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What's New at CESiaK in 2005...

Construction Completed!

Construction is now completed on our accommodations and visitor's center inside the reserve. Needless to say we are both very excited and very busy! Please take a look at the new accomodations, and please send any comments you may have. We are very pleased to be hosting groups and individuals.

The Mural above the restaurant turned out fabulous...

Tent cabins, with spectacular views, are accommodating guests

Over 150 students submit paintings for CESIAK's Concurso de Pintura for the Protection of Marine Turtles

CESiaK organized a Painting contest in May and June among Tulum's primary schools as a means of promoting consciousness for protecting the magnificent marine turtles nesting on the beaches during this season. Six winners were chosen among more than 150 creative submissions. Congratulations goes out to all that participated on an extremely successful event.

CESiaK's Tulum Nursery

The nursery in Tulum has seen many changes (see Nursery Page). Construction of the artificial wetland was completed this winter. The CESiaK wetland serves as a model for wastewater treatment design and means for system research.

Treatment and disposal of wastewater is an enormous problem on the coast of Mexico. Grey and Black water dumped into the aquifer makes its way to the oceans and cenotes and renders them unfit for recreation and over time even kills our coral reefs.

CESiaK has teamed up with the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónomo de Mexico) for a project studying the recycling of greywater for irrigation. David Reynoso, a veterinarian student, will be conducting the study for his thesis before coordinating the sea turtle program this summer.

Turtle Nesting 2005

Turtle nesting season 2005 is underway. Working together with Flora Fauna y Cultura A.C. and SEMARNAT, we are hosting 4 volunteers plus our own Program Coordinator on-site during the May-October season. Work is strenuous but extremely rewarding as volunteers walk an average of ten miles a night on the monitoring shift.

Interested in volunteering?

Education

CESiaK education programs have greatly increased in intensity with the arrival, in January, of our new full-time Education Coordinator, Ana Mancera. Bringing experience and great enthusiasm, Ana has expanded education programs to include workshops in all the elementary and middle schools and after-school programs for the local high school.

Excursions to the Sian Ka'an Reserve in the spring were a great enthusiasm builder, and all of the students are participating in a trash campaign in the Tulum Pueblo. Every other Saturday students from Cecyte, the local high school, meet in CESiaK's Tulum nursery for projects in bird observation and plant propagation. CESiaK Education

New Regulations for Sian Ka'an

In June 2002, the Administration of Sian Ka'an published the final version of their development plan for the reserve. This plan is now federal law and the new construction allowed in the plan is already beginning to take place. To review the new regulations for Sian Ka'an please visit

http://www.semarnat.gob.mx/qroo/oetsian_kaan.shtml

These regulations have been anxiously awaited for more than five years by property owners and conservationists alike. The results are very encouraging, but there is no question that the reserve will be forever changed by the increase in development activities, despite the many thoughtful restrictions.

We at CESiaK have shifted gears somewhat to focus on serving as a support for those intending to build in the reserve. Many developers and private individuals are committed to adhering to the strict ecological regulations, but don't have the information or experience to know where to begin. Stay tuned for updates. For any questions or comments please contact us directly at the CESiaK Contact Us page.