Gulf of California Case Study

U N I T E D S T A T E S So n o r a S i n a lo a Nayarit Baja California Baja California Sur M E X I C O A Unique Ecosystem Marine area 38,782,015 ha Terrestrial area 41,048,263 ha High primary Productivity two upwellings per year Coastal wetlands 600,000 ha Mangroves 256,000 ha Marine Habitat - Coral reef - Rocky reef - Soft sea beds - Seagrass beds - Hidrothermal vents 930 Islands

891 fishes Biological richness 181 seabirds 34 marine mammals 831 endemic species Phocoena sinus Vaquita Totoaba macdonaldi Totoaba 6 marine reptiles 4,853 macro- invertebrates 16 IUCN Red List 6,000 species of marine macro fauna

U N I T E D S T A T E S So n o r a S i n a lo a Nayarit Baja California Baja California Sur M E X I C O Biological Importance Areas of Biological Importance Marine and Coastal Protected Areas, less than 4% and 0.004% is no-take zone

U N I T E D S T A T E S So n o r a S i n a lo a Nayarit Baja California Baja California Sur M E X I C O History of the region’s transformation 16 Native ethnic groups Christian missions Subsistence agriculture 1530 Mining 1800 Communications Steam boats Railway route Fisheries Outboard-motors boats 1930 Shrimp trawlers Mechanized agriculture ( ) Dams Agriculture district

U N I T E D S T A T E S So n o r a S i n a lo a Nayarit Baja California Baja California Sur M E X I C O Socio - economic trends Agriculture, livestock, mining and fisheries 11.2% (0.7) Commerce, Tourism 33.8% (4.5) Contributions to regional economy (av. 20 yr growth) Manufacturing 18.2% (4.7) Financial services 15.9% (5.8)

Socio - economic trends

Building Capacity for Management Academy  State Universities  Regional Research Centers  Sea of Cortez Research Society 70’s to 80’s Government 90’s  International NGOs  Local and National NGOs  Government presence in PA’s  SEMARNAT  G of C Coalition  ALCOSTA  FMCN Government Academy NGO’s 2000  Gulf of California Fund  Regional Leadership Group Resources users Government Academy NGO’s  National Fisheries Institute  Regional Centers for Fisheries Research Government 50’s to 70’s

U N I T E D S T A T E S So n o r a S i n a lo a Nayarit Baja California Baja California Sur M E X I C O Prime Fishing Grounds Industrial (sardine) and Sport Small scale Shrimp trawling

Priorities for Nautical Tourism U N I T E D S T A T E S So n o r a S i n a lo a Nayarit Baja California Baja California Sur M E X I C O Nautical Tourism

U N I T E D S T A T E S So n o r a S i n a lo a Nayarit Baja California Baja California Sur M E X I C O Priorities for Conservation Improved management of protected areas 50% shrimp trawlers buyout and improved technology Integrated management of coastal wetlands 15% of the marine zone with MPA by 2020 Re-orientation of the Nautical Staircase

United intersectorial efforts to define solutions to threats are critical for conservation. Governance structures are very important for real natural resource management. Marine protected areas are useful tools to control open access and support fisheries management. Ultimatly, negociating changed behavior produces results, not the imposition of the values of one group on another Our Learning

Sustained progress towards unambiguous goals is being made at the Large Coastal Ecosystem (LCE) scale Australia’s Great Barrier Reef The North American Great Lakes The Wadden Sea The Chesapeake Bay The greatest returns on investment are seen when LCE management occurs before restoration of lost qualities is the priority Global Learning

The Gulf of California Joint Initiative for social well being and conservation Leaders in the environmental community Leaders in national and state government Leaders in the business community

Secure Presidential endorsement Secure Presidential endorsement A critical path to a positive future Articulate a common regional vision that: Secure core funding and an implementing structure Secure core funding and an implementing structure Negotiate a Regional Agreement through stakeholder negotiations and public review Negotiate a Regional Agreement through stakeholder negotiations and public review Specifies ambitious, measurable goals Specifies ambitious, measurable goals Addresses the major issues and stakeholder interests Addresses the major issues and stakeholder interests

Endorsing Organizations