Conservation projects at the Mesoamerican Reef

Mesoamerican Reef stretches more than 1000 kilometers from the Island of Contoy at the peak of the Yucatan Peninsula all the way down to Honduras. The world’s second largest coral reef includes several protected areas, among them the Parque Nacional Arrecife de Cozumel on island Cozumel at the coast of Mexico.

Originally founded in 1994 to raise awareness for conservation of the coral reefs amongst the dive community, the CORAL Reef Alliance has since grown from a small initiative to an internationally recognized NGO that is currently active in Hawaii, Fiji, Indonesia, Belize, Honduras and Mexico. Today, CORAL tries to benefit from its international experience to carry out projects such as awareness campaigns or educational training on sustainable tourism on a local level in order to protect our planet’s coral reefs.

Mexico’s fame as a travel paradise and the resulting explosion of infrastructure development is increasingly pressuring the country’s various ecosystems including the Mesoamerican Reef. For this reason, CORAL together with the Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel and some local tourism companies try to promote sustainable tourism in order to conserve the coral reef in the long term and secure tourism as one of the most important source of income for this region for future generations.

Internships and volunteering with a minimum duration of one month is possible for students and anyone interested in biology, ecology, geography and similar subject areas, as well as participants from the field of tourism.

Knowledge of Spanish and/or English is required. Further, participants should have a strong interest in wildlife and conservation. Of course, interns and volunteers are in addition expected to be respectful towards other cultures and to be able to work as part of a team.

Info box:

Location: Cozumel Island, Mexico

Duration: Minimum 1 month

Special qualification required: Yes 

Costs: free of charge (trouble-free package is optional)

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Not included

Not included: Travel, health insurance, visa, work permit