The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve just 80 miles south of Cancun is Mexico’s largest protected coastal wetland. This 1.6 million acre refuge is home to thousands of species of plants and animals. The gateway to this spectacular preserve is Pez Maya, a 64-acre postcard-perfect paradise purchased recently by The Nature Conservancy and its partner Amigos de Sian Ka’an (ASK).
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, this two-mile curving coastline will remain natural forever, not only protecting the offshore beginnings of the Mesoamerican Reef but preserving a natural beauty that is quickly being overtaken by development spreading south from Cancun to Playa Del Carmen to Tulum.

Pez Maya

Just 15 miles south of Tulum, Pez Maya's two miles of coastline comprise breeding grounds for least tern, osprey, American crocodile, manatee, and loggerhead and green sea turtles. Nourished by inland mangrove swamps, the coastal waters of Pez Maya harbor one of the world's most pristine coral formations and are renowned for their abundance of sport fish such as tarpon, bonefish, snook and permit fish. 

In fact, Pez Maya is a former fly fishing resort, where visitors to the once-remote site where greeted at the private airstrip with trays of margaritas. The resort fell into disrepair and was taken over by a bank that eventually sold it for conservation. Small concrete structures serve more as campsites now for teams of researchers studying the reef.

In December 2001, with The Nature Conservancy's support, Amigos de Sian Ka'an purchased Pez Maya. With the purchase of Pez Maya, we initiated the "conservation buyer" program to promote sustainable development and protect thousands of acres of this fragile ecosystem along Mexico's Caribbean coast.

While ASK holds title to the preserve according to intricate Mexican land ownership laws, the Conservancy must continue to fundraise annually to pay the property taxes.

Protecting a reserve

For 10 years, the Conservancy has worked with local partner to protect the reserve. Now to address the growing threat of development outside the reserve, the Conservancy and ASK have engaged the private sector, working with local landowners to establish conservation easements and acquire critically threatened, privately owned lands.

In 2005, the Conservancy, Amigos de Sian Ka’an and the Mexican government’s Commission for Natural Protected Areas, completed a five-year conservation plan for Sian Ka’an and are working on activities identified in this plan. The Conservancy and ASK are also working with local communities in and around the preserve to promote sustainable resource use and best land-use and development practices.

 

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Palm trees line the beach in Pez Maya. © Willie Gibson; A jaguar hides in Sian Ka'an's mangrove swamps © Dan Quinn/TNC.