Almost 300 sea turtle nests protected, thousands of volunteers mobilized and 85 native birds and endangered species rescued are part of the legacy of the Alma de Bahía Foundationwhich is celebrating its tenth anniversary of environmental conservation and community development in Puerto Rico.
“Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Alma de Bahía Foundation is a moment of immense pride and gratitude.”. “This milestone represents a decade of tireless efforts to protect the environment and rescue lives, in addition to the positive and lasting impact that together we have achieved for Puerto Rico,” he highlighted. Marcela Canonexecutive director of the Foundation, in a statement.
Founded in 2014 to protect natural resources, rescue wildlife and educate about sustainability, the organization began its work as a program of the Bahia Beach Resortthe only resort in the Caribbean recognized as a Golden Badge Nature Sanctuary by Audubon International.
Among his achievements, he highlighted 294 protected sea turtle nests – in collaboration with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA)–, support to the Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center in the rescue and rehabilitation of 12 manatees, more than 13,380 students raised awareness in workshops and talks in public and private schools, more than 15,000 volunteers mobilized in various activities and 1,242 pets rescued through the Sato and Gato Rescue Program.
Regarding the impact on the communities, he highlighted the annual beach cleanup, which, in its 16th edition, brought together 350 volunteers, who collected 4,000 pounds of waste from the mouth of the Herrera River.
“Looking back, we are proud of the influence we have had on the biodiversity and environmental awareness of our communities. “Each initiative represents a step towards a more sustainable and harmonious future”said Cañón, adding that “this anniversary is a reminder of the impact we can achieve by joining forces for our natural environment.”
Rolando Paduapresident of the Alma de Bahía Foundation for the past seven years, chief executive officer of Bahía Beach Resort and president of Paulson Puerto Rico, mentioned, for his part, that, “during the past 10 years, we have directed the Foundation to can adapt and evolve to address important environmental and social issues in Puerto Rico. This tenth anniversary is an ideal time to reflect, plan and redouble our efforts.”.
“We know that the path to sustainability is a continuous effort, and we are committed to leading it together with our communities and strategic allies,” he added.