| DEFENSORES DEL MEDIO AMBIENTE DE LOS TUXTLAS, A. C. ecological activism ACHIEVEMENTS |
| June 2,2006 |
| DEMATAC promoted the creation of the “Comité de Vigilancia Participativo Ambiental" (Committee for Environmental Vigilance) de PROFEPA” (Federal Environmental Protection Agency) for Catemaco, Veracruz. The meeting was held in the Restaurant La Ceiba in Catemaco. |
| March 31, 2006 DEMATAC was named Substitute Consultant for the incumbent: “Sendas. A. C.” in the Consejo Asesor de las Asociaciones Civiles para La Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas. |
| January 26, 2006 – 4:00 p. m. On January 20th. DEMATAC presented an official complaint to various government offices against Ing. Julian Méndez Garcia, operator of the gravel pit owned by “Perforaciones y Voladuras, S. A. de C. V.” for deforestation. (See complaint: ENGLISH TRANSLATION . . . ) At approximately 4:00 p. m., January 26th the gravel pit was closed by municipal (H. Ayuntamiento de Catemaco) court order. (We have been told by several police officials on the scene that the order for closure was due to the deforestation. We have not been able to officially verify this as yet.) |
| December 19, 2005 The pilot project, ACOPIO DE PLASTICO Y PAPEL EN ESCUELAS DE BAJOS RECURSOS EN CATEMACO (STOCK PILING & RECYCLING OF PLASTIC AND PAPER IN LOW INCOME SCHOOLS IN CATEMACO) came to its conclusion with the presentation of Certificates of Recognition to the participating schools. (For photos see: Acopio de . . . ) Esc. Primaria Niños Heroes de Chapultepec, first place, with a total of 1,424 kilos of recyclable material. Esc. Primaria Xicontécatl, second place, with a total of 318 kilos of material. The total weight of recyclable material collected by the five participating schools was 1,900 kilos. July 27, 2005 C.M.A.S. (Municipal Water & Sanitation Commission) repaired the drainage regulator at Espagoya Beach within six days of the date DEMATAC filed a complaint with the Director. (For photos see: Playa Espagoya . . .) July, 2005 The plan for the higway circling Lake Catemaco was modified after protests and complaints filed by DEMATAC and other environmental groups. July25 & 26, 2005 The two day hike "SALVEMOS AL LAGO DE CATEMACO" (Save Lake Catemaco) and the "CONCURSO DE PINTURA INFANTIL" (Children's Art Competition) ended successfully, calling attention to sources of contamination of the lake and increasing the awareness of nature for the participating hikers and adolescents. (For photos see: Exitosa Caminata . . .) May & June, 2005 In May, DEMATAC, in a reunion with the Municipal government of Catemaco, recommended the fining of people who throw trash in rivers, lagoons, vacant lots, and streets and highways, as a step in the right direccion toward resolving the problem of trash in the region. In June the Municipal Government began to announce through the news media that those who throw trash in public areas will be fined. May, 2005 to date: The gravel pit "EL ARENAL Y OJO DE AGUA" (aka: Gravera de Los Hermanos Gracia), after years of complains and with the intervention of DEMATAC& PROFEPA have promised to institute a program of reforestation. February 12, 2005 DEMATAC inaugurated a cleanup campaign in Catemaco, designating various communities where trash would be collected from public and private areas on designated weeks - with community participation. This resulted in the Municipal Government initiating similar campaigns in the area. (For photos see: "Campaña de limpiesa . . . ") |
| After much effort and various complaints filed with PROFEPA, Catemaco Municipal Government offices, and others, by DEMATAC, Eng. Julián Méndez García, owner of “Perforaciones y Voladuras, S. A. de C. V.”, has begun a reforestation project on Cerro Nixtamalapan, with fruit bearing and hardwood varieties. “Perforaciones y Voladuras, S. A. de C. V.” is a gravel mining operation that has been the center of controversy for several years in Catemaco, Veracruz. We congratulate Eng. Méndez for his enlightenment and for his labors, and we thank Tu Decides Veracruz, who were responsible for supplying the seeds and advice, and the Reserva de la Biosfera – Los Tuxtlas for their support and the guidance they provided Eng. Méndez. We sincerely hope that these efforts are the forerunner of future steps necessary to repair damage done by the mining operations in Los Tuxtlas. |
| "Water treatment plant to operate at 100%" October 26, 2006 Since May 26, 2006 DEMATAC, has filed various complaints with the appropriate governmemt offices concerning the deplorable condition of residual water plant in Catemaco. Apparently we are finally seeing results for our efforts. Biologist Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Mouriño, Director of the Municipal Commission of Water & Sanitation has stated that the plant should be operating at 100% by years end. (Link in Spanish) DEMATAC will continue to monitor the situation, with the hope that the plant will soon actually operate at 100%. |
| Reforestation Project on Cerro (hill) Nixtamalapan October, 2006 |
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| PROFEPA Inspection in Los Morritos December 18, 2007 |
In answer to our complaint filed in October (see complaint notice dated December 15 , 2007), PROFEPA inspectors: Biol.
