biologist christopher gonzalez wants to see the integrity of the rainforest maintained. t he's concerned the island is at a crossroads. christopher: i think this is the way cozumel used to be several years ago. but by now the truth is that the real cozumel is everything, and the tourists are part of the real cozumel now. what we have to do now is to manage that reality, and the protected areas are part of that. christian: he'd like to see more visitors enjoying the natural wonders here -- for instance, on trekking tours, as long as they follow strict guidelines. however, most tourists usually wantnt to see the island's mai attractionon -- its s ique coral reefs. but jujust how long g they'll rn intactct is a concerern. cozumel is home to the world send largegestoral reef. morehan 500 species f fishliy extitition. it's a fragile parade e and a morehan 500 species f fishliy valuable t treasure. according toto a study by y the german corporation for atacaction -its s unue coralal efs. ternatiol cooperion, the german corporation for terioratn of cozel's cor reefcould co the i

biologist christopher gonzalez wants to see the integrity of the rainforest maintained. t he's concerned the island is at a crossroads. christopher: i think this is the way cozumel used to be several years ago. but by now the truth is that the real cozumel is everything, and the tourists are part of the real cozumel now. what we have to do now is to manage that reality, and the protected areas are part of that. christian: he'd like to see more visitors enjoying the natural wonders here -- for instance, on trekking tours, as long as they follow strict guidelines. however, most tourists usually wantnt to see the island's mai attractionon -- its s ique coral reefs. but jujust how long g they'll rn intactct is a concerern. cozumel is home to the world send largegestoral reef. morehan 500 species f fishliy extitition. it's a fragile parade e and a morehan 500 species f fishliy valuable t treasure. according toto a study by y the german corporation for atacaction -its s unue coralal res. inrnationacooperatn, the derioratioof cozum's coralreefsn around 70 million euros in income

biologist christopher gonzalez wants to see the integrity of the rain forest maintained but these concerns the island. is that a crossroads. i think. they were used to be several years ago. but by now all of the through these that there were. everything. there we'll go from what we have to do now is. that the reality. they're protected areas hard part of the. he'd like to see more visitors enjoying the natural wonders here for instance on trekking tours as long as they follow strict guidelines however most tourists usually want to see the islands main attraction it's unique coral reefs but just how long they'll remain intact is a concern. because the med is home to the world's second largest coral reef more than five hundred species of fish live here some threatened by extinction it's a fragile paradise and a valuable treasure. according to a study by the german corporation for international cooperation the deterioration of cozumel coral reefs could cost the island around seventy million euros in income annually. if we lose water quality it will stay clear of the water and we look specious

gonzalez. >> thank you, erika. now at s take a look other top stories this afternoon. in northern virginia facing a sexual assault ch christopher semera is accused of hinappropriate contact w female inmate at the adult detention center last month. he was working as nurse with the community service there at the time. hes no longer employed by them. >>> a former high-ranking montgomery county employee pleat guilty tod embezzling nearly $7 million from the county. now per bang could be spending the next 20 years in federal prison. agreement,o his plea he stole the money over the course of six years while serving as the chief operating officer for the department of economic development.nd direct funds.bution of he was only caught after the irs noticed he was spending a lot of money o gambling, but hadn't reported all of his income. >>> a d.c. judge is easing the strictions on john hinckley, the man who shot president reagan in an aassination attempt. news4's scott macfarlane tweeted out thi new development. the judge agreed toeduce required doctors visits and loos some of hinckley's release conditions. back in 2016 hinckley wasan t