| Pages:
1
2
3
4
..
6 |
The Sculpin
Nomad
Posts: 401
Registered: 9-3-2002
Location: Back in the Saddle
Member Is Offline
Mood: Riding into the Sunset, looking for a sunrise.
|
|
You tell'em girl!!!!!
Whoa there, Cowboy - pull back on those reins!
|
|
|
TacoFeliz
Nomad
Posts: 266
Registered: 7-22-2005
Location: Here
Member Is Offline
Mood: Exploratory
|
|
safarigirl -
I didn't see any detractors in the posts, just people who want you to elaborate. Please give us more info -- your point of view, your hopes, what
you're envisioning... It's one of my favorite places as well.
feliz
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17663
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
In the past, I heard of foreign ('gringo') groups pretend to want to protect the whales or natural habitat. Instead money raised goes mostly into
their pockets or politicians pockets.
|
DK,
Don't be so quick to tar and feather environmental groups. US and Mexican enviro groups have a >10 year history of working on the lagoon's issues,
and the good accomplishments far outweigh any negative. You should go to San Ignacio lagoon and check it and talk with locals innvolved in the
eco-torism business before you condemn the environmental groups and their accomplishments. Kiss a whale while you are there, it's a kick
|
|
|
Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
|
|
Skulpin----------that is exactly what we want her to do------tell us something. How can we learn if she won't?
|
|
|
Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6741
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
|
|
I've talked with people that work and do research there and everyone of them have said that whale watching is a win/win situation. It is highly
regulated and with all the tourist coming now you couldn't ask for a better conservation based promotion. The locals have a steady income base. During
the off season the make curios for the tourist.
Here are just 3 photos. I don't know how to post multiple photos in one post..... Yet?
[Edited on 8-27-2007 by Russ]
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
|
|
|
Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6741
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
|
|
#2
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
|
|
|
Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6741
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
|
|
#3
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
|
|
|
Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
|
|
Good stuff, Russ.
By the way, anybody that works 24 hours a day has got to be operating at 1/2 speed, and groggy as all get out, so I should cut her some slack, it
seems to me.
I will excercise patience, and wait for her response this time.
Oh, and by the way, I do NOT consider myself as an "environmental detractor"-------it is just my many years with the National Park Service that makes
me wary of some enviros-----------some tend to over-react, and be not open to ideas other than their own. I hope that SafariGirl is not one of
them------------(????)
|
|
|
toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
|
|
| Quote: | | Quote: | | Quote: | Originally posted by capt. mike
|
Last April I flew over to San Ignacio Lagoon from Mulege. The pilot of the Cessna was sensitive enough to know not to fly out over the water
|
actually it is illegal to do that. and the pilot surely may be respective of the whale's peace - but if you're going to fly in baja, just like in the
USA, you have to know the airspace and rules. that area has a protection barrier horiz and vert you cannot legally penetrate. if caught there are
serious consequences. and mex bio-life agents have binocs to tag your number or might drive over to chat if you park after a buzz job.
|
Mike,
Read my quote again. I said the pilot had the sensitivity to NOT fly over the lagoon (water). We flew over the mountain and did not
buzz the area. We maintained a high altitude and the view of the lagoon was from a great and respectful distance from the Lagoon. Why would you think
that I, whose concern for environmental issues are quite apparent, boast of violating a whale sanctuary??? If you cross those mountains you can't not
have a view of the Lagoon.
I think that it is a good thing that you inform Nomads of a "restricted" fly zone. My pilot was aware of the restricted zone, which was my point.
Regarding potential detractors (in my opinion.....just a suspicion...I am subject to criticism for my suspicion) I think they did a good job in
further explaning their positions. Sorry for my attitude....I admit it exists. I also am disappointed that the woman who started this string hasn't
responded to your questions. I too would like to hear her concerns. Again, I support her desire to make a difference (if that is possible).
|
|
|
Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
|
|
toneArt----------you are mis-interpreting what Mike said, I think------he only pointed out that it is illegal to fly over the San Ignacio Lagoon, and
probably the pilot knew that------he never said that YOU wanted to violate the Lagoon, or that the pilot did either.
But Mike can explain himself a lot better than I can, I am sure.
|
|
|
toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
toneArt----------you are mis-interpreting what Mike said, I think------he only pointed out that it is illegal to fly over the San Ignacio Lagoon, and
probably the pilot knew that------he never said that YOU wanted to violate the Lagoon, or that the pilot did either.
But Mike can explain himself a lot better than I can, I am sure. |
Well, he did respond to my post by saying, "that's illegal". I think he didn't see the
"not" in my post. Maybe I wasn't clear enough about what we did and didn't do. I don't take offense. Capt. Mike knows the rules of
flying in Baja, and he is right to inform.
|
|
|
safarigirl
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-9-2006
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: Outstanding
|
|
I am sorry I started this post. It was not my intention to get embroiled in an environmental discussion, nor do I have the time or inclination to
educate anyone about the Lagoon right now.
Rather, I have spent many, many years in remote places in Baja and have also lived there. The past couple years I have not been able to do so, and
find that the peninsula is very important to me, so much so that I want to spend my time and energy protecting what I so deeply care about. My simple
question was in hopes that someone who has spent time there in the past year or two, and is familiar with the issues concerning the Lagoon, may have a
suggestion on how best I might now do that.