María Dolores Castillo Gallegos and Ing. Juan Raúl Luna Garcia made an inspection on November 7, at the property
located in Ejido Los Morritos near the community of Coxcopapan on the banks of the Huyualtajapan River,
determining that the illegal logging had taken place within the boundaries of the Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas.
The person responsible for said logging is Jorge Luis Uscanga Ramón, who they caught in the process of cutting trees.
PROFEPA prepared charges which will be filed with the office of the Ministerio Publico.
María Dolores Castillo Gallegos and Ing. Juan Raúl Luna Garcia made an inspection on November 7, at the property
located in Ejido Los Morritos near the community of Coxcopapan on the banks of the Huyualtajapan River,
determining that the illegal logging had taken place within the boundaries of the Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas.
The person responsible for said logging is Jorge Luis Uscanga Ramón, who they caught in the process of cutting trees.
PROFEPA prepared charges which will be filed with the office of the Ministerio Publico.
| PROFEPA Confiscates Snakes February 27, 2008 |
| In response to a complaint filed with PROFEPA by DEMATAC on December 15, 2007 an order was issued to confiscate snakes encountered in captivity without permit on the premises of the Hotel Playa Azul, Catemaco, Veracruz. In addition to the Green Vine Snake (oxybelis fulgidus) specified in the original complaint, six Boas known as Boa Constrictor Imperator were also confiscated; four of which are very small and have suffered injuries, giving us little hope for their survival. The Green Vine Snake is in excellent condition. DEMATAC members Raúl Cabañas Giffard, Herpetologist and Dr. Lorelei Bojórquez Galván, DVM, accompanied by PROFEPA representatives Biologist María Dolores Castillo Galleros and Ing. Juan Raúl Luna Garcia, examined the reptiles and transported them to the Museo de Serpientes Bothrops located in the Museo Interactivo de Jalapa, Veracruz. |
| Raúl and Lorelei examine the snakes for injuries and tick infestation. |
| ADDITIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS MAY BE FOUND ON THE PAGE: "ANIMAL REHABILITATION" |
| “Green Vine Snake” (oxybelis fulgidus) |
| Boa Constrictor Imperator |
| San Juan Seco de Valencia March 10, 2008 |
In answer to the complaint filed by DEMATAC on April 19, 2007 against Señor Bartolo Abraham
Leal for illegal tree cutting, PROFEPA finally made an inspection. At a later date the order will go
into effect obligating Señor Leal to, at his expense, plant a minimum of 100 trees.
Leal for illegal tree cutting, PROFEPA finally made an inspection. At a later date the order will go
into effect obligating Señor Leal to, at his expense, plant a minimum of 100 trees.
| Río Tibernal August 6, 2008 Previously we received a citizens complaint from Señora Patricia Contreras Isidoro of the community of Tibernal, municipality of Santiago Tuxtla for raw sewage entering the Tibernal River from a treatment plant near her cattle pasture. DEMATAC visited the site on December 12, 2007 and verified that the plant did not have adequate processing capacity for the community of Tibernal, was not operating effectively, and lacked the material necessary for water treatment. After the filing of an official complaint, plus several personal visits and phone calls to the municipal offices of Santiago Tuxtla by DEMATAC, Senora Contreras advised us that the Municipal President visited the community and reached agreement with the citizens to make the repairs that they required. DEMATAC is confident that, between the citizenry and the Municipal President, an adequate solution will be reached, but we will continue to monitor the situation. |