connects us Save the Date 6th. San QuintĂn Bay Bird Festival Baja California, MĂŠxico November 3 to 7, 2021
festivaldelasaves@terrapeninsular.org
EDITORIAL
Editorial Dear community of readers: This year has given us challenges, opportunities and moments to reflect and remember that the only constant is change, if the nature of the peninsula has taught us anything it is that with resilience and flexibility we can adapt and prosper. This is the last issue of the year and therefore, I’d like to use this space to share some of the recent achievements: We received the Partners in Flight Awards as a recognition of our bird conservation efforts and the design of the Bird Festival. This issue features an article about this achievement! Also, we received the 2020 Institutionality and Transparency Accreditation granted by the Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía (Cemefi) and the Equivalency Determination given by NGOsource.This means that as an organization we’re compliant with the established legal and fiscal provisions, we’re transparent in the use of resources, and we have an efficient, balanced and sustainable organizational structure that allows us to professionally develop our work in both Mexico and the United States.
Photo: Yolanda Ávila.
CREDITS
Recently, we announced a project to protect Sierra San Pedro Martir National Park, we’ll continue working to protect San Quintin Bay thanks to the support of North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) and we recently began a project to monitor monarch butterflies in Baja California.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Antonieta Valenzuela
In 2021 we’ll celebrate 20 years committed to the protection of ecosystems and wildlife in Baja California, and achieving our goals has been possible thanks to the support of people like you.
SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION Roberto Chino
See you in 2021!
César Guerrero Executive Director of Terra Peninsular
EDITORIAL DESIGN Laura Tamayo
EDITORIAL BOARD Pamela Castro César Guerrero Claudia Guzmán Verónica Meza
CONTRIBUTORS Mirna Borrego Mariana Espinosa Claudia Guzmán Natalia Rodríguez Emily Rose Tanner Aurora Torres Mónica Véjar A special thanks to our volunteers Mariana Becerra and Bárbara Ramírez for translating and/or proofreading the articles of this issue.
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Terra News
ARTICLE OUTDOORS Certified Trails of Mexico
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OUTDOORS A Path Towards a Better Tourism
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CONSERVATION Entomology Over Time
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TERRA FACT San Quintin Volcanic Field
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PERSPECTIVE
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The Integral Tie Between Community and Conservation
Table of contents Vol. 5 | No. 20 | November 2020 | Ensenada, Baja California, México
TERRA NEWS Recognition for Our Bird Conservation Efforts
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The Festival Through the Years
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Climate Change Adaptation
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Terra News 3
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CONTENTS
We live in a day and age in which human impact is evident in all corners of the earth, either directly or indirectly. As climate change is already in motion, even inaction is a form of participation in environmental changes.
Continue reading on page 13 Photo: Alejandro Arias
Mediterranews is a magazine published three times a year by Terra Peninsular, a Mexican nonprofit organization committed to the conservation and protection of the wildlife and natural ecosystems of Baja California. The articles represent their author’s opinions, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Terra Peninsular. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercialNoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Contact us Shipping and mailing address in the US: 4630 Border Village Rd. Apt. 431 San Ysidro, CA 921733121 Phone number in Mexico: +52 (646) 177 68 00 Email: info@terrapeninsular.org Website: www.terrapeninsular.org/en/ mediterranews/
ON THE COVER
Alejandro Arias
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Recognition for Our
Bird Conservation Efforts By Antonieta Valenzuela and Charlotte Vizzuett
P Photo by Estefany Maya.
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artners in Flight Awards recognize individuals or groups that contribute significantly to the conservation of migratory and resident birds, as well as the restoration of endangered habitats in the American continent.
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TERRA NEWS
Photo by Estefany Maya.
Photo by Estefany Maya.
This year we received the Group Partners in Flight Stewardship award in recognition of the management, conservation and restoration of land bird habitats, as well as our community engagement approach and the design of the San Quintin Bay Bird Festival. It’s worth mentioning that we were nominated by Jennie Duberstein from Sonoran Joint Venture.
Photo by Bryan Gerardo.
