bajajudy - 7-15-2005 at 07:47 PM
Sea of Cortez Islands and Protected Areas Declared World Heritage Site
South Africa. July 15, 2005. The World Heritage Committee chaired by Themba Wakashe, South Africa?s Deputy Director-General for Heritage and National
Archives, today inscribed seven natural sites on UNESCO?s World Heritage List including the Sea of Cortez.
This is a critical step in the long-term preservation of one of the world's most important biodiversity areas and a veritable wildlife wonderland. Two
of the four conservation areas that Wildcoast works to protect, Bahia de los Angeles and Laguna San Ignacio, are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Sea of Cortez World Heritage site comprises 244 islands, islets and coastal areas that are located in the Gulf of California in northeastern
Mexico. The Sea of Cortez and its islands have been called a natural laboratory for the investigation of speciation. Moreover, almost all major
oceanographic processes occurring in the planet?s oceans are present in the property, giving it extraordinary importance for study. The site is one of
striking natural beauty in a dramatic setting formed by rugged islands with high cliffs and sandy beaches, which contrast with the brilliant
reflection from the desert and the surrounding turquoise waters. The site is home to 695 vascular plant species, more than in any marine and insular
property on the World Heritage List. Equally exceptional is the number of fish species: 891, ninety of them endemic. The site, moreover, contains 39%
of the world?s total number of species of marine mammals and a third of the world?s marine cetacean species.
With today?s inscriptions, UNESCO World Heritage List numbers 160 natural sites and 24 mixed sites (i.e. both natural and cultural) of outstanding
universal value around the world.
The Sea of Cortez islands and protected areas area threatened by mega-resort projects, LNG terminal proposals, industrial fishing, land speculation,
shrimp farming and resource piracy. Conservationists hope that the World Heritage designation will help to protect this biodiversity hotspot.
?There is nothing more valuable than investing in conserving the most unique and fragile natural areas on the planet. Wildcoast congratulates the
World Heritage Committee for protecting our future,? said Serge Dedina, Executive Director of Wildcoast.
Sallysouth - 7-15-2005 at 09:21 PM
Thats great, but note the word "hope". Doesn't mean much, sorry to say.Sure wish it was more than that! At least they are recognizing the SOC.
Wouldn't it be great if they actually DID something about these serious problems?So what does it mean ((World Heritage Commitee for protecting our
future)? I have my doubts.....hhmmmm
surfer jim - 7-15-2005 at 09:56 PM
not to worry...a little mordida can open that area up for whatever someone wants to do....
Poco a Poco
lindsay - 7-15-2005 at 10:03 PM
Serge from Wildcoast is a great advocate for Baja California's natural resources and has done a lot to work cooperatively with locals in various areas
to preserve these treasures. It's a process and the UNESCO designation is significant but as Sallysouth mentions you have to build the programs behind
the designation. That step has happened in some areas for the other World Heritage sites in Baja such as the cooperative efforts of local
guides/ranching families to provide tours to the Sierra San Francisco cave painting sites or the efforts of whale watching operations on Laguna San
Ignacio. It's a challenging balance to provide future opportunities for the local economies while preserving these areas for their future generations.
I hope that my daughter and her Mexican relatives will see that future with these resources surviving.
bajajudy - 7-16-2005 at 06:45 AM
It is certainly better than nada. We all bemoan the decline in the number of fish around so maybe this can help.
I just thought that it was an interesting news clip.
jim janet - 7-16-2005 at 07:49 AM
Let us hope that something is done soon to START or we will not finish.Good job Judy
rpleger - 7-16-2005 at 11:29 AM
Good post Judy.
We can all hope that this will start a turn around for this beligered sea.
Help ?
MrBillM - 7-16-2005 at 11:35 AM
Based on their involvement elsewhere, If the UN is involved, it's sure to be screwed up.
Sharksbaja - 7-16-2005 at 12:13 PM
Fortunately Unesco is more adept at ecology than it is at seeking WMDs. Actually they are governed quite differently. Thank God! Thanks Judy. World
recognition and involvement may help kick-start a "real" concern.
[Edited on 7-16-2005 by Sharksbaja]
Mexican Conservation Methods
MrBillM - 7-16-2005 at 02:05 PM
The most effective way to get the Mexican Government on their side would be to follow revered tradition and offer Bribes greater than the opposition.
Without hope
gringorio - 7-16-2005 at 05:07 PM
what is there? Steps like these are important, but it is also important to remember that it is not all up to some impersonal entity like UNESCO to do
all the work. Really, the work begins with all of us when it comes to protecting the SOC and Baja Peninsula's natural resources. Was your dinner
caught in a gill net or on a fisherman's long line? Did the hotel you support destroy a wetland to build a golf course? We can all make choices to
support 'eco-friendlier' businesses and choose not to catch and/or eat all the fish or shrimp we can just because we can. Just a thought... 
[Edited on 7-17-2005 by gringorio]