Creation of a school for environmental awareness agents

Mangroves have deteriorated seriously on the Mexican coast, with a total loss of 65%. Urgent action is needed to conserve the remaining mangrove areas. The main threats are cutting of timber for construction and firewood; clearance for agriculture and cattle grazing; the construction of roads; development of tourism; and shrimp farming. The NGO proposes to create a space for reflection, analysis and discussion on the importance of mangroves, and the development of plans to improve the livelihoods of the rural population without destruction of the mangroves. The proposal is to train 26 (young) people (50% women/men) from five communities on the Tabasco coast, who on return to their communities, can facilitate community plans to manage and conserve the mangroves. Some of the communities are located within the Man and Biosphere Reserve Pantanos de Centla, considered a very important mangrove area for its unique biodiversity by the Red Manglar network.

Mangrove ecosystems have deteriorated seriously along the coast of the Mexican province of Tabasco and conservation measures are needed. The main threats towards the remaining mangrove systems are: the construction of roads, tourism developments and the shrimp industry. The NGO As. Ecologica Santo Tomas AC (AEST) aimed at training 26 young people (50% male/female) from five local communities whom can help in developing community based sustainable mangrove management programmes and increasing environmental awareness. Another goal was to create a protected area of 600 hectares of mangroves and to come up with a guideline to develop a strategy and budget for the community management projects mentioned above. An external evaluator visited the project and reported that it yielded no results.