LightHawk’s Continued Support Helps Establish New
Protected Area in Mexico

Since 1991, LightHawk has provided over flights to Amigos de Sian Ka’an (Amigos), a nonprofit organization based in Cancún, Mexico, established to conserve the area’s natural heritage. As part of their efforts, Amigos works to establish protected areas, promote sustainable resource use by local communities, provide training and environmental education, encourage conservation on private lands, develop policy tools, and provide a scientific basis for decision-making processes. These strategies are based on a vision created through 16 years of on-the-ground conservation efforts, and the aerial view provided by LightHawk. Flights have monitored bird and manatee populations, surveyed disproportionate coastal development, recorded forest fire impacts, assessed regions that needed legal protection, and evaluated the condition of existing protected areas. Over the years, more than 18 institutions have participated in these flights including federal protected areas’ staff, other NGOs, state and municipal governments, research institutions, media outlets and local community organizations. Through this work, LightHawk contributed to the establishment of five protected areas totaling 670,000 acres.

We are excited to announce that in the Mexican government established, based on an Amigos proposal, the Bala’an K’aax Flora and Fauna Protection Area, a 346,000 acre reserve of forests and inland wetlands in central Quintana Roo. The area of Bala’an K’aax is a key element of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor in general and of particular importance to the Sian Ka’an Calakmul Biological Corridor.

A LightHawk flight begins with hours of preparation on the ground. Pre-flight planning is crucial to a successful flight. Volunteer pilot Tim Lapage (center) and Amigos de Sian Ka'an Board managers (L-R) Marco Barrero and Gonzalo Merediz study the flight map. Alison Jones/LightHawk