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Cozumel youths get involved in coral maintenance project

Cozumel, Q.R. — A group of Cozumel youths are being trained young for future coral maintenance projects. The group are part of the island’s Reef Restoration Program, which has yielded positive results in the restoration of the island’s coral ecosystem.

On Wednesday, the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC) held a coral maintenance day for those planted in Chankanaab Park. The maintenance was assisted by young volunteers committed to marine conservation, raising awareness about the importance of protecting marine ecosystems.

Alejandro Marchán Payán, the General Director of the Fundación de Parques y Museos de Cozumel (FPMC), said citizen participation is essential for the preservation of the reefs.

He said these activities seek to involve new generations in environmental conservation. The FPMC’s reef restoration program includes the maintenance and continuous monitoring of 1,500 coral fragments, ensuring their growth and development in a controlled environment.

According to Rafael Chacón Díaz, the Director of Conservation and Environmental Education (CCEA), these projects not only promote the protection of reefs, but also foster a culture of respect and care for nature in the community.

The youths helped clean the growing corals of built-up algae. Photos: FPMC August 21, 2024.

He explained that this latest project was led by marine biologist Ezequiel Castillo and Natural Resources Manager Antonio Chale, who guided the young volunteers of cleaning the coral colonies with a brush to remove the algae that adhere and prevent their proper growth.

“Any residue is carefully removed with a brush so that they grow unhindered, at a faster rate and have a higher survival rate,” he said.