| DEFENSORES DEL MEDIO AMBIENTE DE LOS TUXTLAS, A. C. ecological activism ACTIVITIES - 2006 |
| CAMINATA "SALVEMOS AL LAGO DE CATEMACO" - 2006 July 8 & 9, 2006 |
| Flight over Santa Marta Volcano June 22, 2006 |
| Campaign for the Protection of the Blue Crab June 3 |
| From June until September, during the rainy season, the Blue Crab travels from the mangroves and pastures of the Laguna de Sontecomapan to the beach to deposit their eggs. The Reserva de la Biosfera – Los Tuxtlas, organizations of fisherman from the communities of La Barra, El Real and Sontecomapan, as well as DEMATAC, have organized a campaign for the protection of the Blue Crab. An agreement has been reached that reduces the capture limit per member of the fishing association to 50 crabs and completely prohibits capture for residents and visitors to the area; with the motive of increasing the crab population. |
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| ACTIVITIES IN ASSOCIATION WITH WWW.TUXTLAS.COM Members of DEMATAC have joined with the gentle folk of Tuxtlas.com in the organization of various events designed to experience and bring attention to the natural diversity of Los Tuxtlas; to, when possible, support some of the local ecotourism available in the area; and most important – to escape from the offices and the meeting rooms just long enough to have a good time. We will briefly chronicle these events and refer you to the appropriate Tuxtlas.com page for the (sometimes gruesome) details (All expenses are paid personally by those individuals participating in the events. There is no expense to DEMATAC.) Simply click the links below to visit the dauntless adventurers. |
| January 25, 2006 Delivery of sports equipment purchased with the proceeds from the pilot project “ACOPIO DE PLASTICO Y PAPEL EN ESCUELAS DE BAJOS RECURSOS EN CATEMACO” (STOCKPILING & RECYCLING OF PLASTIC AND PAPER IN LOW INCOME SCHOOLS IN CATEMACO) to the winning school: Escuela Primaria Niños Héroes. |
| January 20, 2006 Reunion in the Palacio Municipal de Catemaco, Veracruz concerning the problem of the gravel pits of Felíx Gracia Cinta y Julian Mendez Garcia |
| Gravera, Ing. Julían Méndez |
| Gravera, Felix Gracia Cinta |
| Project draft of "Tourist Center" presented by Ing. Julián Méndez García, unanimously rejected as inadecuate. |
| IVEA Reunion June 19 The "Instituto Veracruzana de Educación para Adultos" (IVEA) invited DEMATAC to it's reunion at "Bahia Escondida" along with area teachers, to dicuss the environment , to present DEMATAC and it's activities; and to inform the group about the formation of the new "Comité de Vigilancia" in Catemaco and how to contact them to file complaints. |
| Exchange Trip Septiember 17 - 22, 2006 Our president, Jessica Swanson, participated along with other advisors of the Advisory Counsel in the Viaje de Intercambio de Experiencias del Consejero Asesor de la Reserva de la Biosfera – Los Tuxtlas (Exchange Trip of the Advisory Counsel for the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve); visiting the Barrancas de Metztitlán, Hidalgo and the Corredor Biológico Chichinautzin, Morelos. |
| Expo Forestal Veracruz, World Trade Center Veracruz (WTC) September 28 – 30, 2006 This is considered the most important forest related fair in the country; known for the promotion of sustainable forest growth and as a model for community management of forest resources. DEMATAC will be represented, along with Bahia Escondida. |
| Children's Art Contest (Concurso de Pintura Infantil 2005) One of the greatest obstacles we encounter in our effort to promote the protection of the environment is the apathy of the public. DEMATAC believes that one path to overcoming this indifference is education, especially among our children – the future of Los Tuxlas. Toward this end, we are organizing programs and activities designed to attract the attention of the youth of the region. There are photos on the Activities Page of the Children’s Art Contest organized in conjunction with the "Caminata", & with “Save Lake Catemaco” as the theme. Cash prizes ($ 300 pesos 1st place, $ 200 pesos 2nd, $ 100 pesos 3rd, & $ 50 pesos 4th place) were awarded by DEMATAC. Copies of the book “Los Tuxtlas – Paisajes y Pensamientos“ & caps with the logo of the Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico, Laguna de Catemaco, presented for the twelve best drawings, were donated by the Reserva. |