The awards took place online during the North American Ornithology Congress on August 14, 2020, and also received recognitions: Sarahy Contreras (Mexico), Andrew Couturier (Canada), Marvin Torres Gutiérrez (Nicaragua), Yolanda León (Dominican Republic), David Mehlman (USA) and Set Net Communications (Nicaragua). Thank you very much for the recognition! About Partners in Flight Partners in Flight is a network of more than 150 organizations distributed throughout the Western Hemisphere working on different aspects of bird conservation, from science, research, planning and policy development, to habitat management, monitoring, education and awareness. NOVEMBER 2020
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TERRA NEWS
San Quintín Bay Bird Festival. Photo by Estefany Maya.
The Festival Through the Years By Claudia Guzmán and Mirna Borrego
W
e’re a young festival, and we’re honored to have received the Partners in Flight award, which recognizes individuals or groups that contribute significantly to bird conservation and restoration of endangered bird habitats in the American continent. To our surprise, we were selected for the Group Partners in Flight Stewardship Award. This award recognizes the organization’s work in the management, conservation, and restoration of terrestrial bird habitats, as well as the community participation model, and the design of the San Quintín Bird Festival.
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A safe refuge Baja California is home to thousands of birds. Its wetlands and sandy beaches are resting, feeding, and nesting sites; this is where many species nest, and if they succeed, they fly to continue with an extraordinary journey. Each winter, more than 25,000 shorebirds arrive in different places of the peninsula, such as Bahía de Todos Santos in Ensenada, and San Quintín Bay. San Quintín Bay has the natural characteristics to provide refuge and food for thousands of birds: it’s a unique place in Baja California with wetlands, sandy beaches, salt marshes, and extinct volcanoes. www.terrapeninsular.org/mediterranews/en/
TERRA NEWS
Photo by Yolanda Ávila.
Photo by Yolanda Ávila.
Internationally, the bay is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention. Since 2008 it’s been part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) and is also an Area of Importance for Bird Conservation in Mexico. The Bird Festival aims to contribute to the conservation of resident and migratory shorebirds in San Quintín Bay by increasing knowledge about the environmental value and encouraging community and critical groups’ participation.
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The festival over the years
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In 2016, Ejido Chapala, another local community, also joined the festival.
Five festivals have taken place so far, and in each edition, we have had memorable moments, special guests, and growth experiences.
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In 2015, local authorities, schools, and residents of the local community of La Chorera attended the first Bird Festival. This event was their first contact with birdwatching. Second Bird Festival in 2016. Photo by Terra Peninsular.
First edition of the Bird Festival in 2015. Photo by Terra Peninsular. 9
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4 In the fourth edition, we extended the duration of the festival to offer outdoor recreational activities. This idea came up thanks to the exchanges of experiences we carried out with the support of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). This festival followed the 7 principles of Leave No Trace by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Ever since, we’re committed to promoting a low environmental impact event.
San Quintín Bay Bird Festival. Photo by Terra Peninsular.
The third edition in 2017 marked the beginning of the collaboration with artists. We presented the first photography exhibit of the Youth Club of Nature Photographers Huellas Volcánicas, a club from the local junior high. It was also an opportunity for the local communities to promote their gastronomy with the attendees. The fourth edition of the Bird Festival. Photo by Terra Peninsular.
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In November 2019, we held the fifth edition with a celebration of the bird migration. The first collective art exhibition, named Travesía, was possible thanks to the participation of artists from San Quintín and the support of the Birds by Hand project from Alaska. This exhibition has also been displayed at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Community’s exchange of experiences with other festivals. Photo by Terra Peninsular.
San Quintín Bay Bird Festival. Photo by Estefany Maya.
It’s a great feeling knowing that we share the fascination for birds with more people, who, in addition to admiring them, do everything to preserve them. We want to thank the more than 800 attendees, the local communities La Chorera and Ejido Chapala, local companies, schools, artists, academics, supporters, international organizations, and volunteers for making this festival possible. In each edition of the festival, there are activities related to birds and nature, such as hiking, bird watching, boating, and photography. The community, schools, and artists have been involved, which has allowed us to create a network of growing allies that have supported us to communicate and tell stories through education and art. We also want the Festival to favor the socio-economic development of the town. We truly hope that the Bird Festival will become one of the most important and anticipated celebrations of nature in northwestern Mexico.
