30th Anniversary of Cancun National Park
The coral reefs around Cancun Mexico are managed as a Marine Protected Area. This National Park has an extremely long name, but it’s really because it is stringing together three distinct but nearby areas: Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres (west coast of Isla Mujeres Island), Punta Cancun, and Punta Nizuc. “Parque Nacional Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancun, y Punta Nizuc.” Sometimes fondly known as PNCOIMPCPN.
One of the very first things I did in collaboration with the managers of this National Park is to design the logo for its 10th anniversary. Amazingly one of those stickers is still on the door to their office. It has a bit of tape over it but you can just make it out in this photo.
For the 20th anniversary in 2016, I was invited to do a combination lecture and performance. I highlighted the amazing biodiversity and sounds of the park, played the cello, and brought in a surprise interactive and educational clown performance by my friend, Daniel Gallo.
This year is the 30th anniversary. The timing didn’t work out for me to be there this time in person, but the whole Ocean World of Sound team was there and presented. I sent myself by way of audio note, which I’ll include here.
It says, essentially, “Hello everyone, from Arlington VA. Congratulations on another decade! It’s incredible to think about all the great work done over the years. It seems like not that long ago we were designing the logo for the 10th anniversary, and singing with a clown for the 20th anniversary. This park is a special place for locals and also visitors from all over the world. This tourism center has the northern end of the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere (MesoAmerican Reef). It is home to fishes, lobsters, mammals, and of course the very noisy snapping shrimp. Many congratulations and I hope that the day is very special.”
The people who manage these areas have a shockingly difficult job to do with even more shocking little to do it with, and are fueled by their passion for nature. If you read this far, then I’ll give you a tip. If you go to Cancun, you can visit the main office of PNCOIMPCPN in a pyramid shaped building in the Hotel Zone. This is a view from the water. It’s located next to Jardin del Arte, near the bridge where the pirate ships are. There’s a bus stop right there. Walk in, go to the office on the ground floor on the left, ask for Lupita and say Heather sent you, and thank them for all their hard work. Bonus points if you bring them candy!
