Wetlands are a natural solution to climate change. Peatlands, mangroves and seagrass beds are the most efficient carbon sinks on Earth, capturing and storing twice as much carbon as all the world's forests combined. They also protect us from natural catastrophes.
Faced with rising sea levels, coastal wetlands reduce the impact of hurricanes and tsunamis, anchor the coastline, and resist erosion.
However, when they are drained and destroyed, wetlands emit large amounts of carbon.
In this sense, Yuritzi Espino, manager of the Eco-Bahia Ecological Foundation commented, "It is extremely important that as a foundation and together with our conservation programs, we disseminate one of our base ecosystems in Quintana Roo, which are present in our day to day”.
In order to commemorate "World Wetlands Day", the foundation together with the PA Academy school, have carried out three different activities in what was called "k ́ol Kaab in wotoch" | "My world, my home", to raise awareness and put into practice the knowledge that primary school students have acquired in the classroom about the sustainable development goals (SDG), the interaction that ecosystems have and how we can help preserve our ecosystems only home.
Three actions for the protection of wetlands
1.- Tortuguero for a day, an activity to learn more about sea turtles in one of the most important natural processes, spawning. A simulation about the process of arrival of turtles on the beach, spawning, and the way in which the turtles perform protection actions.
The activity has consisted of moving the nest to a safe place, where each member had to sow the nest and place the corresponding signage to mark their nest and clean it, removing all the waste found.
2.- Environmental Ambassador, the integration and application of the Sustainable Development Goals was carried out, evaluating which strategies allow support to reduce the effects of climate change. Likewise, the search for residues was carried out in which an analysis of microplastics was included.
3.- Explorer for a day: Walk "in Tumben Lu um" an approach to nature where you can generate a visual, auditory and totally sensory link with all the textures of the Selva Maya, find and learn details from the smallest beetle, the strangest and most beautiful mushroom, the snake that shines in many colors as it moves in the sun, the bird that sings at the top of its lungs. Emphasizing the importance of seeing that everything is part of a great chain on our planet, which we must care for and protect.
In the words of the foundation's manager: “We culminated a morning of interaction to arouse the curiosity of the little ones, to raise awareness, respect, care, generate ties of empathy and thus protect our environment. The students closed this activity giving valuable ideas to carry out actions and contribute both to climate change and to the protection of ecosystems”.