A new vision The global pandemic caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) has brought uncertainty, but also reflection. We’ve realized that we’re facing an extraordinary situation, and we don’t know how long this will last. We’ve worked and restructured the next Bird Festival during this time, we’ve received training in biosecurity best practices, and we’ve also exchanged experiences with similar festivals. Our commitment is to build a new experience using different platforms. More than ever, we believe that the conservation of natural spaces is the best way to keep a resilient peninsula and the communities that depend on it. The 6th. Bird Festival will take place from November 3 to 7, 2021! ♦ CLAUDIA GUZMÁN works as the Community Engagement Coordinator at Terra Peninsular since 2017 claudia@terrapeninsular.org ♦ MIRNA BORREGO has a degree in Communication Sciences and works as the Education and Community Outreach Officer at Terra Peninsular mirna@terrapeninsular.org
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PERSPECTIVE
THE INTEGRAL TIE BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION By Emily Tanner Photos by Alejandro Arias
In MĂŠxico, there exist conservation programs of varying formats including government mandated Protected Areas (PA), Areas Voluntary Devoted to Conservation (ADVC) and areas under Payment for Environmental Services (PES) [1]. Each format requires the involvement of community, be it local, national, or global.
Photos by Alejandro Arias.
We live in a day and age in which human impact is evident in all corners of the earth, either directly or indirectly. As climate change is already in motion, even inaction is a form of participation in environmental changes. During my time in Baja California, getting to experience firsthand the unique terrain, conservation projects, and community involvement, I became aware of just how important humans are in the success or failure of conservation projects. As we pulled up in our not-so-white-anymore van close to we would be sleeping that night in San Quintin Bay, we were greeted by Guti, a friendly, smiling woman who plays an important role in facilitating relations between Terra Peninsular and the local community of San Quintin. After getting our bearings together, we headed on to our campsite, which was previously the house of a fisherman. The beach adjacent is a spot where people collect stones to sell to larger stores for profit. Upon arriving at the campsite, park rangers welcomed us and opened the gate, making the presence of the local community in the ADVC of San Quintin all the more visible.
La Chorera is a community located near the Punta Mazo Nature Reserve. Photo by Alejandro Arias. 13
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PERSPECTIVE
Photos by Alejandro Arias.
I started to ask myself to what extent the local community advanced or detracted from the conservation projects of Terra Peninsular with San Quintin, considering that they have a significant wealth of knowledge about their land but also understanding that economic circumstances often provoke individuals to act in a manner that is non-concordant with the goals of conservation projects. For me this question was never really resolved: different actors contribute in different ways to the projects, with varying degrees of positive and negati-
ve impact. But what became more and more clear was the fact that the local community is an integral part of the success of conservation projects. The following day we loaded ourselves into trucks and arrived at the local school of La Chorera, where classrooms of school children awaited us. I still didn’t quite grasp why we were being told to interact with these students, and what this had to do with conservation: wouldn’t it be more worthwhile to identify local species, or remove native plants?
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PERSPECTIVE
We spent the morning between being chased by the children in games and sharing some of our knowledge about local ecological phenomena like the San Quintin kangaroo rat (Dipodomys gravipes) and gray whales (Eschrichtius Robustus). I was beginning to see the connection between education and conservation, but I didn’t really see how teaching these children would make a direct impact on conserving the local area. I wondered: Were they paying attention? Would they even remember what we were saying? However, later that evening, we learned about the deliberate introduction of Tilapia fish from Africa, which, due
to their carnivorous status, have contributed to native habitat degradation through the predation of native species of fish. Of course, local fishermen profited from this introduction and, consequently, there was a conflict between the interests of sustenance of the people and conservation. Understanding that the children we interacted with were the sons and daughters of the very people who have to make a living within the San Quintin Bay, often through the extraction of natural resources, I suddenly understood the importance of interacting with them. Beyond the lessons we shared with them, building trust and a rela-
Punta Mazo Nature Reserve in San Quintin. Photo by Alejandro Arias.
