Nature tourism: an alternative

The flora and fauna protection area of Otoch Máax Yetel Kooh is located 18 km north of the archaeological site of Coba. It has an extent of 5.367 hectares, and is within the Ejido of Valladolid, in the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo. The area includes different types of vegetation including medium height forest, savannah and partly flooded low vegetation.

The communities of this area are Yucatecan Mayas who generally have minimal formal education and high levels of poverty, mostly practicing slash and burn agriculture. Capacity building and thereby possible participation of some younger community members of Punta Laguna as "field assistants" in different research projects, has provided them with ecological experience and knowledge about the behaviour of the spider monkey population.

This knowledge can also be used for ecotourism activities, since the area is near to Cancun and contains an archaeological site where it is very easy to observe the spider monkeys in their natural habitat.

If well planned, this public use, can represent a great opportunity to generate resources for the local communities. It can provide the dual purpose of:
a) training and capacity building of the young people as naturalist guides; and
b) education of the visitors regarding the value of the natural resources.

Objectives

To support the planning and management process of tourist activities in the reserve
To design and organize an advanced training course for the local guides
To gradually incorporate the other local communities, promoting appropriate interpretation and environmental education in order to give them tools so that they can improve their quality of life.

Expectations

In the next two years, we hope to have generated sufficient local capacity and knowledge that the tourist activities are handled mainly by the communities of the protected zone, offering a high quality service and thereby improving their income in a sustainable manner.

Results

In 1999 and 2000, Pronatura Peninsula de Yucatan organized English and Natural History courses for the guides of Punta Laguna. At this stage, 12 community members operate as tour guides, and several of them can give a tour completely in the English language. The local guides of Punta Laguna have already established a work group and have chosen two representatives to the Advisory Council of the protected reserve area