SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE MEXICAN CARIBBEAN

The Mexican Caribbean is one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet (Myers et al., 2000), and coastal and marine ecosystems are the main elements of the attraction of the region for tourists. It is estimated that over 20 million tourists visited the Mexican Caribbean in 2022, generating more than 20 billion dollars (SEDETUR, 2023). The current, dramatic, overexploitation of the region brings complex challenges related to socio-economic development and the conservation of the ecosystems. The possible loss of these ecosystems puts the Mexican Caribbean at risk as a tourist destination. Despite the economic importance of tourism in the Mexican Caribbean, the degradation of key coastal- marine ecosystems is a constant threat to this and other activities.