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PERSPECTIVE
Photos by Alejandro Arias.
tionship is essential. In this way, it is possible to understand their perspective and needs so that conservation projects can involve the local community in a manner that is beneficial for both parties, in order to establish longterm, sustainable projects. Moreover, the local people are key actors in conservation projects, as they can either be part of the ecological disruption, or part of maintenance and preservation of key ecological areas. Simply banning them from certain destructive activities will benefit no one, as it will likely hurt their livelihood, thereby making “conservation” a distant entity, something designed for the privileged, or they will simply find new ways to access these resources under the radar of conservation supervisors. By building a relationship with them and establishing trust, conservation projects can find success over the long-term.
In formal education settings, we are often taught how to approach scientific experiments and methods for conservation, but it is not frequently emphasized just how integrally involved local communities are in ecological evolution, destruction and change. Having had the experience to travel within Baja California and participate in the projects of Terra Peninsular, I am grateful to understand the interconnected nature of community and conservation and look forward to employing this knowledge in future work. References [1] Méndez-López, M. E., García-Frapolli, E., Ruiz-Mallén, I., PorterBolland, L., & Reyes-Garcia, V. (2015). From paper to forest: Local motives for participation in different conservation initiatives. Case studies in southeastern Mexico. Environmental management, 56 (3), 695-708.
♦ EMILY TANNER is Biology student from the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP).
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TERRA NEWS
“El Pacífico” trail at the Sierra San Pedro Martir National Park. Photo by Alejandro Villelas Chiu.
Certified Trails
of Mexico
By Mónica Véjar Corona Photos by Alejandro Villelas Chiu
H
iking has become the most developed adventure segment in the world. Two years ago, our country didn’t provide established information and security to hikers in a structured and uniform manner.
Beginnings are not easy Our project started in 2018, at that time we only had the theory, some documents and a lot of enthusiasm. But most of all, we were convinced of what we wanted to achieve: to contribute to the culture and history of responsible hiking in our country.
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The first trails were a big lesson for us, technically speaking, what seemed easy changed into a challenge because we had to adapt our knowledge to different aspects like the soil, geologic conditions, climate, and ecosystems in general. We need to take all these aspects into account for a correct installation. Since the beginning, offering professional work has always been our premise, that’s why in the first year we decided to certified as Trail Technicians under the Spanish Federation of Mountain Sports and Climbing in Valencia.
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TERRA NEWS
“La Rumorosa” trail in Tecate. Photo by Alejandro Villelas Chiu.
We shared and learned from international experts for a month, and we also acquired technical, environmental, social and experiential knowledge. To this day we have certified 13 trails: 11 in Baja California and 2 in Tamaulipas. Each one has its own history and has left us great satisfactions.
“Traveling a trail is much more than a physical challenge, it's connecting with nature, knowing and respecting the earth and what it gives to us; it’s feeling free and fragile at the same time; it’s learning to hear our steps and also learning how to step, letting us free, releasing and living!”
What are certified trails in Mexico? Certified trails are registered hiking routes under international beaconing criteria, through a uniform system of signs, which provide security, orientation, order and technical information which allows the participants to make decisions before and during the experience.
A certified trail gives value to the site and makes the space attractive for the people who do this activity: discover nature by walking.
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TERRA NEWS “Los Attenuatas” trail in Ensenada. Photo by Alejandro Villelas Chiu.
Sustainability as principle The beaconing techniques that we use are in harmony with the environment, from the materials to the installation, always looking for the minimal impact. Certainly, the most important aspect of our project is the involvement with the local community with the different trail beaconing processes, particularly in the trail identification and installation work. This creates an important relationship which promotes respectful use, space caring and maintenance of the area.
The certified trails as touristic projects A certified trail turns into an inspirational attraction for the visitors, since it provides technical information and orientation to enjoy the natural space. The brand Senderos Homologados de Mexico promotes responsible hiking in our country and boosts good sustainability practices in wild areas. Please visit www.balizamexico.com for more information about Baliza Mexico, learning technical facts and download the routes of the certified trails in Mexico.
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“El descanso” trail in Rosarito. Photo by Alejandro Villelas Chiu.
“Nowadays, more people are looking to escape the city life and on the trails we find the balance that allows us to strengthen our energy.”
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“La campana” trail at El Cielo Biosphere Reserves in Tamaulipas. Photo by Alejandro Villelas Chiu.
TERRA NEWS
“El descanso” trail in Rosarito. Photo by Alejandro Villelas Chiu.
