DEFENSORES DEL MEDIO AMBIENTE DE LOS TUXTLAS, A. C.

                                                                                                  ecological activism
ACTIVITIES - 2007 & 2006
Achives (In Spanish): 2005, 2004
Campaign for the Protection of the Blue Crab
June 3
From June until September, during the rainy season, the Blue Crab travels from the mangroves
and pastures of the
Laguna de Sontecomapan to the beach to deposit their eggs.

The
Reserva de la Biosfera – Los Tuxtlas, organizations of fisherman from  the communities of
La Barra, El Real and Sontecomapan, as well as DEMATAC, have organized a campaign for the
protection of the Blue Crab. An agreement has been reached that reduces the capture limit per
member of the fishing association to 50 crabs and completely prohibits capture for residents and
visitors to the area; with the motive of increasing the crab population.
Consejo Asesor de La Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas

May 24: Swearing in Ceremony: Consejo Asesor de la Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas

May 9, 2006: Reunion for "Strengthening the Board of Advisory Consultants for the Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas"

March 31, 2006: Reunion of the Board of Advisory Consultants for the Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas

March 26,2006: Reunion of the Board of  Consultants for the Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas

March 6, 2006: Election of representatives of the “Subconsejo Organizaciones Civiles” of the “Consejo Asesor” (Board of
Consultants) of the Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas.

See . . .
ACTIVITIES IN
ASSOCIATION WITH
WWW.TUXTLAS.COM

Members of DEMATAC have
joined with the gentle folk of
Tuxtlas.com in the
organization of various
events designed to
experience and bring
attention to the natural
diversity of Los Tuxtlas; to,
when possible, support some
of the local ecotourism
available in the area; and
most important – to escape
from the offices and the
meeting rooms just long
enough to have a good time.
We will briefly chronicle
these events and refer you to
the appropriate Tuxtlas.com
page for the (sometimes
gruesome) details

(All expenses are paid
personally by those
individuals participating in the
events. There is no expense to
DEMATAC.)

Simply click the links below
to visit the
dauntless adventurers.
January 25, 2006











Delivery of sports equipment purchased with the proceeds from the pilot project “ACOPIO
DE PLASTICO Y PAPEL EN ESCUELAS DE BAJOS RECURSOS EN CATEMACO”
(STOCKPILING & RECYCLING OF PLASTIC AND PAPER IN LOW INCOME SCHOOLS IN
CATEMACO) to the winning school:
Escuela Primaria Niños Héroes.
January 20, 2006
Reunion in the  Palacio Municipal de Catemaco, Veracruz
concerning the problem of the gravel pits of  Felíx Gracia Cinta y Julian Mendez
Garcia
Gravera, Ing. Julían
Méndez
Gravera, Felix Gracia
Cinta
Project draft of "Tourist Center" presented  by Ing. Méndez, unanimously rejected as
inadecuate.
JULIAN MENDEZ GARCIA CONTINUES TO STONEWALL
. . .  read more
PROSPECTIVE ACTIVITIES

Obtain the concession of Laguna Amolapan, to clean, reforest, and protect it from misuse by fishermen and others.

Continue the campaign to increase public awareness of the environmental problems in the region.

Continue monitoring the denunciations realized and continue the filing of complains regarding new attacks against the
environment.

2° march around Lake Catemaco to raise public awareness of the problems facing conservation of the lake and shore.

Publication of post cards of various species found in Los Tuxtlas for the purpose of bringing them to public attention and
promote their protection.

Promote participation in the campaign for the protection of the blue crab (Cardisoma guanhumi) in collaboration with La
Reserva de la Biosfera – Los Tuxtlas.

Promote among the fisherman,  organization and practices in support of fishing in the Laguna de Sontecomapan, in
conjunction with activities to promote the conservation in the lagoon.

Continue the representation of civil organizations in the region of Los Tuxtlas in the Board of Advisory Consultants of the
Reserva de la Biosfera – Los Tuxtlas (Consejo Asesor de La Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas), as substitute consultant, and
actively participate in the Sub-directorate of Civil Organizations (Subconsejo de Organizaciones Civiles).

Contingent upon the possibility of  funding, acquire land in the region for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems
(woodlands, rainforests).   
IVEA Reunion
June 19

The "Instituto Veracruzana de Educación para Adultos" (IVEA) invited DEMATAC to it's reunion at "Bahia Escondida"
along with area teachers, to dicuss the
environment , to present DEMATAC and it's activities;  and to inform the group
about the formation of the new  
"Comité de Vigilancia" in Catemaco and how to contact them to file complaints.
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Exchange Trip
Septiember 17 - 22, 2006

Our president, Jessica Swanson, participated along with other advisors of the Advisory Counsel in the Viaje de Intercambio
de Experiencias del Consejero Asesor de la Reserva de la Biosfera – Los Tuxtlas (Exchange Trip of the Advisory Counsel for the
Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve); visiting the
Barrancas de Metztitlán, Hidalgo and the Corredor Biológico
Chichinautzin, Morelos
.
Expo Forestal Veracruz, World Trade Center Veracruz (WTC)
September 28 – 30, 2006











This is considered the most important forest related fair in the country; known for the promotion of sustainable forest
growth and as a model for community management of forest resources.

