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About us

About us

Empowering Sustainability Through Environmental Funding

We have been operating since 2021 in the states of Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo; and in the Mesoamerican Reef System, the second largest barrier reef in the world shared by Mexico, Honduras, Belize, and Guatemala.

Our mission is to foster a more sustainable and resilient southeastern Mexico by financing and promoting impactful socio-environmental initiatives, collaborative projects, and strategic actions that drive meaningful change.

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Mision

To channel financial resources and promote collaborative and comprehensive initiatives with long-term impact. Through an approach based on trust, flexibility, and transparency, we seek to be the financial engine for regional transformation, connecting socio-environmental efforts with the fundamental needs of local communities.

Vision

Achieving a harmonious balance between biodiversity conservation and human well-being leads the way towards a sustainable future where nature and people thrive in harmony.

Our values

Commitment to the community

We work closely with local communities, respecting their voices and knowledge, to achieve a positive and sustainable impact. We believe that meaningful change begins at the local level.

Integrity and Transparency

We act honestly and responsibly, maintaining open and transparent communication with all our partners and allies. We strive to exemplify ethics and integrity in all our activities.

Innovation and Adaptability

In a constantly changing world, innovation and adaptability are essential. We strive to be at the forefront, implementing creative and efficient solutions to environmental and social challenges. 

Collaboration and Collectivity

We encourage collaborations between different actors and work with partners and allies to achieve common goals. We value alliances and teamwork and recognize that cooperation and collective effort are essential to achieving lasting and significant change.

Excellence and Accountability

We strive for excellence in everything we do. We work with international standards and monitoring mechanisms to ensure our initiatives yield measurable results. We are committed to transparency, ethics, and responsibility in our actions and decisions. 

Resource Management

To facilitate resource management, Sureste Sostenible provides efficient and transparent resource management services for other organizations that lack the necessary capabilities. The administration fee is 12% of the donation received. Additionally, we offer a capacity-building program that helps organizations develop the skills needed to meet the required standards for obtaining and managing contributions. 

If you want to learn more about collaborating with us, fill out this easy form, and we will contact you.

Donors and partnerships

We thank our donors and partners for their generous support and collaboration. Thanks to their commitment and dedication, we have made significant progress in our mission and goals.

Every donation and gesture of support represents a vote of confidence in our cause, and we are deeply grateful for that.

Thank you for being an essential part of our community and your continued commitment to our mission. We look forward to your valuable collaboration and working together for a better future.

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Explore our work

Know us

Our team

At Sureste Sostenible, A.C., we are convinced that conservation and sustainable development are fundamental to the well-being of our communities and the future of our planet. Our team is made up of passionate and committed individuals, who combine their experience and knowledge to face the most urgent environmental challenges.

María Eugenia Arreola

Executive director
I have more than 20 years of experience designing and leading socio-environmental projects in multinational organizations and civil society organizations. I like to build networks and strengthen collaborative alliances with impact, as well as developing talent. I love nature, particularly marine and coastal ecosystems, and I enjoy swimming, especially in the sea.
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Lourdes Barrera

Administrator
I have been working with non-profit organizations for 17 years. At Sureste Sostenible, my job is to innovate processes, supervise the organization's administration, create manuals and ensure that we comply with all the authorities' requirements. I love cooking, crafts and I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

Aileen Fernández

Project Coordinator – ACCIÓN
I have more than 20 years of experience in institutional development and socio-environmental project management. At Sureste Sostenible, I coordinate the ACCIÓN project in the Yucatán Peninsula and contribute to strengthening the organization’s institutional processes. I am a triathlete, a nature enthusiast, and a bird rescuer.

Laura González

Partnerships Coordinator – ACCIÓN
For more than 10 years, I have collaborated with government, civil society, academia and the private sector in the management of projects that seek to promote sustainable strategies and responsible management of our natural resources. My true passion lies in governance and analysis of public policies that benefit coastal communities and strengthen their cultural identity. I enjoy being in contact with nature and connecting deeply with people, to generate a positive and lasting impact.
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Mariana Ordiales

Project Officer
I hold a degree in Environmental Sustainability with experience in co-design and development of projects that promote biocultural conservation and the balance between society and nature. I’m passionate about connecting with diversity and creating participatory spaces that strengthen capacities and resilience. I love the sea, climbing, and learning from the stories that emerge from the interaction between people and their environment.

María Fernanda Onofre

Project Officer
I am an environmental scientist with over six years of experience in applied research, public policy evaluation, and the management of socio-environmental projects. I enjoy collaborating in the development of participatory processes aimed at building fairer, more equitable, and sustainable realities for all beings. At Sureste Sostenible, I coordinate the design and technical operation of capacity-building projects, and I also contribute to their administrative oversight. I love animals, swimming, and hiking in nature.

Luis Quijano

Field Officer
Since I was a child, I have had a great fixation with the sea, which led me to study a degree in Marine Biology, where I discovered my love for conservation and diving. Since 2022, I have been collaborating hand in hand with the communities of the Yucatan Peninsula in the creation of ZRP. I have always been fascinated by knowing and learning about different cultures, and how food influences them.
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Janet López

Administrative Officer
I am a public accountant with nearly 10 years of experience in the private sector. In 2024, I began my journey with Sureste Sostenible, supporting the accounting and administrative area to ensure full compliance with all regulatory requirements. I enjoy challenges, continuous learning, and professional growth, as well as going to the beach and spending time with my family.

Noelia Morell

Project Officer
I seek to contribute to the co-construction of more just and dignified socio-environmental realities for all living beings. I studied international relations and have a specialty in the design and systemic evaluation of socio-environmental projects. At Sureste Sostenible, I coordinate capacity-building programs. I am a curious person, I love to study and learn.
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Alejandra Serrano Pavón

President
Alejandra Serrano Pavón is a lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in environmental law at national and international level and has a specialty in procedural law. She has worked in the defense of the Human Right to a healthy environment, leading and supporting litigation, campaigns and legislative reforms. She was director of the CEMDA Southeast office and since 2017 she has been a lawyer at ELAW leading coastal marine work, collaborating with lawyers in the defense of land and environment in more than 80 countries. She has been a member of the Sustainable Southeast Council since its inception and is passionate about the sea, music, creative processes and stand-up.

Evelia Rivera-Arriaga

Secretary
Evelia Rivera-Arriaga, a biologist with a master's degree and a PhD in Marine Policy, has coordinated RICOMAR since 2007 and has been a research professor at the UAC for 34 years. She was head of the Secretariat of the Environment of Campeche and a consultant for the IDB and UNDP. She led the 6th Climate Change Communication and has worked in coastal management and environmental policies. Member of the Global Ocean Forum Policy Advisory Board, she has directed 30 projects and given more than 100 conferences. SS Advisor since 2023 and passionate about achieving sustainable coastal and marine areas that are resilient to climate change.

Vicente Ferreyra Acosta

Treasurer
Vicente Ferreyra Acosta es un destacado especialista en turismo sostenible y social en México y Latinoamérica. Fundador y Director de Sustentur, con 20 años de experiencia asesorando a destinos, gobiernos y empresas en prácticas de sostenibilidad. Ha trabajado con instituciones globales como Naciones Unidas y el Banco Mundial. Es Licenciado en Turismo y Maestro en Gestión Ambiental, además de conferencista y fundador del Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit. Reconocido y premiado internacionalmente. Ha sido parte del consejo de Sureste Sostenible desde 2021.

Committees of our projects

Kanan Kay Alliance

Liderazgo SAM y Kaanbal Suut

  • Marco Cerezo

Ethics Committee

Sureste Sostenible

Surveillance Committee

Sureste Sostenible