“El centinela” trail in Mexicali. Photo by Alejandro Villelas Chiu.
“El oso” trail at El Cielo Biosphere Reserves in Tamaulipas. Photo by Alejandro Villelas Chiu.
♦ MÓNICA VÉJAR CORONA is the Executive Director of Baliza Mexico and has more than 30 years of experience in the touristic industry. She has a degree in Tourism and completed her postgraduate studies in Environmental Tourism. m.vejar@balizamexico.com
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Climate Change Adaptation Resilience Project in the Sierra San Pedro Martir By Aurora Torres and Mariana Espinosa About the Resilience Project
T
he project “Strengthening the effectiveness of management and the resilience of natural protected areas to protect biodiversity threatened by climate change�, also known as the Resilience Project, was implemented in 17 Natural Protected Areas of Mexico, including the Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park. The goal is to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change on biodiversity and human communities by strengthening the effective management of Natural Protected Areas. This project is implemented by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
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During 2019 and 2020, Terra Peninsular implemented different adaptation measures to climate change within the Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park and its area of influence to conserve and protect forest soils, maintain a healthy fire regime and ecosystem restoration, and contribute to the long-term carbon dioxide capture in forest biomass. These actions were combined with training to forest brigade members and park rangers on fire management, conservation and soil protection, reforestation, forest nursery management, and germplasm collection.
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TERRA NEWS
Volunteer instructor Eric Stoorza shows the correct way to sharpen saws. Photo by Felipe Leรณn.
Park rangers, forest brigade, Terra Peninsular staff members, researchers from UABC and volunteer instructors (USFS) at the end of a training day. Photo by Mariana Aguas.
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Mechanical treatment of fuel material. Photo by Mariana Espinosa.
In a parallel manner, with the purpose of creating a baseline with a gender approach, we developed a structured observation guide for women’s participation during the project that included management, participation, workshops and conferences attendance, and exchanges of experiences. This information provides the guidelines for future environment and community projects. Furthermore, it will help to search and implement strategies that contribute to gender equality and closing the gender gap.
Training on forest soil restoration in the national park. Photo by Bryan Gerardo.
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Importance of Sierra de San Pedro Martir The Sierra de San Pedro Martir is located in the central part of Baja California; it’s one of the state’s primary forest reserves. It is considered a pristine area with a high conservation status thanks to its geographic isolation, the area and its physical and biological characteristics.
Photo by Bryan Gerardo.
The altitude ranges from 600 to 3,098 meters above sea level (between 1,900 and 10,000 feet). Its characteristic relief allows us to appreciate its various ecosystems, such as the coastal scrub, chaparral, grasslands, wetlands, and mixed forests in the highest parts. We can also highlight the diversity of ecosystem services provided by the sierra: wáter collection and supply, climate regulation, biodiversity, value landscape, and very dark and clear night skies, which favor astronomical research.
Due to its high biodiversity and forest wealth, in 1947, part of the highest and most forested areas of the sierra were declared a National Park for their conservation, a category of Natural Protected Area in Mexico. Additionally, the mountain system is located in the Priority Terrestrial Region and the Priority Hydrological Region of CONABIO (National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity); it’s also recognized as an Area of Importance for the Conservation of Birds in Mexico.
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PROJECT OUTCOMES The results of the conservation, restoration, and fuel management activities in the Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park and its area of influence were the following: Training in germplasm management for brigade members and park rangers. Photo by Aurora Torres.
Actions for the contribution of carbon dioxide capture in forest biomass in the long term
Ranchers chatting about management grassland regeneration and its possible application within their ranches. Photo by Aurora Torres.
• Rehabilitation of the forest nursery of the national park. • Identification of 105 hectares (259 acres) for the implementation of seed stands. 8 kilos (17 pounds) of collected germplasm of black pine (Pinus jeffreyi). • Reforestation of 10 hectares (24.7 acres) of black pine in the national park. • 2 trainings in nursery management, germplasm collection and reforestation.
Forest soil conservation and protection actions
Regenerative management of grasslands
• 80 hectares (197 acres) of forest soils were protected through the arrangement of dead plant material in the form of cords and the construction of dams with dead trees, branches and rocks in order to reduce water erosion. • Installation of a fence to exclude cattle in the national park with 60 hectares (148 acres). • 1 training in forest soil conservation and protection.
