Yucatan Mangrove Reforestation: SEMARNAT’s Eco Initiative in Collaboration with Fishing Communities

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) has initiated a new program in Yucatan. Named "Semarnat and Fishing Communities Mangrove Reforestation Program of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea", the program was launched in collaboration with Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena. The initiative aims to promote environmental justice and community well-being by endorsing mangrove restoration as a sustainable development strategy with both short and long-term benefits.

Semarnat's head, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, emphasized the crucial role of local communities in preserving coastal ecosystems. She acknowledged their significant contribution as restorers of the Gulf of Mexico coast. The Coastal Planting Program of Mangrove, Sea Grape, and Coconut Palms was inaugurated in the municipality of Chuburná. This program is supported by the fishing communities of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, in conjunction with the federal and state government.

In addition, Semarnat announced plans to issue a national call for mangrove reforestation under the National Restoration Program. The goal of this initiative is to restore 12,000 hectares of degraded mangroves during the current administration. During the launch event, six new Participatory Surveillance Committees were established in coastal communities. These committees aim to protect mangroves and promote environmental education, working in coordination with the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa).

This program underscores Semarnat's commitment to collaborate with local communities to foster shared prosperity and sustainable development. It also highlights the importance of citizen participation in environmental protection.