Ecological restoration NUNKINI Community

Mangrove ecosystems despite providing multiple ecological, economic and social services, these have been damaged by extraordinary events and stress derived from anthropogenic activities. That is why, in the Petenes Biosphere Reserve, more than 9,000 ha of mangrove have been recorded as a result of habitat fragmentation and exploitation of the resource. To support the recovery of degraded mangrove cover, the community of Nunkini, advised by the Autonomous University of Campeche, has developed the project “Ecological restoration of the mangrove ecosystem located adjacent to Huaymil, Campeche on 106 ha .”.

ACQUISITION AND TRAINING
  • Ten people from the community of Nunkini were hired for the purchase of materials and equipment. As well as, the training to adapt the installation material in the area of ​​restoration, calibration, use and good practices in the equipment for the determination of the physicochemical parameters of the interstitial water at time zero.
PROSPECTING
  • In this phase, the restoration area was recognized and the polygon marked, as well as establishing the control forest, in order to define time zero (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Visit by sea of ​​the restoration zone together with Dr. Claudia Agraz and Nunkiní ejidatarios.

INSTALATIÓN
  • Ten piezometers were installed in the restoration area and three in the control forest for the determination of the physicochemical parameters of the interstitial water (Fig. 2 and 3).

Fig. 2. Installation of the 10 tubes in the restoration polygon.

Fig. 3. Installation of the tubes to measure the parameters of the unsystematic water.

MONITORING
  • It began with the monitoring of the physico-chemical parameters of the interstitial water in the restoration and control forest area after the installation of the piezometers; making the samplings every month. This in order to have continuous records (Fig. 4). Likewise, training in the use of equipment and maintenance during work in the field continued.

Fig. 4. Collection of interstitial water and reading of physicochemical parameters by community members of Nunkini.

WORK IN MAINTAINING NATURAL CHANNELS
  • Once the restoration zone was installed, natural channels were maintained, since in the northern season the site is flooded (Fig. 5 and 6). Therefore, excavations are impossible because the restoration area is flooded, reprogramming to start in the month of February, dry season.

Fig.5. Maintenance of natural channels adjacent to the restoration site by the community of Nunkini.

Fig. 6. Maintenance of a natural channel with an advance of 1 km in length, carried out by the community of Nunkini.