Actions for Sustainable Tourism in Maya Ka’an, Mexico as a Means for Climate Adaptation

Maya Ka’an, situated in the heart of Quintana Roo, Mexico, is renowned for its rich biodiversity and essential ecosystems. This unique region includes the second largest jungle in the Americas and the world’s largest underground river system, which supports significant tourism developments and nourishes extensive coastal wetlands and the second-largest coral reef globally. These ecosystems are home to 555 bird species, 200 mammals, the richest variety of corals in Mexico, and numerous endemic species of flora and fauna, making Maya Ka’an a vital ecological and socioeconomic hub.

However, the rapid expansion of tourism, evidenced by 110,000 hotel rooms and 20 million annual visitors, coupled with a staggering 2,100% population growth over the past 50 years, poses severe threats to this delicate balance. New infrastructure projects, such as railways and airports, exacerbate these pressures, leading to detrimental socio-environmental impacts. To counter these effects, the project has successfully advocated for Maya Ka’an to be designated as a low-density tourism destination, emphasizing nature and cultural conservation while offering sustainable development opportunities for local communities. This initiative aims to conserve and sustainably use natural resources, ensuring the region’s long-term viability.

Strengthening the communities within Maya Ka’an is crucial for the sustainability of its tourism. Collaborative efforts focus on management of mangroves ecosystem and implementing good practices in tourism, fishing, and gastronomy. A notable example is the village of Punta Allen in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, where Slow Food and Amigos de Sian Ka’an have been supporting sustainable lobster fishing, a key local economic activity. The “Lobster Experience in Punta Allen” tourist product connects visitors with the village’s history and sustainable fishing practices. Despite these efforts, climate crisis challenges such as rising sea levels, aquifer salinization, extreme storms, and sargassum influxes persist, necessitating continuous investment in community resilience and climate adaptation measures.

The UE funded project is managed by Amigos de Sian Ka’an, in collaboration with Slow Food, aims to enhance the climate crisis adaptation capacities of coastal communities within the ecotourism destination of Maya Ka’an, helping them actively participate in achieving Mexico’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for adaptation and mitigation. It addresses climate change impacts such as sea-level rise and extreme weather, focusing on vulnerable coastal and Mayan populations and fragile ecosystems affected by mass tourism.

Building on previous efforts by Slow Food, the project promotes sustainable tourism, gastronomy and fishing, especially lobster fishing, by improving traceability in the local market. Mangrove restoration is also a key component, with evidence showing that reactivating hydrological flows can successfully repopulate mangroves.

By strengthening local economies through sustainable production systems (lobster fishing, ecotourism, gastronomy and value chains), the project aims to conserve biodiversity and to  integrates cultural traditions into ecotourism, providing a sustainable alternative to mass tourism models.

The project also focuses on restoring 100 hectares of red mangrove, enhancing protection against climate impacts. Additionally, eco-technologies for water management and pollution control will be implemented to protect water bodies and coral reefs, vital for coastal protection and carbon sequestration.

Amigos de Sian Ka’an’s extensive experience in environmental education and eco-technologies will support community resilience and sustainable development. The strategy integrates ecosystem connectivity, pollution control, scientific research, and citizen participation, making the project a replicable model for other coastal communities.