• 2 exchanges of experiences with people from Ejido El Bramadero on regenerative management of grasslands.
Training on fuel management with chainsaws. Photo by Samuel Strain. 25
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Reduction of the danger of occurrence and spread of forest fires • 60 hectares (148 acres) of mechanical fuel treatment to reduce wildfires. • 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) of firebreaks were rehabilitated within the park and the area of Los Montes de San Pedro. • 1 workshop on the use of chainsaw and fuel removal in forest fires. • 1 training in forest fuel management.
Volunteers from UABC during the reforestation. Photo by Laura Tamayo.
Throughout this project we had the opportunity to meet and work closely with researchers, project managers, local communities, park rangers and the forest brigade of the national park, whom we admire, respect and value for the great conservation and preservation work they carry out every day. It was a very enriching experience, both professionally and personally.
Participatory workshop with key stakeholders to make decisions through participatory mapping. Photo by Aurora Torres.
Acknowledgements We appreciate the participation and support of: • Sierra San Pedro Martir National Astronomical Observatory from UNAM. • Staff members of the Condor Project. • Ranchers from the area of influence. • Owners of Los Montes de San Pedro. • Volunteer students from the Faculty of Sciences of UABC. • Sierra San Pedro Martir National Park. • United States Forest Service (USFS) hotshots.
Related articles • Darkness, a Refuge for Wildlife (issue 17, page 13). • Resilience Project: Sierra de San Pedro Mártir (issue 18, page 18). • Gender: Cross-Cutting Theme in Environmental and Climate Change Projects (issue 19, page 17).
♦ MARIANA ESPINOSA has a degree in Environmental Sciences and works as the Sierra de San Pedro Martir Projects Officer at Terra Peninsular mariana@terrapeninsular.org ♦ AURORA TORRES is an Environmental Engineer and works as the Land Protection Assistant at Terra Peninsular aurora@terrapeninsular.org
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TERRA FACT
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ARTICLE | CONSERVATION
Big sand tiger beetle (Cicindela formosa). Photo by Michael A. Wall.
Entomology Over Time Study of insects in the dunes of the Punta Mazo Nature Reserve By Natalia A. Rodríguez and Michael A. Wall
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t’s incredible to know the great diversity of organisms that can live in a coastal ecosystem. To learn a little more about this, we will talk about the coastal dunes of the Punta Mazo Nature Reserve (located in northwest Mexico, next to the Pacific Ocean). This ecosystem is a unique place with incomparable beauty. It’s highly dynamic in space and time, which continually changes the diversity of organisms within their environment. As part of the project “Entomological Study of the Coastal Dunes of the Baja California Peninsula as a Baseline for the Management of Ecosystems”, the spatiotemporal study began in July 2019 in collaboration with Terra Peninsular. Its
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Processing of samples in the facilities of the Punta Mazo Nature Reserve. Photo by Natalia A. Rodríguez.
ARTICLE
objective was to know how the entomological diversity in the dunes of the Punta Mazo Nature Reserve varies and/or changes. To carry out this 12-month study, we chose three sites in the dunes, each one with different characteristics based on vegetation cover. The first plot or quadrant was located at the beginning of the sandy bar and had coastal scrub vegetation, where species such as Isocoma menziesii (goldenbush) and Bromus rubens predominate. The second plot was located right in the middle of the sandbar, and the Abronia maritima (red sand verbena) and Helianthus niveus (showy sunflower) predominate. The third quadrant was located at the sandy bar’s tip and was dominated by Abronia maritima and Encelia california.
Dunes of the sandy bar of Punta Mazo. Photo by Natalia A. RodrĂguez.
Sunset in the coastal dunes of Punta Mazo. Photo by Michael A. Wall.
