Amigos de Sian Ka’an proudly presents our achievements of the rst semester of 2014. Over the last six months the organization accomplished a number of objectives that signicantly enhanced the preservation, protection and sound use of the natural resources of the Yucatan Peninsula.

1. ACHIEVEMENTS
Jan - Jun 2014
OFICIAL LAUNCH OF
ECOTURISM PROJECT
After 4 years of extensive work, Amigos de Sian Ka’an is proud to
ocially launch the new ecotourism destination in the Mexican
Caribbean: Maya Ka’an. The destination oers visitors the opportunity
to perform sightseeing activities in valuable natural environments
through local tours operated by Mayan communities, promoting
conservation and sustainable development in the Mayan Area.
Among the attractions of Maya Ka’an, you will nd the Biosphere
Reserve of Sian Ka’an, decreed in 1986 as a Natural Protected Area
and 1987 as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, with three main destina-tions:
Punta Allen, Muyil, and Punta Herrero. Complementing the
ecotourism oer in this new destination, you will nd six Mayan
communities in the municipalities of Felipe Carrillo Puerto and José
María Morelos, namely: Señor, Tihosuco, Chunhuhub, Kantemó, Noh
Bec and the municipal capital city of Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
Maya Ka’an oers nature activities, cultural tourism and community
engagement such as specialized tours of catch and release shing,
bird observation activities with local guides, and unique site visits
such as the Cave of Hanging Snakes. Additionally, activities range
from dolphin and turtles observation tours; to reef, lagoon, cenote
and mangrove visits; and community interaction tours with Mayan
elders and community members to get acquainted with little-known
stories in Quintana Roo such as the Caste war. Maya Ka’an oers
experiences designed for travelers in search of a vacation dierent
from those oered in Cancun and the Riviera Maya; a vacation with
low environmental impact, in small groups, and directly beneting
the local communities. Hereby, Amigos de Sian Ka’an achieved to
open new markets which ensure the conservation of natural
resources and benet the population of the Sian Ka’an Reserve and
the Mayan Area of Quintana Roo.
Maya Ka’an, a destination that opens innite opportunities in the
future, is a concept promoted by Amigos de Sian Ka’an, the Secretary
of Environment, the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI),
and the Riviera Maya Promotion Trust. It was made possible with the
generous funding provided by The Multilateral Investment Fund of
the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB - MIF), UNDP Small Grants
Program, Fundemex, Microsoft, Fundación ADO, Alianza WWF –
Fundación Carlos Slim, Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la
Naturaleza, and The Nature Conservancy.
Amigos de Sian Ka’an proudly presents our achieve-ments
of the rst semester of 2014. Over the last six
months the organization accomplished a number of
objectives that signicantly enhanced the preservation,
protection and sound use of the natural resources of the
Yucatan Peninsula.
OFFICIAL LAUNCH
ECOTURISM DESTINATION
OFFICIAL LAUNCH
ECOTURISM DESTINATION

2. TECHNOLOGIES FOR
WATER MANAGEMENT
Through the introduction of appropriate technologies for integrated
water management based on the master plan of the Yucatan Peninsula
promoted by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) in rural areas,
Amigos de Sian Ka'an started in 2014 a project, which contemplates
1,988 direct and more than 1.3 million potential beneciaries.
Some of the objectives of the project are:
• The improvement of the living conditions of the inhabitants in extreme
poverty and to contribute in the creation of an environmental culture
among the Mayan communities.
• To carry out a comprehensive delivery of packages of appropriate
water technologies in the 3 states of the peninsula. Each package
includes home level systems of rainwater catchment, a cistern, a bicycle
pump, an ecological laundry, a family orchard, an ecological toilet and a
slow sand lter to purify drinking water.
Amigos de Sian Ka'an leads the project in Quintana Roo, which includes
the delivery of 117 packages to 10 communities in the municipalities of
Lázaro Cardenas, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, José María Morelos and Tulum.
Funding for this project was provided by the Fundación Gonzalo Río
Arronte, with the participation of the Mexican Institute of Water
Technology, the Yucatan Peninsula Watershed Council and support
from volunteers of HSBC Mexico.
ECOLOGICAL
RESTORATION
The Biosphere Reserve Banco Chinchorro (RBBCH) is part of the
Mesoamerican Reef and is an important nesting, breeding,
feeding site and shelter for many marine and terrestrial species.
Unfortunately, their terrestrial biodiversity is under pressure from
invasive exotic wildlife such as black rats and feral cats, listed by
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) among
the 100 most damaging species in the world, accidentally
introduced to the islands by boat. In 2010, the alliance between
the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP),
the Ecology and Conservation Group of Islands (GECI) and ASK
began preparations to carry out the eradication of invasive
species, for successful ecological restoration of the group of
islands.
The baseline monitoring allowed the eradication plan Cayo Norte
Major and Minor, ensuring that there is no negative impact to the
environment. The eradication campaign formally began in the
case of the black rat in early April 2012 in North Mayor Cayo Menor
and Cayo Norte. The campaign to control stray cats, found only in
Cayo Centro, began in the rst quarter of 2012 and continues to
date.
Environmental education, directed by ASK and implemented
since 2014, is a tool whose goal is to involve habitants of RBBCH to
take action in the project. This component includes for example
practices that prevent the introduction of new exotic ora and
fauna, the implementation of solutions to the problem of solid
waste management and improved environmental practices for
day-to-day activities. ASK’s monitoring has conrmed the absence
of invasive species and an optimal population growth of local
species of ora and fauna in the reserve.
The Ecological restoration of Banco Chinchorro is possible due to
partnerships with CONANP and GECI; and nancial support by
WWF-Carlos Slim Foundation Alliance.

