Regenerating Chalacatepec Lagoon: A collective effort for life in Costalegre

In the heart of Costalegre, the Chalacatepec Lagoon is writing a new story of regeneration and hope. This wetland, recognized as a RAMSAR site of international importance for its biodiversity and key role in the region's hydrological regulation, faced critical deterioration in 2023: loss of depth, low oxygen levels, and the disappearance of native aquatic species.

The Laguna de Paramán Fishing Production Cooperative, with technical support from Sierra A Mar and Jicosur, then undertook a hydrological rehabilitation process, which today shows tangible results. Thanks to the removal of water lilies, gate management, and monitoring, water quality has been verified to have improved and fishing is beginning to recover.

This project has been made possible by the building of trust and strong partnerships between local actors, academia, government, and the private sector. As a result, the RAMSAR site committee has been reactivated.
The next phases of the work plan include rehabilitating the 5-kilometer-long main canal connecting the lagoon to the San Nicolás River and the Pacific Ocean, and removing some old concrete debris near the canal entrance that obstructs water flow.

To achieve this, the first task is to prepare a Preliminary Justification Report (DPJ), a technical document that allows the relevance of the work to be argued before the environmental authority.

These interventions are expected to multiply the positive results already observed in fishing and the water quality of the lagoon.

Nature is responding. Today, Chalacatepec is not only a healthier wetland, but also an example of how community cooperation and science can regenerate key ecosystems. With each action, a future is secured where biodiversity and local livelihoods thrive together. We will continue to work on building and strengthening partnerships and joining forces to achieve the proposed goals.