Advocating for the Creation of Nopoló Park

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The proposed Nopoló Park is about protecting critical habitats of the Sierra La Giganta. When Loreto Bay Development was initially set up, the National Trust for Tourism (Fideicomiso Nacional de Turismo – FONATUR) agreed to changing the land use for the upper lands west of the highway within Nopoló to become an ecological area.  This surface area of approximately 5,000 acres would have very low density of buildings. In fact, this area, known legally as the “Polygon of Nopoló,” still has the land use registered as an ecological area in the State Public Works Office.

However, this zoning can be changed (for purposes contrary to conservation such as mining or mega-development). The Ocean Foundation with the support of local organizations such as the Loreto Bay Home Owner Association and Eco-Alianza de Loreto obtained funds from Conservation Alliance to pursue the status of “formally protected” for the area.

 

What about the landowners?

Historically, the main resistance to creation of parks in the state of BCS is the social approval of ranch owners neighboring the proposed parks. Because Loreto is a small community, our Foundation has been able to engage with the five ranches that surround the proposed park. Our staff member conducts agro-tourism at the ranches (which has included reforestation and plantation of fruit trees), brings tourists to buy their products (meats, eggs, vegetables, dairy and artisanal crafts) and engages in an ongoing purchase of local organic produce via a community supported agriculture (CSA). Through multiple visits to four of the ranches, more than $50,000 pesos of direct revenue has been generated, apart from the outcomes of the established CSA project.

Through this collaborative work, project participants have come to admire the farmers’ culture and work ethic. Meanwhile we have learned about rancheros’ struggles with mining interests on their land and neighboring lands and their preference for an ecological area where some cattle grazing may be allowed.

Furthermore, residents from the lower and upper part of the Sierra within the polygon of Nopoló understand now that they live in the same watershed. Clearly, what happens in the upper watershed affects the biodiversity and critical ecosystems mentioned (see a beautiful 3-minute overview of the park’s biodiversity). To Nopoló’s residents, its first importance is its major impact on the recharge of their fresh-water wells.

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Goals

In the end, the proposed Nopoló Park is about--

  • safeguarding the future of endemic and endangered species and their critical habitat in the Sierra La Giganta,

  • ensuring protection of water in the watershed of Nopoló

  • protecting the welfare of ranchers of the area

  • creating access to open (and heathy) spaces for the general public to learn from and enjoy.

 

Project Status

Progress with the Nopolo Park proposal

In order to protect the clean water supply of Loreto and its regional biodiversity and biomass, a local initiative has grown to protect 5,000 acres of the Sierra La Giganta in the Municipality of Loreto. Protection also ensures that toxic mining does not occur in the watershed area. The proposed land is unique because it encompasses five critical habitats: peaks, soft riparian slopes, oases, sand dunes and shoreline. The current status is that the Mexican tourism trust (FONATUR) owns the land and has agreed to donate it to the National Commission for Protected Areas (CONANP), which is the Mexican federal government’s body for environmental protection. 

The Keep Loreto Magical Foundation is giving local impetus to the final review by government as the land transfer nears completion. This year's main activity locally is continuing our steady communication and engagement with the stewards of the watershed uplands (in this case, the farmers). We do this by organizing local tours and maintaining contact with different groups of citizens who have written letters of support. On the legal front, The Ocean Foundation’s lawyer visits the Mexico City offices of FONATUR and CONANP to engage with them personally.