INTRODUCTION

Program for Environmental Sustainability:
Sustainable Development in the Mexican Caribbean

Overview:

• "Sustainable development is development that satisfies present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to satisfy their own needs."
• The core principles that we need to work on are economic, social, and environmental, searching for equilibrium among the three.

Sustainable development emphasizes the necessity for:

• Equality and justice – to guarantee the rights of the poor and of future generations.
• Long-term vision – applying the principle of caution.
• Thinking in terms of systems – understanding the interconnections among the environment, the economy, and society.

In order to measure the success of the processes, systems, designs and activities that are carried out by the governmental, industrial and social sectors, it is necessary develop indicators for each core principle.

Each region must carry out an individual exercise to define and evaluate its economic, social, and environmental indicators.

The six sustainability principles that serve as the basis of an integrated system of indicators that indicate to us whether we are advancing or not in sustainability are:

1. Equality and social inclusiveness. Allowing everyone to have access to basic services that are both adequate and accessible.
2. Local government/independence/democracy. Participation of all sectors in the local community, in local planning and in decision-making processes.
3. Local/global relations– to satisfy local needs appropriately, pertaining to production, consumption, and waste; and trying to find more sustainable solutions to the needs that cannot be solved satisfactorily at a local level.
4. Local economy – integrating local skills and needs with existing job availability, and infrastructures in such a way that it assumes the least risk to natural resources and the environment.
5. Environmental protection – to adopt an eco-systemic focus, minimizing the use of natural resources and the soil, the generation of wastes, and the dispersal of contaminants, while strengthening biodiversity.
6. Urbanized cultural heritage/environmental quality – the protection, preservation and rehabilitation of historic cultural and architectural values, including the buildings, monuments, events; promoting and safeguarding the beauty and functionality of the spaces and buildings.

Contemplating these principles, ideal indicators should be developed for the particular region, taking into account its ecosystems, geology and hydrology; culture, history, economic potential, and social necessities, such as public health and education. For example, in the Mexican Caribbean, the local indicators include conditions of the reef, the jungle, the subterranean water, and the biodiversity that depends upon them.

Some key elements of these indicators are:

Environmental Integrity:

• To live within the ecological limits.
• To protect natural resources.
• To maintain responsable consumption habits: reutilization and recycling.
• To maintain indicators of the carrying capacity: water quality, air quality, species diversity.

Quality of Life:

• Health.
• Education.
• Accesable, efficient, and inexpensive public transportation.
• Communication.
• Linking jobs with life and community
• Generational equity
• Pluralism and tolerance
• Cultural respect

Economic Security:

• Local and regional viability
• Employment oppurtunities
• Economic justice and equity
• Economic security
• Adequate technology and economy
• Long term vision instead of short term expediency: decisions made considering the needs of seven generations

Democratic Participation:

• Communal power
• Democracy
• Accountability
• Responsability
• Communication, education, infomation, and collaboration
• Training in ‘’democratic practices’’
• Representation and participation by all participants and stake holders
• Base groups
  

Another aspect of sustainable development is the consideration of the environmental benefits that ecosystems offer. These are diverse benefits that offer society a distinctive natural area, which by virtue of their existence as such, are generally difficult to articulate in terms of monetary value. For example, the oxygenation of the air, the regulation of the hydrologic function in a watershed, the maintenance of biodiversity, of its roll as a carbon sink – in the case of forests; or, of importance to Akumal, the protection of coastal areas, marine species habitats, clean water and white beaches, in the case of coral reefs.

Lastly, we can say that an environmentally sustainable community would have:

• Businesses and services which minimize their waste products
• Viable markets for locally produced goods and services
• Energy efficiency supported by renewable sources of energy
• High levels of awareness of and participation in environmental issues
• An equitable distribution of environmental properties, such as parks and protected areas; among others
  

MAIN OBJECTIVE

Our Environmental Sustainability Program aims to influence development and lessen its impact on the local environment.

PROJECTS

Projects of the Sustainable Environment Program

1. Eco-certification in Akumal
2. Sustainable tourism in the hotels of the Yucatàn Peninsula (Rainforest Alliance and SEMARNAT)
3. Ecological land management

VOLUNTEER

Although it would be a plus for selection, no previous background in science or sustainability is required, but you must have a strong interest in wildlife and conservation. We always ask you to look for information before coming; even you would receive training here.

Participants are expected to be enthusiastic, adventurous, be able to work as part of a team, be respectful of the host country’s environment and cultures, and have a good sense of humor.

Other general information:

• Please note that we do not accept volunteers under the age of 21
• According to the number of applicants for the program, a strict selection of the applications will be made.
• The minimum length of stay is 2 months.
• Program monthly fee is 200 USD (foreigners) 100 USD (Mexicans). Your payment is due one month before the start of the program.
• You must have a valid passport and visa or FM3 for the length of your stay. It is your responsibility to have up-to-date migratory documents.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that you have all the recommended vaccinations and take any prescribed or advised medication. Please note that CEA can not give medical advice.
• You should have valid insurance for medical services.
• The limit application date is at least 1 month before the dates you want start the program.

STAFF

Director
Paul Sánchez – Navarro R
director@ceakumal.org