Although the issues are complex, below is something Serge Dedina from Wildcoast says about this last natural place on earth where the grey whales
(longest migration of any mammal on the planet) go to breed, rasie their young, and actually seek interaction with humans - one of the very same
places that ran red with their blood 100 yrs. ago when whales were slaughtered there:
" this wetland complex is a global treasure and one of the world’s most biologically significant coastal sites.In 2000, thanks to national and
international pressure, the Mexican government cancelled an industrial salt production project, which would have devastated Laguna San Ignacio. But
this victory did not mean permanent protection of Laguna San Ignacio: a new salt production federal concession, mega-resorts, and land speculation
threaten to dramatically alter the pristine lagoon, and hundreds of square miles of wetlands and mangroves."
|
|
|
Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6741
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
|
|
Wasn't there a post awhile that stated that some conservancy purchased a long term lease from the ejido for a large portion of this area?
Found something from awhile ago:
Save San Ignacio Lagoon. WiLDCOAST, Pronatura, NRDC, and the International Community Foundation, recently protected 140,000-acres along the shoreline
of San Ignacio Lagoon (midway between Abreojos and Scorpion Bay), in a project that also plans to conserve Punta Abreojos and the coast north of
Scorpion Bay. You can help save one of Baja's great wilderness surfbreak areas for ten dollars an acre. Go to savethegraywhale.com and donate now.
---- http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=17162#pid1470...
[Edited on 8-27-2007 by Russ]
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
|
|
|
Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
|
|
Great response, Safarigirl--------now we know your intentions-------I apologise if I caused you any distress, or took up your time-----------
I think a few of the posts actually helped you---------and that is good. Don't condemn us or think us hostile----we aren't-------we need people of
all types on this board to keep us all honest. 
I hope you find a conduit for your zeal, and willingness to help the causes you believe in, and it sounds like you will, or have already.
Look forward to future posts by you.
Best, Barry
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17663
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
Safarigirl,
The best source of info on land preservation efforts are some of the eco-tourism outfits, and the orgs like WiLDCOAST, Pronatura and NRDC. This board
in my experience is usually lacking in knowledge of and participation in the larger environnmental activities in Baja, like san ignacio lagoon.
There has been a lot of recent progress in establishing "preservation easements" where orgs have bought development rights from land owners. A couple
examples are at the lagoon and BOLA. Also active efforts are underway to stop destruction of turtles via poachers, and bycatch destruction by long
liners, drift nets and shrimp fishing. It's a big area, many places threatened, pick your fight and join in. Always need more to battle the
destructive influences of development and apathy.
|
|
|
Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
|
|
805Greg,
I too once thought "leave the poor whales alone" Then a few years ago I saw just how anxious they are for human contact, as someone else said here,
the mothers bring the infants TO THE BOATS, (It kind of looked to me like when I take my kids to the zoo) this April my then 13yr. old (huge
eco/animal protector) was able to for the first time experience the lagoon........talk about a thrill for this kid that dreams of nothing but working
with animals when he gr ows up! One mother brought the baby over and pushed him/her up from below to the reach of our hands.
They obviously love human contact or with one swish of their tails would be long go! Also, as David K. said, the panga drivers go out where there are
whale in the area and idle, if they come to us, fine.........if not, we move on. Never, never are they allowed to follow a whale that is swimming
away.
Mean people suck!
|
|
|
805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
|
|
So are you telling me you only go out with the whales because the whales want you to? Why are you not allowed within 100 yrds of whales in Hawaii? You
watch, someone will get between a mother and her calf and get spanked. I've seen film of a women swimming with porpoises, who got a thrill ride down
to about 60 ft when one grabbed her by the calf. These are wild anamials and should be treated as such. They come by where I live in the Santa Barbara
channel, I won't even turn my boat any more, I just let them be.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64631
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Thanks safarigirl for posting some details, finally... I only asked you what you wanted to protect the lagoon from... nothing complicated.
I think I gather you want to protect it from things that don't yet exist there, but could someday? I think that is called 'preserving'... keeping it
the way it is now.
Good for you!
I would like to preserve Baja from any more graded or paved roads! That is the enemy of natural beauty for it brings in development and change.
However, Baja is part of Mexico and how or when it is developed is their business... I can only hope it will stay wild and beautiful for as long as
possible!
|
|
|
rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
I would like to preserve Baja from any more graded or paved roads! That is the enemy of natural beauty for it brings in development and change.
However, Baja is part of Mexico and how or when it is developed is their business... I can only hope it will stay wild and beautiful for as long as
possible! |
You can't have it both ways. Better hurry and go down more than a couple of weeks a year before it is all gone.
and before you condemn me. look at the changes in the last 5 years!.
Ralph
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64631
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Both ways? I understand completely what is happening and why... I have enjoyed Baja for 42 years of my almost 50... and I hope to continue to do so!
Check Nomad Trip Reports forum, my web site and Baja Notebook links and you will see I spend far more than a couple a weeks per year there... There
will always be places to explore or visit again... That's what makes Baja magic!
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2
3
4
..
6 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
