I am a fortunate man. I grew up surrounded by this remarkable wilderness and it has given my Family and me the opportunity to earn our living introducing visitors to its wonders .

For nearly 25 years I have worked & attended many classes and workshops on nature, birds, and preservation of the Bio-reserve and Petenes(freshwater springs) including the RARE Nature Guide Training Course Yucatan Peninsula . I have assisted visiting scientists and biologists with their research efforts and have been involved with bird monitoring, flamingo banding, crocodile tagging, cleanup efforts and maintaining water flow in the area’s freshwater springs. During that time I have worked to promote conservation in the area and to help attract nature lovers , Birders & sport fishermen´s .

There have been many changes here during those years. As more visitors want to discover what we have to offer, increasing pressure has been put on the Bio reserve. With more visitors have come more hotels, restaurants and many more tour operators (before they were comercial fisherman with no ecological training at all) . Few of the new operators understand the delicate balance of nature here or have been on a course for training.

Very little has been done by the Bio Reserve management ( with very limited funds) to control and regulate new operators . High-speed trips through the estuary to disturb wildlife cause unnecessary pollution ( Noise, destruction of bottom marine life in swallow waters) Slow and careful trips need to be the rule . .New regulations have to be enacted and enforced or we will be victims of our own success.

There are many challenges but I am optimistic that changes can be made if the political will can be found. Local people that live in to the protected areas need to pressure and support their politicians to help them to find the courage to make the changes that are necessary

Diego Nunez.