Las Chelemeras and their mission to protect Yucatán’s mangroves
In the vibrant coastal town of Chelem, Mexico, a remarkable group of Maya women, Las Chelemeras, continues their nearly 15-year mission to restore and protect the vital mangrove forests along the Yucatán coastline.
These women, ranging in age from 30 to 80, have become the unsung heroes of their community.
The Chelemeras, led by Keila Vásquez Lira, began in 2010 when new roads and overpasses began stressing the region’s fragile mangrove ecosystem to the point of near ecological collapse.
“We did not start as environmentalists. In the beginning, the government came offering jobs to people to help dig trenches for the mangroves, but because they were only paying 80 pesos (less than US$4) for a full day’s work, no men wanted the jobs… so we took them,” recalls Keila.
As the women began to learn more about ecology and see the results of their labor, they started to recognize the critical role these forests play in protecting the coastline from storms, providing habitat for diverse wildlife, and supporting local fisheries.
Mangroves serve as natural barriers against hurricanes, absorbing the energy of storm surges and protecting coastal communities from flooding. They also provide essential habitat for many marine species, including fish, shrimp, and birds. Moreover, mangroves play a vital role in carbon sequestration, helping combat climate change’s effects.
With the support of local organizations like Pronatura, scientists, and international donors, the Chelemeras embarked on the challenging task of expanding their scope, working with local and regional nongovernmental organizations, and even receiving a grant from the United Nations.
Donations do not cover all of the basics. So it is up to the Chelemeras to pony up their own time, work, and resources to get the job done.
Restoring and planting mangrove seedlings is challenging because the swampy conditions do not allow the use of machinery. Shoveling canals to help maintain the delicate salinity needed for mangroves to thrive must all be done while wearing rubber boots, which makes moving around even more difficult.
I know how difficult the work is. On one occasion, working with college students from Maine, their professor, a retired United States Marine, said with a huff, “This is one of the toughest things I have ever done.” Though the students had committed to an entire week of digging trenches and seeding mangroves, they ultimately called it quits after half a day.
But Las Chelemeras and Yucatán’s mangroves face an uphill battle. In recent years, the growth of development on the coastline has devastated large swaths of mangroves to make way for beach-facing homes, high rises, and infrastructure projects, including the new trucking overpass from the main harbor in Progreso.
“The government sure is not making things easier,” Keila says in an exasperated tone. “These new highways and large overpasses are wreaking havoc on the environment, and support from the government to help undo the damage is non-commital at best.”
Although destroying mangroves is illegal, the rules are somehow circumvented. Even if an injunction is issued, the damage is usually already done, and perpetrators get away with a slap on the wrist.
Las Chelemera’s work serves as an example to others — particularly those who envision a dream home on the beach or support political forces pushing aggressive development on Yucatán’s coast.
Las Chelemeras can be contacted via their Facebook Page and accept donations, though mostly in kind (shovels, rubber boots, and water-resistant clothing)
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer and adventure leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds multimedia, philosophy, and translation degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada and Norway.