Strengthen Responsible Visitation Practices of Coral Reefs - Q2/3 Progress Update

Q2/3 Progress Update: WILDCOAST has made significant progress in achieving their coral reef conservation goals and expanding the reach of their efforts in the Mexican Pacific community. Five thousand copies of the Huatulco National Park wildlife and dive guide were printed, and the guide is also being adapted for Espiritu Santo and Cabo Pulmo National Parks. Coral reef conservation education has been delivered to over 700 community members through workshops, art experiences and Earth Day and International Wetlands Day festivities. To further their efforts in securing federal protection of coral species, WILDCOAST raised community awareness by featuring two photographic exhibitions on the corals and mangroves of Mexico as part of the 100 years of conservation in Mexico celebration. Coral reef visitation best-practices trainings were facilitated for 55 tourism outfitters in Huatulco, Isla Isabel, Espiritu Santo, and Cabo Pulmo National Parks. WILDCOAST has expanded the first Mexican Pacific system on mooring infrastructure from Huatulco National Park to other protected areas in the Mexican Pacific, training four rangers in Espiritu Santo National Park and working to install six mooring buoys for this marine zone.

About Grantee: WILDCOAST conserves coastal and marine ecosystems and wildlife. In 2017, we will keep conserving special wild places including: Baja’s Pacific Islands Biosphere Reserve, a brand new 2.7 million-acre wildlife reserve offshore from Baja’s Pacific coast, that we advocated for over the past five years; Laguna San Ignacio, a pristine gray whale birthing lagoon where we have helped to conserve 450,000-acres of habitat; Magdalena Bay, a lagoon that provides sanctuary for gray whales in Baja, where this year we helped to conserve over 182 miles of shoreline and 3,709-acres of mangrove islands; Morro Ayuta beach in Oaxaca, where our team is busy protecting the more than 600,000 Olive Ridley sea turtles that nest there each year; and the coast of California, where we are leading the effort to manage over 500,000 acres of marine protected areas that are home to elephant seals, gray whales, black sea bass, green sea turtles and the elusive leopard shark.

Project Summary: Support the conservation of coral reefs in 687,767 acres of six protected areas in the Mexican Pacific by improving coral reef monitoring, strengthen visitation management, and advancing coral reef legal protection. 

Project Nominated by ATCF Member: Eagle Creek
Project Name: Strengthen Responsible Visitation Practices of Coral Reefs
Grant Amount: $30,000
Grantee Name: WILDCOAST
Location: Mexico

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