The difference in vegetation cover between the three quadrants would reflect the peculiarities of entomological diversity in each monthly sampling. Four types of traps were used to maximize the catch: pitfalls or dry pits, bee bowls, blue vane, and Malaise. In July 2019, the San Diego Natural History Museum teamed up with Terra Peninsular to place the four types of traps in each of the quadrants. This first sampling was carried out for seven days since some of the traps are left in the field for five nights. After that time, the samples were collected and labeled with the quadrant number, date, and type of trap to record each one of them for further processing. The goal of this first outing was to place the quadrants and provide training to Terra Peninsular staff members so that in the following months they could sample every month, since the team from the San Diego Natural History Museum would return to the nature reserve every three months to collect specimens, sample and leave materials (flasks, labels, field logs, etc.) for the next three months, and thus have better logistics throughout the study.
Pinacate beetle (Eusattus ciliatus). Photo by Michael A. Wall.
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ARTICLE | CONSERVATION Assembly of a beetle specimen (Eusattus ciliatus). Photo by Natalia A. Rodríguez.
The goals for this first expedition were to place the quadrants and provide training to Terra Peninsular staff members. Since the team from the San Diego Natural History Museum would return to the nature reserve every three months, Terra Peninsular staff would be in charge of taking monthly samples to have better logistics throughout the study. Upon their return, the team from the museum would collect specimens, samples, and leave materials (flasks, labels, field logs, etc.) for the following three months. While we’re still identifying the insects we have sampled, there are some promising signs that dunes support a healthy invertebrate community. It’s worth noting that we have found a variety of beetles that are restricted to sandy environments, such as Amblyderus parviceps, an antlike flower beetle found only in the dunes of California and Baja California, and Eusattus ciliatus, a beetle from the dunes around San Quintín Bay. Another species of beetle (Eleodes moestus) is also present in large numbers, and it specializes in
Related articles • Punta Mazo and El Socorro: unique coastal dunes in San Quintin (issue number 15, page 26). • Coastal Dunes as Priority Ecosystems for Conservation
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sandy habitats along the coast of the Pacific of the entire peninsula. All these specimens at Punta Mazo indicate that the nature reserve supports a healthy community of insects. Unfortunately, this study was discontinued in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope to resume the work in March 2021 to conclude the sampling. Although out of date, it will serve to complete the 12 months of analysis and will serve to have monthly entomological information for future studies.
About the project The project “Entomological study of the coastal dunes of the Peninsula of Baja California as a baseline for ecosystem management ” is managed by Natalia A. Rodríguez under the supervision of Michael A. Wall, and it receives support from CONACYT and JiJi Foundation.
♦ NATALIA A. RODRÍGUEZ REVELO, Phd | Postdoctoral fellow at the San Diego Natural History Museum nrevelo@sdnhm.org ♦ MICHAEL A.WALL, Phd| Vice President of Science and Conservation, Curator of Entomology at the San Diego Natural History Museum mwall@sdnhm.org
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Advisory to Brisa del Mar, a women's group from Agua Verde BCS. Photo by Rodrigo Moreno.
A Path Towards a Better Tourism By Ixchel López and Edith Carrillo
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laudia lwill go on vacations to relax and is undecided between her options: an all-inclusive hotel on the beach, a cruise in the Caribbean, or a trip to San Quintín to enjoy nature and local culture. After reflecting and obtaining information, Claudia decided to visit San Quintín. We’re locked up in our homes to be part of the solution to this pandemic and not the problem; therefore, a pla-
ce with few people and surrounded by nature gives her more certainty and satisfies her need for outdoor experiences. COVID-19 paralyzed tourism, so Claudia decided that her trip would contribute to the local economy that has been severely affected. In her research, she discovered that approximately 65% of the economic income left by nature tourism activities is distributed among local
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Food hygiene workshop aimed at two groups of women in Agua Verde). Photo: RED Archive.
communities helping promote their resources [1]. In San QuintĂn, she found companies that offer tourist experiences that respect nature and local culture. Some of them include activities that finance conservation projects in the protected area. Perfect! This option convinced Claudia, who is a responsible tourist. Trends show that people share Claudia’s vision. According to an analysis carried out in recent months [2], visitors will prefer tourist experiences that generate benefits for communities in remote places that comply with security measures and few people.
Collaborative planning workshop with Tierra de Artistas and Rancho San Cosme. Photo by Ana Montiel.
