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This conservation and research expedition helps to conserve the health of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (the second largest in the world) in the internationally important Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve, providing the resources and trained man power to complete the surveys that our partners would otherwise not be able to do. This is the most detailed and comprehensive use of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System synoptic monitoring programme and supplies data that are used by ASK and CONANP to manage this threatened resource.
Our base lies within the Sian Kaán Biosphere Reserve. Since the beginning, and with the assistance of our partners, we have amassed one of the largest databases in existence on the condition, health and changes of any section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. This data is now being used to promote the management of the reserve’s resources in a more sustainable manner. As a result of our work, a variety of changes have been implemented in the area, including educating local fishermen, increasing development controls and creating signs to educate visitors about the fragile ecosystem.
The Mexican State of Quintana Roo has approximately 650km of coral reef that represents the Mexican portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. The reef has an important value for fisheries and tourism, activities that at the same time represent a high environmental risk. Sian Ka’an is recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO under criteria III and IV, and a member of the ‘Man and the Biosphere’ programme, which promotes the integration of human activities and natural resource conservation. At present, scuba diving is not allowed within Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve for recreational purposes. However, we have been granted a research license by Sian Ka’an Biosfera Reserva.
As a volunteer, you will be assisting in a range of community-led environmental research and awareness projects, including:
- The collection of coral reef characterisation and monitoring data in the northern part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which will help form a comprehensive picture of the ecological health of the northern region of reef. This is a necessary step in the conservation process of this area. The area faces various threats linked to the use of coastal zone resources on the mainland (improper sewage and other problems associated with tourism development) that cannot be prevented without solid, scientific basis.
- Seasonal crocodile nesting surveys (when available) to determine crocodile populations and breeding success in the northern part of the reserve.
- The crocodile dietary study (when available), determining the population dynamics of the two species of crocodile, and the prey species and quantity in the northern part of the reserve.
- The seasonal sea turtle nesting survey, determining the species and breeding success of sea turtles nesting in the northern part of the reserve. (Nesting survey is seasonal, but turtles can be seen in water at all times of year).
- Training local fishermen to survey multi-species spawning aggregations and develop sustainable fisheries policies.
- Developing the expedition base as an ‘Ecological Research and Awareness Centre’.
- Education and awareness programmes at local schools, hotels, the expedition base and in the open environment. We are dedicated to responsible tourism, and all of the projects that we support directly benefit the environment, the local community, or both. All projects are carefully chosen to offer our volunteers sustainable and responsible travel, with specific attention being paid to their involvement in the sustainability of all their practices / project goals.
All of our projects and expeditions issue the participants with clear guidelines on responsible tourism and ecotourism, all specific to the particular environment / region. These cover a number of issues, ranging from waste disposal in remote areas, recycling materials and buying from local businesses to not exploiting the area’s wildlife or harming the environment. *for 4 week duration in 2012, volunteer must be PADI Advanced Open Water Qualified in order to participate
The owner of this company did a gap year trip in the early 90s which involved building a bandstand for a small village in Patagonia. While he was there, he realised the project was only helpful in developing the Western traveler as the village didn’t want a bandstand and only argued about who owned it. And so he set up a volunteer organisation which is useful to communities and provides them with resources and help with funding. Today, his projects offer travelers an opportunity to fully integrate into communities and to make a real long-term difference to the local people’s lifestyles.
We invite every traveler who books a vacation via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the vacations they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same vacation can have different views!
