Sitio web oficial del proyecto

Wetlands are one of the most important ecosystems on the planet, sequestering even more carbon than tropical rainforests and acting as a home to 40% of the planet’s species (source). These ecosystems also provide protection against flooding, regulate the planet’s hydrologic cycle and also help aquifers recharge. In the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico—a place known for being the cradle of the Mayan civilization, attracting thousands of tourists to its archeological sites every year, wetlands and mangrove forests play a key role in providing local communities with sustenance like food, water and sustainable income sources while protecting their homes from floods and hurricanes. Wetlands and mangrove forests are also very important when it comes to biodiversity conservation as they are an important refuge for many wildlife species, including the most iconic bird species in Yucatán: the American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber). Fernanda Linage, a conservation photographer from Mérida, Yucatán and founder of the NGO Flamingo Conservation has been working with local communities in Yucatán to protect not only the flamingos, but also their ecosystems. “There was a time when the communities had forgotten to treat the wetlands with respect, but thanks to environmental education and by rekindling their bonds to nature, sustainability has once again become a big part of the local communities’ lifestyle.” she shares.