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Tourism companies, institutions that promote, plan, and regulate the activity, and those of us who travel are responsible for creating tourism that benefits communities and the planet. This responsible tourism can only be built with local communities. For this reason, RED de Turismo Sustentable y Desarrollo Social promotes models of tourism that allow people to live with dignity in balance with their biocultural heritage. For more than ten years, we have collaborated with communities, government, academy, companies, and civil society organizations to strengthen capacities, design tools for managing tourism, and promote alliances.
Workshop to evaluate the collaboration of organizations: Niparajรก, NOS and Terra Peninsular organized by RED. PPhoto: RED Archive.
Integration activities in workshops. Photo: RED Archive.
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Integration activity during the administration workshop. Photo: RED Archive.
Let's get to work RED has developed a methodology with a gender perspective to carry out capacity building programs to provide knowledge and tools for companies to be financially sustainable and move towards regenerative tourism. Also, it seeks to address some of the challenges identified, such as the design of experiences based on markets, financial management of companies, and implementation of sustainability principles. Along this path, we met Terra Peninsular, an organization that works with tourism companies in San QuintĂn. We identified the opportunity to collaborate and strengthen business capacities, and in 2018 we started a project on strengthening tourism companies in the Baja California peninsula in which other organizations such as NiparajĂĄ and Noroeste Sustentable also participate. Collaboration is essential for RED, as we can expand our impact and reach more communities.
In the Baja California peninsula project, we launched a call aimed at companies interested in increasing their capacities and carrying out tourist activities in San QuintĂn, Baja California; Cabo Pulmo, La Paz, Agua Verde, and San Cosme, Baja California Sur. In collaboration with partner organizations, we selected 18 tourism companies.
Technical advice to a San Quintin company. Photo: RED Archive. 35
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To identify each company’s specific needs, RED designed the Rapid Business Assessment tool that has been used for over ten years. We obtain information on each of the companies’ status in business, operational, commercial, environmental, and social terms through interviews and field visits. In addition, we generate indexes that allow us to evaluate the progress of each company. We select the main topics for the training process, which lasts approximately three years, with the results obtained. So far, the companies have participated in three workshops on topics related to the business plan, legal figures, commercial companies, internal control, labor obligations, and marketing in tourist destinations.
At the end of each workshop, companies carry out a work plan to implement specific actions in their companies. A person from RED provides advice to companies to meet their goals in the months following the workshop. One of our priorities has been to promote the creation of alliances between the individuals involved. In each workshop, we carry out activities that allow us to strengthen ties. RED has identified needs related to other areas since tourism is multidisciplinary, so we have generated alliances with Tierra de Artistas to carry out social architecture actions, with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics of the UNAM, and with the initiative DesplastifĂcate.
Administration workshop. Photo: RED Archive.
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Our present 2020 has been a complicated year: a lot of virtual work, pressure, and concerns. The pandemic forced us to adapt to the new circumstances and reflect on what we want for the future. RED designed the online workshop Rethink to Create aimed at companies and offered by the government of Baja California Sur. Also, RED, Terra Peninsular, and Niparajá were part of a call to action to position nature tourism to reactivate the tourism sector. Today more than ever, RED is convinced that tourism must be regenerative and must be planned and carried out with communities to contribute to equitable socio-economic development and the conservation of biocultural heritage in Mexico. We invite you to be part of this change. Your travel decisions can make a difference.
[1] Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (2018). Marco Estratégico de Turismo Sustentable en Áreas Naturales Protegidas. México [2] Radar Turístico (2020). Cómo lograr la visión de la empresa y la pasión del emprendedor. Retrieved on September 8, 2020 from https://radarturistico.mx/wpcontent/uploads/2020/08/Radar_Turi%CC%81stico-N04Agosto-Co%CC%81mo_lograr_la_vision.pdf ♦ IXCHEL LÓPEZ OLVERA is a biologist with a postgraduate degree in Environmental and Ecological Economics. She’s the director at RED de Turismo Sustentable y Desarrollo Social. ixchel@redturismosustentable.org ♦ EDITH CARRILLO RAMOS has a degree in Tourism with a postgraduate degree in Environmental Sciences, Management and Sustainability. Currently, she coordinates the Sustainable Economies Program at RED de Turismo Sustentable y Desarrollo Social. edith@redturismosustentable.org
Closure of the administration workshop in La Paz. Photo: RED Archive.
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