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SEA OF CORTEZ, MEXICO Isla Espíritu Santo Migratory Bird and Wildlife Refuge Insert site close-up map Loreto Bay National Park Total Area Protected: Isla Espíritu Santo Migratory Bird and Wildlife Refuge: 24,453 acres (9,900 ha) Loreto Bay National Park: 510,253 acres (206,580 ha) Ecoregions Represented: Marine, benthic, mangrove, coastal, coral heads/reef, Gulf of California, xeric scrub. Partner Institution: Few marine areas in the world have the combination of biological productivity, biodiversity and endemism of the Sea of Cortez. This exceptionally high degree of biological and ecological value is due to the diversity and extension of ecosystems in the region. Sea of Cortez mangrove communities are one of only thirteen mangrove complexes in the Latin America and Caribbean region. The endemic species of the islands are under a significant threat from the introduction of exotic species and resource piracy. Ecological Significance Loreto Bay National Park (LBNP) is a 206,580-hectare (510,253) site consisting of five islands. Isla Espíritu Santo Migratory Bird and Wildlife Refuge (IES) is a 9,900-hectare (24,453 acre) site composed of six islands. These two sites compose half of the designated Sea of Cortez Island Migratory Bird and Wildlife Refuge archipelagos. Combined, these protected areas contain a wide variety of marine and island species representative of the biodiversity of the Sea of Cortez. The islands, wetlands, lagoons, mangroves, seagrass beds and marine areas provide habitat for a wide variety of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna. These two marine and terrestrial protected areas harbor five species of sea turtles, 15 species of whales, 17 species of marine birds (eight species nest on the islands), 20 species of reptiles and 29 species of terrestrial mammals. Of the plant and animal species found on the islands of both reserves, 38 are endemic. The seagrass beds of Loreto Bay National Park are important feeding grounds for the endangered black sea turtle. The park also includes areas of critical importance for sustenance and commercial fishing. Of the three main bioregions within the Warm Temperate Northeastern Pacific Province, the Sea of Cortez, or Cortesian bioregion, ranks highest in terms of biological and ecological value. Based upon the following indicators, the Sea of Cortez is considered a priority area for conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean: the presence and extension of unique coastal communities, the numbers of estuaries (indicators of terrestrial sources of coastal productivity, the richness of fish species, the use of area by marine mammals and the numbers of endemic species and sub-species in the region. Principal Threats Affecting Biodiversity at the Site Date of initial threats analysis for site: Date of most recent update: Source of threats analysis presented below: October 1997 August 1999 Workshop Participants in analysis presented below: IES: Gabriela Anaya Reyna Francisco Alverez LBNP: Benito Bermudez Almada Marylo Mandojano ISLA: Antonio Cantu, Maria Elena Martinez, Mary Belle Cruz Ayala TNC: Guadalupe Morales Abril Victoria M. Diggins Update on an annual basis Scheduled future update(s): Major threats at the site – Please note that reserve staff are completing the strategies for the last two threats 5= very high; 4= high; 3= moderate Loreto Bay National Park Target/ System/ Resource Wetlands and Mangroves Sandy Bottom Threat Rank Infrastructure Development 4 Beaches and Dunes Illegal Extraction of Materials (removing beach sand for resort beaches) 4 Reefs and Rocky Bottom Destructive fishing 3 Strategy • Promote the Plan de Ordenamiento Ecológico (POE) to local and state officials • Carry out an outreach program within the reserve boundaries • Train individuals responsible for the POE through the Proyecto de Conservación de Ecosistemas Criticas de México (University of Rhode Island) • Promote the importance of the ecological values of the beaches and dunes to businesses • Promote techniques to stabilize beaches • Carry out park patrols Sandy Bottom practices Beaches and Dunes Wetlands and Mangroves Reefs and Rocky Bottom Extractive Scuba Diving Activities and Other Inappropriate Recreation Activities Introduction of Exotic Species Islands and Islotes 3 • Promote the prohibition of destructive practices • Look for and promote alternatives to destructive fishing practices • Educate fishermen • Identify mechanisms to ensure fishermen are paid fair value for their catches • Promote the design and implementation of fishing regulations. To be determined 3 To be determined Isla Espíritu Santo Migratory Bird and Wildlife Refuge Target/ System/ Resource Coastal Fringe Desert Xerofiles Tectonic depression plains Islotes Reefs and Rocky Bottom Threat Rank Poaching 5 Coastal Fringe Desert Xerofiles Tectonic