Xcalak Reef Restoration Program by Oceanus, A.C.
LOCATION: Xcalak Reef National Park, Quintana Roo.
STATUS: ACTIVE
Our restoration sites are located within the polygon of the Xcalak Reefs National Park in the areas of:
* La Poza (2 sites),
* Portillas,
* Xcalak Norte y
* Parche Xol (2 sites).
This place was one of the first locations where we started the Restoration Program, since 2012 we have had the participation of the local community. The first tests and efforts were carried out with the support of the Xcalak Reefs National Park, CONANP (PROCER Program) and the Bahia Blanca Local Cooperative together with fishermen and community tourism service providers. Over time, the restoration work has been financed by Contiki Travel, Travel Fondation, MAR Leadership Program, Mexican Fund for Nature Conservation, Fund for the Mesoamerican Reef, the SUMMIT Foundation, Mexichem and the UNDP Small Donations Program. . Locally we have the support of tourism service providers and local hotels, who also participate in restaurant activities.
We transplanted more than 10,000 colonies of Acropora palmata coral in 6 different sites, the colonies have grown in size reaching reproductive sizes. In 2019, we started a pilot project in collaboration with MARS Sustainable Solutions using ReefStars, thus managing to restore a complete patch of Acropora cervicornis. Over the years, sites such as La Poza and Xcalak Norte have shown to have populations that are resistant and resilient to human impacts and the effects of global climate change.
Comparison of Colonies of Acropora palmata (left) and Acropora cervicornis (right) recently transplanted and after 10 months of growth.