| Aerial Seeding with Seed Balls December 14, 2006 The president of DEMATAC accompanied “Tú Decides Veracruz” to the Minititlan, Veracruz Airport for aerial reforestation in the foothills of the volcano Santa Marta. Approximately 1,200 kilograms (2700 lbs.) of seed balls were airdropped from a naval helicopter, including cedar, mahogany and melina, among other species. Seed balls are simple mud spheres that encase a collection of seeds. The seed ball concept is simple and applies perfectly to burnt forest conditions or to forests and woodlands hard-hit by insect infestations. Seeds are encased in a ball of clay and humus. The clay protects the seeds from the drying sun, rodents, birds, and insects until the opportune rains come. The rains melt the clay, allowing the seeds to sprout in a mini-environment of nutrients found in the humus and clay. Although only a percentage of sprouted seeds will take hold, the profusion of thousands of these balls, each containing a surplus of seeds, will more than adequately cover nature’s requirements to make it work. Aerial reforestation by this method is very useful in large or inaccessible areas. |
| La Flor de Catemaco, S. de R. L. de C. V. Dicember 15, 2006 The farm, founded in 1989 in Catemaco, covers approximately160 hectares (395.37 acres), consisting of around: • 90 hectares (222.39 acres) of palma camedor • 45 hectares (111.20 acres) of helecho cuero • 6 hectares (14.83 acres) of ornamental asparagus • 11 hectares (27.18 acres) of ornamental pineapple Jim Everett, Vice President of Continental Floral Greens, and Eng. José de la Luz Ponce Puente, administrator of La Flor de Catemaco, S. del R. L. de C. V., invited DEMATAC to visit "La Flor de Catemaco". José, Leobardo Tolen Ambrosio, and Biologist Francisco Ramírez Loeza guided us on a friendly, transparent, informative and comprehensive tour lasting more than three hours; from planting and cultivation through preparation and packing. M. C. Elías Ortiz Cervantes of the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas Y Pecuarias (INIFAP) accompanied us. It is clear that La Flor de Catemaco is making a sincere effort to control environmental impact and maintain an ecologically friendly enterprise. The implementation of biological fertilizers and insecticides is in process, waste material is separated for recycling, and further means of protecting the ecological equilibrium are being investigated and put into practice. It is not surprising that La Flor was awarded the “Premio Nacional al Mérito Ecológico 2006” (National Award of Ecological Merit – 2006) and the “Premio Nacional Forestal 2003” (National Forestry Award – 2003). La Flor sets an excellent example for similar ventures in Los Tuxtlas and throughout Mexico. In the near future, we look forward to being able to arrange educational tours for high school and university students, so that they may see the operation first hand and help dispel some common misconceptions. |
| Semana Nacional de la Conservación (National Conservation Week) November 21 - 27, 2006 |
| Demonstration Parcels December 17, 2006 |
"Tú Decides Veracruz" have included, among the various projects that they are developing in Los
Tuxtlas, the promotion of land parcels dedicated to reforestation, conbining the planting of hardwoods
with fruit bearing trees. In this way the property owners enjoy the economic benefit of the fruit while
reforesting the area .
Our president visited two of these parcels en Zapoapan de Cabaña, Veracruz confirming the
seriousness of the "Tu Decides" projects.
Tuxtlas, the promotion of land parcels dedicated to reforestation, conbining the planting of hardwoods
with fruit bearing trees. In this way the property owners enjoy the economic benefit of the fruit while
reforesting the area .
Our president visited two of these parcels en Zapoapan de Cabaña, Veracruz confirming the
seriousness of the "Tu Decides" projects.
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