ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Akumal’s future relies on a well-educated public to be stewards of the very environment that sustains us, our families and communities, and future generations.
Akumal has a population of about 2000 residents yet is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world on an annual basis. Many locals depend economically on the environment and the resources this bay offers—from snorkeling tours to fishing charters, rentals, and restaurants.
Program objective
The main objective of the Environmental Education Program is to raise awareness, explore environmental issues, engage in problem-solving, and take action to improve the environment by collaborating with the local community and public schools in Akumal.
We believe that environmental education can give individuals a deeper understanding of various issues facing Akumal and provide the skills to make informed and responsible decisions to find the balance between economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.
Our work
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
CEA has established environmental education courses and classes at local elementary and high schools. We work closely with the people from Akumal, Chemuyil, and surrounding towns. The purpose is to create awareness of the fragility of Akumal, Quintana Roo, and the Yucatan Peninsula, providing emphasis on:
-
The local aquifer and underground rivers—from the water cycle to learning how to conserve and protect this resource
-
The diverse ecosystems in the area and the flora and fauna that inhabit them
-
The impact of climate change on the local ecosystems
-
Waste management, including distribution, consumption, and disposal of products that pollute our land, water, and air and the 3Rs (Reduce, reuse, recycle) to help conserve natural resources and reduce pollution.
-
Taking action for a sustainable community.
IN ACTION
COMMUNITY OUTREACH + EVENTS
CEA participates in special events and community projects to deliver information and further the mission of education and conservation. Activities include:
-
Participating as a committee member of “Keep Akumal Clean” which organizes town-wide cleanups with the local school kids, community organizations and businesses
-
Celebrating special days through educational talks or activities such as World Water Day, International Day of the Sea Turtle, and Earth Day
-
Working as part of the organizing committee for the annual Marine Turtle Festival
Children partake in activities at their school (left) for Earth Day, and (right) for World Water Day festivities held in Tulum.
AKUMAL CERO
The Akumal Cero project it's a program that coexists inside the Environmental Education Program focused on urban solid waste and special handling. Its vision is to create a "waste-free" Akumal through various activities and subprojects in the short, medium, and long term that focus on environmental education and the implementation of good environmental practices.
Objective
Promote behavioral changes and create an environmental awareness aimed at the adhering of environmental values to improve the current and future living conditions of people through a set of planned activities and methodologies.
Akumal Cero focuses on three key areas:
āā
1. Recycling and Waste Reduction
2. Community Improvement + Action
3. Green-er Businesses
1.- Recycling and waste reduction
To eliminate the amount of waste, it is important to focus on ensuring recycled goods do not end up in the trash. To do this, Akumal Cero will;
-
Create a Recycling Depot
-
Launch a recycling pick up service for the recyclable and special handling waste
-
Provide workshops on how to recycle, reduce and reuse in schools, businesses and community centers in Akumal and its surroundings.
-
Composting workshops
-
Campaigns for the collection of recyclable materials
2.- Community Improvement + Action
To help create a waste-free Akumal, Akumal Cero works in conjunction with the KANAN environmental brigade composed of children and young people of the town of Akumal, in the following actions:
-
Do cleanups in the pueblo
-
Beach cleaning
-
Planting of trees and creating green spaces
-
Social activities (compost making).
There is an area of organic and aquaponic planting, this space is provided by the Hotel Akumal Caribe, which is always committed to the sustainability of the area and provides constant support to the CEA environmental education program. In this space, groups from different schools of the municipalities of Solidaridad and Tulum are received, as well as national and foreign volunteers who wish to learn about this particular topic.
KANAN environmental brigade
This environmental brigade is formed by children and young people from the town of Akumal, whose mission is to be able to promote the selective separation of urban solid waste in their community, have the knowledge of the good environmental practices, apply them and distribute this information to residents and visitors of Akumal.
Kanan actively participates in campaigns, community and beach cleaning, workshops and monitoring of Akumal Bays.
ā
IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, CONTACT US. YOU CAN BE PART AS A VOLUNTEER FOR A DAY, A WEEK OR PERMANENT.
3.- Green-er Businesses
Another aspect to Akumal Cero is getting the local businesses to participate with separation actions, compost production, implementation of good environmental practices, support in community and beach cleaning, participation in forums, etc., to ensure ecologically sustainable businesses. Businesses committed to best environmental practices and sustainability can help lead the change in our community.
ā
IF YOU ARE A COMPANY WHO WANTS TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND BELIEVE IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US.
Reciclatón (program of recycling)
Akumal Cero in coordination with the Tulum municipal program: Reciclatón, which consists of the collection of recyclable materials once a month at a fixed point within the town of Akumal, Tulum, Quintana Roo.
ā
Creating, with these actions, collective awareness, citizen participation and an appropriate final destination of recyclable and hazardous materials.
