Sustainable Akumal is a Global Campus Partner seminar addressing coastal and marine ecology as affected by tourism and development and how these affect local communities.
Background and Description
Our coastal systems present the interface of terrestrial, freshwater and marine systems and are among the most developed and stressed systems on the planet. They support a disproportionate population base (< 5% of earth’s land area supports 17% of world population) and provide income and food to residents and a large percentage of global marine food resources. These areas attract increasing tourism development, which attracts further population growth and ecological stresses and can result in wealth inequities that further stress the system.
The eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, the Riviera Maya in Quintana Roo, MX, presents an exemplary system to study the ecology of coastal ecosystems, along with the effects of increasing development and tourism. Although nearby cities such as Cancun and Playa del Carmen, which expanded from a population of 3000 in 1990 to almost 200,000 in 2014 and over 300,000 in 2020, are already highly developed and impacted, less developed places remain and provide context for ecosystems-past, with development to come. Akumal, the Mayan “place of the turtles”, presents an ideal location to study relatively un-impacted natural systems and the evolution of tourism and development with a documented history. The long-term (since 1990) presence of the Akumal Ecological Center (Centro Ecológico Akumal; CEA) provides a history of ecological study and ecotourism, as well as a potential base of operation.
Akumal has seen increasing development pressure that can impact water quality of the cenotes, that can affect lagoons and the coral reef. Increased tourism, and in particular snorkel tours to see the turtles that inhabit the bay, has led to reef degradation and concern for effects on sea grass and turtles.
Course Objectives
The aim of this course is to introduce students to coastal systems and coastal ecology, the effects of tourism and development on these systems, and potential strategies to promote sustainable development and tourism and mitigate impacts. Specifically, we will cover the karst geology, underground rivers, and cenotes of the region, their connection to and ecology of lagoons and mangroves. We will assess coastal beaches and sea turtle nesting habitat and the near shore sea grass communities that support juvenile loggerheads and green turtles. We will study near shore and deeper reef systems and how these are affected by increasing development and tourism, directly and via nutrient input and strategies used to reduce and mitigate development and waste impacts. Finally, we will introduce students to ancient Mayan history, ruins and culture, and how that relates to contemporary development in the region that attempts to capitalize on that history, as well conflicts between established entrepreneurs, ecologically minded ex-pats, local Mestizo worker communities, a long established ecological center and recent tourism developments. Students will also learn how to conduct projects that address issues of concern to local researchers, managers, and the community. Working in small teams you will tackle a specific topic related to your interests and expertise and present the results to colleagues, and local scientists, managers and community members.