As every year, this July 26, the Sunset World Group reaffirms its commitment to biodiversity conservation by commemorating the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, which was declared in 2004 by the Latin American organization Redmanglar International (RMI) and later adopted in 2015 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
This date commemorates the day environmental activist Hayhow Daniel Nanoto died while participating in a protest against an illegal shrimp pond in Ecuador. It is celebrated every year to highlight the importance of mangrove management and conservation at the international level.
Mangroves are a special ecosystem that form a bridge between land and sea. It is one of the most dynamic ecosystems on Earth, with a constant production and recycling of organic matter. Furthermore, mangroves have different environmental functions depending on their location and structure. In Quintana Roo, for example, they provide a protected space for the reproduction and development of many species of fish that inhabit the Mesoamerican reef; their dense roots retain sediment, helping to filter the clear water that characterizes our beaches and allowing coral to survive; and they produce oxygen and capture carbon in large quantities.
A few years ago, after the devastation of Hurricane Wilma, Sunset World rescued the mangrove forest of Tres Ríos Natural Park, which contains the four types of mangroves found in the country: red, white, black, and buttonwood. After a successful mangrove reproduction and reforestation program, Tres Ríos Park offers guided tours for members, guests, and visitors, raising awareness of their importance. It has even donated mangrove seedlings to reforest affected areas in other parts of the state of Quintana Roo.
