The project is located at LOS petenes DE campeche, in the municipality of tenabo in the state of campeche

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $568,703 Project Grant under the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.623) to Ducks Unlimited De Mexico, A.C. (DUMAC) to restore the natural hydrodynamics of 1,065 hectares (2,631 acres) in the Los Petenes de Campeche Biosphere Reserve in Campeche, Mexico. The project aims to address the impacts of infrastructure development that have disrupted the area's hydrology and reduced aquatic vegetation coverage, which is critical habitat for migratory and resident birds. Key activities include maintaining and clearing natural channels and springs, enhancing water flow through culverts, and restoring 110 hectares (272 acres) of abandoned shrimp farm areas to promote aquatic vegetation growth. This work will help preserve the ecological integrity of this important coastal wetland ecosystem and its support for diverse wildlife populations along the Gulf of Mexico. The award has a performance period from May 2024 to May 2026.

This area is a federal biosphere reserve, a priority site within the national waterfowl and the national shorebirds strategies. IT is also an IBA and a ramsar site. IT serves as an important biological corridor for migratory and resident aquatic and neotropical birds along the coast of the gulf of mexico. In the area of LOS petenes DE campeche there are large extensions of coastal intertidal plains, mangroves and hammocks, which are characteristics of coastal wetlands in karstic systems. These wetlands are influenced by both, tides and contributions of freshwater from underground that spring out in the natural hammocks. The mixture of both water sources generates a highly productive system, with a wide distribution of aquatic vegetation (seagrasses and algae) and mangroves, which offer a wide range of habitat types used as important sites for resting, feeding, and serves as refuge for migratory and resident birds, aquatic and terrestrial. This biosphere reserve also represents a nesting, protection and breeding area for different species such as the american flamingo and the crocodile, both considered species under protection according to NOM-semarnat-059. Regarding migratory species, pintail, american wigeon and lesser scaup. As well as for resident species such as the jabiru and in the transition area from wetland to upland the ocellated turkey and the hocofaisan. The main factors that modified the characteristic hydrology of the area were the construction of the tenabo coastal dirt road that runs perpendicular to the coast and the opening of navigation channels for the extraction of tropical hardwoods from the floodplain forest in the hammocks. This has segmented the flooded coastal plain, interrupting or modifying the hydrodynamics of this area, affecting the hydroperiod and the natural productivity of this important ecosystem.by segmenting the direction of natural flows that move in an east-west direction, the sedimentation of natural channels and hammocks has been accelerated. This sedimentation process has reduced the resilience of these ecosystems that support the biological diversity found in the area. Unfortunately, the lack of planning in the construction of infrastructure has also decreased the capture of the artisanal fisheries associated with this wetland that allowed income for the local economy. This, in addition to affecting the productivity of the habitat that has historically been used by important populations of migratory and resident waterfowl and shorebirds. The changes and modifications extend to more than 8,000 HA 19,760 acres in this area, so this is a first phase that will begin to address the area s problems. This project is directed at restoring the natural hydrodynamics in 1,065 has 2,631 acres that have been modified by the construction of the tenabo dirt road and the navigation channels that interrupt the hydrology of the system, causing a decrease in the submerged aquatic vegetation coverage. To achieve this, we will work in the maintenance and clearing of the natural channels and springs of the hammocks, to improve the entry and distribution of fresh groundwater. Likewise, the six culverts located in the embankment from tenabo to the coast will be cleared, to improve the flow of water through the system towards the natural intertidal areas. Additionally, 110 hectares 272 acres that were modified by a shrimp farm that has been abandoned for more than 20 years will be enhanced, where clearing of natural springs and flow enhancement activities will be carried out to promote the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation, which will serve as a natural seedbed for aquatic beds and will be used for educational and recreational purposes in the environmental education program and in the ecotourism program.