The Mexican National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) has given a contract to EOMAP, a value-added service provider of satellite data, to deliver high resolution environmental information for the entire Maya coast. The coastline extends 600km south from the Yucatan Peninsula to the border of Belize. In total more than 5000sqkm of the marine environment, including ecosystems such as corals, seagrass and mangroves, were mapped in water depths down to 25m.
“The fine-scale spatial information, derived for the entire coastline, will serve as the first baseline dataset of the Maya coast, and will help to understand and preserve the vulnerable ecosystems,” said Dr. Thomas Heege, CEO of EOMAP GmbH & Co.
“EOMAP was selected because we have seen their satellite-derived, high resolution seafloor and bathymetry products in very successful, previous projects. The services and products delivered for the Mexican Maya coast are exceptional and will be fundamental in developing our seafloor habitat baseline. Such a baseline is critical in assessing short and long term impacts to the environment from both man-made and natural causes,” said Dr. Rainer Ressl, Director Geomatics Department of CONABIO.
Source: dredgingtoday