DEMATAC will be represented, along with Bahia Escondida.
Children's Art Contest
(Concurso de Pintura Infantil 2005)







One of the greatest obstacles we encounter in our effort to promote the protection of the environment is the apathy of the
public. DEMATAC believes that one path to overcoming this indifference is education, especially among our children – the
future of Los Tuxlas. Toward this end, we are organizing programs and activities designed to attract the attention of the youth
of the region. There are photos on the
Activities Page of the Children’s Art Contest organized in conjunction with the
"Caminata", & with “Save Lake Catemaco” as the theme. Cash prizes ($ 300 pesos 1st place, $ 200 pesos 2nd, $ 100 pesos
3rd, & $ 50 pesos 4th place) were awarded by DEMATAC. Copies of the book “
Los Tuxtlas – Paisajes y Pensamientos“ & caps
with the logo of the Reserva de la Biosfera - Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico, Laguna de Catemaco, presented for the twelve
best drawings, were donated by the Reserva.
Aerial Seeding with Seed Balls
December 14, 2006

The president of DEMATAC accompanied “Tú Decides Veracruz” to
the Minititlan, Veracruz Airport for aerial reforestation in the
foothills of the volcano Santa Marta.  Approximately 1,200
kilograms (2700 lbs.) of seed balls were airdropped from a naval
helicopter, including cedar, mahogany and melina, among other
species.

Seed balls are simple mud spheres that encase a collection of seeds.
The seed ball concept is simple and applies perfectly to burnt forest
conditions or to forests and woodlands hard-hit by insect infestations.
Seeds are encased in a ball of clay and humus. The clay protects the
seeds from the drying sun, rodents, birds, and insects until the
opportune rains come. The rains melt the clay, allowing the seeds to
sprout in a mini-environment of nutrients found in the humus and
clay. Although only a percentage of sprouted seeds will take hold,
the profusion of thousands of these balls, each containing a surplus of
seeds, will more than adequately cover nature’s requirements to
make it work. Aerial reforestation by this method is very useful in
large or inaccessible areas.
La Flor de Catemaco, S. de R. L. de C. V.
Dicember 15, 2006

The farm, founded in 1989 in Catemaco, covers approximately160 hectares (395.37 acres), consisting of around:
•        90 hectares (222.39 acres) of palma camedor
•        45 hectares (111.20 acres) of helecho cuero
•        6 hectares (14.83 acres) of ornamental asparagus
•        11 hectares (27.18 acres) of ornamental pineapple

Jim Everett, Vice President of
Continental Floral Greens, and Eng. José de la Luz Ponce Puente, administrator of La Flor de
Catemaco, S. del R. L. de C. V., invited DEMATAC to visit "La Flor de Catemaco". José, Leobardo Tolen Ambrosio, and
Biologist Francisco Ramírez Loeza guided us on a friendly, transparent, informative and comprehensive tour lasting more
than three hours; from planting and cultivation through preparation and packing. M. C. Elías Ortiz Cervantes of the
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas Y Pecuarias (INIFAP) accompanied us. It is clear that La Flor de
Catemaco is making a sincere effort to control environmental impact and maintain an ecologically friendly enterprise. The
implementation of biological fertilizers and insecticides is in process, waste material is separated for recycling, and further
means of protecting the ecological equilibrium are being investigated and put into practice.

It is not surprising that La Flor was awarded the
“Premio Nacional al Mérito Ecológico 2006” (National Award of Ecological
Merit – 2006) and the
“Premio Nacional Forestal 2003” (National Forestry Award – 2003).

La Flor sets an excellent example for similar ventures in Los Tuxtlas and throughout Mexico.

In the near future, we look forward to being able to arrange educational tours for high school and university students, so
that they may see the operation first hand and help dispel some common misconceptions.
Semana Nacional de la Conservación
(National Conservation Week)
November 21 - 27, 2006
Demonstration Parcels
December 17, 2006
"Tú Decides Veracruz" have included, among the various projects that they are developing in Los
Tuxtlas
, the promotion of  land parcels dedicated to reforestation, conbining the planting of hardwoods
with fruit bearing trees. In this way the property owners enjoy the economic benefit of the fruit while
reforesting the area .

Our president visited two of these parcels en
Zapoapan de Cabaña, Veracruz confirming the
seriousness of the "
Tu Decides" projects.
BAILA POR LA TIERRA

Maratón de Salsa
10 y 11 de marzo, 2007
Marathon Dance