Mexico is a land of sweeping majesty and endless beauty.
Since 1974, we’ve vowed to preserve and protect that profound beauty in any way we can. That belief is central to how we plan and operate every aspect of our resorts, informing everything from our construction practices to the waste and water management of our properties. And with every year, we strive to push ourselves even further and innovate on bold new levels in the name of sustainability. That mindset has led us to build the Cirque du Soleil Theater featuring green materials and building techniques, transition many of our destinations to use electric vehicles only, aim for the elimination of single-use plastic from our resorts, and use uniforms made of 100% recycled material for our Grand Luxxe concierges, among many other efforts. Still, we see these initiatives, which fall under our Vidanta Verde program, as just the beginning and look forward to seeing what else we can accomplish in the years to come.
The lush Ameca River valley at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta
Many of our green programs extend beyond our resorts and into the neighboring communities and land. One such initiative is the conservancy of “Isla de los Pajaros” or Bird Island, a lush 101-acre island located just above the mouth of the Ameca River, nearby Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta. Since 2008, Vidanta has been protecting and preserving this island in accordance with Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). The goal of this conservancy is to safeguard the island’s biological diversity. Bird Island is home to many different types of important mangrove species, including two protected species—the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) and white mangrove (Laguncularia racemose)—as well as countless species of wildlife.
The protected Bird Island
Mangroves are small, wiry trees that frequently grow in coastal areas, as they’re saltwater tolerant. These trees are an essential part of local ecosystems because they provide the natural habitat for many different wildlife species. Their extensive root system also prevents erosion; protects their surroundings from excessive storm damage; and helps to break up large, potentially destructive waves coming in from the ocean. Prior to Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta’s conservancy of Bird Island, the island’s mangrove population suffered from deforestation, which also greatly impacted the animals that called the area home, including the bird communities from which it derives its name.
In addition to protecting Bird Island, Vidanta’s team of biologists help ensure the health and wellbeing of all the ecosystems surrounding the Vidanta Resorts. In fact, we’ve rescued over 8,000 animals and released more than 2.5 million sea turtles into the ocean since 2012. And from 2007-2019, we’ve rescued and replanted more than 67,000 kinds of trees, shrubs, and cactuses.
You can learn more about our other green efforts by checking out this article in TravelPulse.com or watch the video below. This Earth Day, we invite you to join us and think about how you can apply greener practices around your own home.