depression plains Introduction of Exotic Species 5 Coastal Fringe Desert Xerofiles Incompatible Recreation Activities 5 Strategy • Patrolling, especially with Profepa inspector • Ensure rangers have adequate equipment for patrols (Radios, etc.) • Carry out an outreach program with resource users • Prepare materials for outreach • Develop a patrolling program with the local fishing sector • Carry out park patrols to monitor fishing and tourist activities • Carry out environmental education activities • Implement an eradication program (rats, cats and goats) • Monitor refrigerators and nets that are brought to the islands to ensure they do not harbor rodents • Carry out a monitoring program • Provide environmental education to tour service providers Tectonic depression plains Islotes Reefs and Rocky Bottom Coastal Fringe Desert Xerofiles Tectonic depression plains Coastal fringe Fishing camps and Other Related Activities Incompatible Infrastructure Development 5 • Carry out park patrols at camping areas and trails • Establish a training and accreditation program • Develop and promote a code of ethics for tour service providers • Educate port captains • Hold periodic meetings with tourism sector To be determined 5 To be determined Industrial fishing is the most significant threat to Loreto Bay National Park and the marine buffer zone of Isla Espíritu Santo Migratory Bird and Wildlife Refuge. Domestic and foreign industrial fishing vessels heavily utilize the marine area of these reserves. Industrial vessels harvest thousands of tons of shrimp and commercially valuable fish, as well as sea turtles, marine mammals and spawning fish. The introduction of exotic species is the greatest threat to the terrestrial environment of the islands of Loreto Bay National Park and Isla Espíritu Santo Migratory Bird and Wildlife Refuge. The introduction of species such as goats, pigs, dogs, rats, mice, cats, rabbits, burros and innumerable insects and plants to these islands. results in predation on endangered endemic species. Resource piracy also represents a significant threat to endangered endemic island species, sea turtles and other valuable fish and shellfish species in Loreto Bay National Park and Isla Espíritu Santo Migratory Bird and Wildlife Refuge. Dumps and sewage outfalls in Loreto and La Paz release toxics into the coastal and marine systems. Contamination can adversely impact the health of fish and shellfish stocks. Unregulated discharge of sewage adversely impacts coastal and marine environments. The island of Loreto Bay and Espíritu Santo are popular destinations for ecotourists. Ecotourists may sometimes introduce exotic species to the islands. Uncontrolled tourism can result in disturbances to sensitive island plant and animal species. Industrial shrimp vessels use drag nets, which severely damage benthic resources. Coastal development in Loreto adversely damages sensitive coastal and wetland systems. Sustenance fishing is also largely unregulated, causing damage to commercial fish stocks. Sustenance fishermen often ignore spawning seasons. Unregulated fish camps along the coastline and on islands result in habitat degradation and the dumping of trash and human waste into sensitive ecosystems. Conservation Strategy at the Site: Loreto Bay National Park was established in July 1996 as a protected area. The decree initially protected only the islands and not the surrounding marine areas. Five months later the decree was changed and the reserve became a national park – protecting its six islands and their surrounding waters. Like many protected areas in Latin America, when the park was decreed it lacked on-site staff and a conservation strategy. This situation began to change in 1997 when the Mexican government funded on-site personnel to manage the protected area. In the past two years, the focus has been on completing a management plan, establishing a presence on site and in the local communities, and identifying the threats to conservation of the area. The federal, state and municipal governments are promoting an initiative requiring land use and coastal zoning which will strengthen current natural resource management and use policies. Many of the activities currently underway are supported through the Parks in Peril (PiP) program, such as the development of a management plan, long-term financial plans, park patrols and environmental education. In particular, PiP is helping the reserve staff strengthen its capacity to manage the reserve through offering training and developing consolidation products. At the same time, local environmental groups are encouraging, facilitating and advising government and academic sectors on the development of the reserve’s management plan, land use and coastal/marine zoning for Loreto Bay and Isla Espíritu Santo. These efforts represent the basis for conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.