3. The local cooperative “Orquideas de Sian Ka’an” (Orchis of Sian
Ka’an), strongly supported by Amigos de Sian Ka’an, were able to
start operations in April 2014 in Punta Allen, within the Sian Ka’an
Biosphere Reserve (RBSK for its Spanish acronym), being the only
sole group of women – shermen’s wives – to provide ecotourism
tours in central Quintana Roo which will contribute to regional
sustainable development.
Their service, which will be available in hotels in Tulum and the
Mayan Riviera, is comprised of three tours: an interpretive trail
leading to the area known as Black Lagoon (Laguna Negra); a kayak
ride through the internal Sian Ka’an canals; and a bicycle tour for
ora and fauna observation in the tropical forest.
Traditionally, shermen combined shing activities with snorkel and
diving tours within the same area. However, thanks to support
received from the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) – Carlos Slim
Foundation Alliance, the National Commission of Protected Natural
Areas (CONANP for its acronym in Spanish), and Amigos de Sian
Ka’an (ASK) the 25-women group is now able to consolidate their
organization and initiated operations in April 2014.
The local respect and pride transmitted by these women towards
their natural environment is a clear evidence of the need to incentiv-ize
low-impact tourism activities for the Sian Ka’an Biosphere
Reserve conservation eorts, which has registered a considerable
amount of visitors during the last years due to its ecological wealth
and proximity to tourism attraction poles.
NEW STRATEGIES
FOR LAGOON SYSTEM
Together with the Department of Tourism of the municipality José María
Morelos and the Secretary of Environment, Amigos de Sian Ka'an strives to
establish guidelines and strategies for sustainable development of the
Chichankanab Lagoon System, a Natural Protected Area decreed in 2011.
The lagoon is a unique ecosystem and ideal for various activities of
recreation. Together with communities and local government, ASK is
participating in the process of developing proposals for how to open up
new economic opportunities for the surrounding communities.
In 2011, Amigos de Sian Ka'an, in collaboration with the Government of
Quintana Roo, obtained the decree of three new protected areas in
Cozumel, Chichankanab and Bacalar. Lagoons which sum up to 30,000
hectares with major attractions. Now, the next task is to position the natural
beauty of the South of Quintana Roo worldwide and so increase the
economic benet of local communities.
ORCHIS OF
SIAN KA’AN
AWARD FOR 28-YEAR
TRAYECTORY
We are very proud to announce that in June Amigos de Sian Ka’an has
received the Fundación Migual Alemán award for its continuous work
for environmental conservation, preserving natural habitats and
promoting sustainable development in the Yucatan Peninsula for over
28 years.
THANK YOU!
2014 has already brought some great achievements
for conservation in the South of Mexico. Those are the
results we can get when supporters like you step in
and join our Actions for Nature. However, there is still a
lot to be accomplished by the end of the year! Con-tinue
making a dierence today through:
• Paypal on www.amigosdesiankaan.org
• A national transfer or check by contacting
conservacion@amigosdesiankaan.org
• An international transfer through the Friends of Mexi-can
Development Foundation by contacting Molly
Hickok (mhickok@ghspm.com)
… and help bring more incredible results.
MUCHAS GRACIAS!