A coral restoration initiative based in the Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas region has been named among the top 500 socio-environmental projects recognized by Premios Verdes, a major Ibero-American sustainability platform.
The project, Restauración coralina: conectando arrecifes con comunidades, is led by Dr. Alma Paola Rodríguez and Dr. Amílcar Cupul Magaña of the University of Guadalajara’s CUCosta, together with Dr. Adolfo Tortolero Langarica of the Instituto Tecnológico de Bahía de Banderas. According to local reports, the 2026 ranking reviewed 2,087 projects from 29 countries and 613 cities.
The work focuses on restoring degraded reef ecosystems in Mexico’s Central Pacific through active restoration, scientific monitoring and community participation. For visitors who enjoy Banderas Bay, Los Arcos National Marine Park and nearby marine areas such as the Marietas Islands, the recognition is a reminder that healthy reefs are part of the destination’s natural infrastructure, supporting biodiversity, fishing communities and sustainable tourism.
Premios Verdes lists the project under Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and describes its goal as restoring coral reefs of the Mexican Central Pacific through science-based intervention, emerging ecological indicators and civil-society participation. Project leaders have also been invited to the international Premios Verdes gathering in Cuenca, Ecuador, for training, mentoring and regional networking.
