. The ecotourism program will be coordinated by the tourism cooperative “Bahia Blanca†(www.xcalak-ecotours.com). It should start to offer trips of 3 to 5 days after the establishment of nurseries with diving expeditions. The trip will integrate pleasure dives with direct work in planting coral fragments and transplanting coral colonies, which could help to finance the program on the long term. The restoration sites designated as special management zones and the integration of the community in the restoration and monitoring program is an excellent strategy for managing resources within a marine protected area. The community could ensure that they have areas which allow the recruitment and maintenance of fishing species with long-term benefits, and that these areas could support conservation actions of the National Park. The proposal will have academic support from local and international universities.
Human Well Being and Livelihood Impact
On the short- and mid-term, around 50 persons of the community of Xcalak involved in the activities could benefit from the income, the knowledge and training in restoration techniques generated by the program. On the long term, the recovered ecosystem could provide environmental services which directly the Xcalak Community (250-350 persons), such as the increase in the biodiversity in the reef ecosystem and the possibility to improve fisheries in a sustainable way. As volunteers, students, academics and tourists join the program, they will be certified in function of the advances of the program. Benefits of rehabilitation of the sites are represented by benefits in the ecosystem health in general and the environmental services it provides. As this program could be replicated in other communities and reef áreas, more people could receive the benefits provided. // The Public Use Program is about to be consulted with the community, having the opportunity to designate special management zones in coordination with the MPA, which can be consensus and approved by the community before the establishment of a restoration program. The first activity of the project includes a workshop with members of the community of Xcalak in order to train them with the used techniques in the project. During the first and second year, we will establish nurseries and transplant with the participants, these activities permit to maintain the community members trained. During the second year, a consultant will be contracted to design the type of product (tours) which can be provided from the project, the operating costs, the profits in order to establish a product's price. According to the project activities, a calendar will be established in order to define the days when tourists can participate. This information will be advertised on the website of the tourism cooperative, the association and linked to environmental & tourist organizations. If possible, agreements with travel agencies and / or resorts in the region will be done to promote the tours. The community certified guides, trained with the techniques of the project, will be responsible for the tourist participants of these outputs. Before every tour, an introductory lecture will be given by the guides to the participants in order to make them familiar with the different techniques they will apply: construction of nurseries, coral fragmentation, and transplantation.