LORETO, BCS, MEXICO - 16 August 2023
Announcing park designations for Nopoló and Loreto II, providing ecological protection to a pristine and biodiverse coastline in Baja California Sur, Mexico
TWO NEW NATIONAL PARKS!
On August 16th 2023, Nopoló Park and Loreto II Park were set aside for conservation via two Presidential decrees to support sustainable development, ecotourism, and permanent habitat protection. These two new parks will support activities that are economically beneficial to local communities without sacrificing the natural resources that are essential to the well-being of current and future generations.
See the official TOF PRESS RELEASE here
View the Decree of Parque Nacional Nopolo (National Park of Nopolo) in Spanish
View the Decree of Parque Nacional Loreto II (National Park Loreto II) in Spanish
BACKGROUND
Loreto II Park Map
Nestled between the foothills of the Sierra de la Giganta mountains and the shores of Loreto Bay National Park / Parque Nacional Bahia Loreto, sits the municipality of Loreto in the beautiful Mexican state of Baja California Sur.
As a popular tourist destination, Loreto is truly a nature lover’s paradise. Loreto boasts diverse ecosystems such as cardón cacti forests, upland deserts, and unique seashore habitats. Just the coastal land is 7+kms of beach right in front of where blue whales come to give birth and feed their young.
Over all, this region encompasses nearly 250 kilometers (155 miles) of coastline, 750 square kilometers (290 square miles) of sea, and 14 islands – (actually 5 islands and several islotes/tiny islands).
Nopolo Park Map
In the 1970s, the National Tourism Development Foundation (FONATUR) identified Loreto as a prime region for ‘tourism development’ in recognition of the special and unique qualities of Loreto.
The Ocean Foundation and its local partners have sought to protect this area through the establishment of these new parks: Nopoló Park and Loreto II.
With continuing community support, we envision developing a healthy and vibrant park that is sustainably managed, protects local freshwater resources, and vitalizes community-based ecotourism initiatives. Ultimately, this park will strengthen the local ecotourism sector and promote sustainable development while serving as a successful model for other areas threatened by mass tourism.
THE NOPOLO PARK & LORETO II PARK SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
To conserve the elements that permit adequate ecosystem functioning and their associated ecosystem services in Loreto
To protect and sustain scarce water resources
To expand outdoor recreational opportunities
To protect wetlands and watersheds in desert ecosystems
To conserve biodiversity, with special attention to endemic (species that only occur in this area) and endangered species
To heighten appreciation and knowledge of nature and its benefits
To protect ecosystem connectivity and the integrity of biological corridors
To boost local development
To have access to Loreto Bay National Park
To experience the Loreto Bay National Park
To create education and social value
To create long term value
ABOUT NOPOLO PARK & LORETO II
The creation of Nopoló Park is important not only because of the region’s renowned natural beauty, but because the integrity of the local ecosystems and communities that depend on it. Nopoló Park is of great hydrological significance. The Nopoló Park watershed found here recharges the local aquifer that serve as part of Loreto’s freshwater source. Any unsustainable development or mining on this land could threaten the entire Loreto Bay National Marine Park, and put the supply of fresh water at risk.
Currently, 16.64% of Loreto’s surface area is under mining concessions — a more than 800% increase in concessions since 2010. Mining activities can have rippling negative consequences: endangering the limited water resources of Baja California Sur and potentially compromising Loreto’s agriculture, livestock, tourism, and other economic activities throughout the region. Establishing Nopoló Park and Loreto II park ensures that this biologically significant place is preserved. Formal protection of this delicate habitat is a long-sought goal. The Loreto II reserve ensures that locals will be able to experience the coastline and the marine park in perpetuity.
Loretanos has already played a major role in the park’s realization and are actively transforming Loreto into a sustainable outdoor adventure destination. The Ocean Foundation has worked with local community groups, outdoor enthusiasts and businesses to support outdoor tourism in the area. As a demonstration of the community’s support, The Ocean Foundation and its Keep Loreto Magical program, along with Sea Kayak Baja Mexico, successfully securing over 900 local signatures on the petition to support the transfer of the 16,990-acre parcel from the national Tourism Development Foundation (FONATUR) to the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP) for permanent federal protection. Today, we celebrate the formal establishment of Nopoló Park and Loreto II, Loreto’s two newest coastal and mountain reserves.
PARTNERS IN THE PROJECT
The Ocean Foundation and its local project, The Keep Loreto Magical Foundation
The Conservation Alliance
Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP)
National Tourism Development Foundation of Mexico (FONATUR)
Columbia Sportswear
Sea Kayak Baja Mexico: Ginni Callahan
Home Owners Association of Loreto Bay – John Filby, TIA Abby, Brenda Kelly, Richard Simmons, Catherine Tyrell, Erin Allen, and Mark Moss
Ranchers of the Sierra La Giganta within the Municipality of Loreto
Hiking community of Loreto – signers of petition
Loreto Guide Association – Rodolfo Palacios
Videographers: Richard Emmerson, Irene Drago, and Erik Stevens
Lilisita Orozco, Linda Ramirez, Jose Antonio Davila, and Ricardo Fuerte
Eco-Alianza de Loreto – Nidia Ramirez
Alianza Hotelera de Loreto – Gilberto Amador
Niparaja – Sociedad de Historia Natural – Francisco Olmos
The community has come together for this cause by not only producing a variety of multimedia content for outreach purposes but by also painting a beautiful mural in the city highlighting the park’s biodiversity. Here are a few videos produced by the Keep Loreto Magical program on park-related initiatives:
La Ruta Verde a Tiombó (new recreational corridor)
Presentation by Sea Kayak Baja Mexico: Ginni Callahan
Overview video of Nopoló Park: Keep Loreto Magical
ABOUT PROJECT PARTNERS
As a legally incorporated and registered 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, The Ocean Foundation (TOF) is the only community foundation dedicated to advancing marine conservation around the world. Since its establishment in 2002, TOF has worked tirelessly to support, strengthen, and promote those organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world. TOF achieves its mission through three interrelated lines of business: fund management and grant-making, consulting and capacity-building, and donor management and development.
TOF’s Experience in Mexico
Long before launching the Nopoló Park Project in Loreto two years ago, TOF had a deep history of philanthropy in Mexico. Since 1986, TOF’s President, Mark J. Spalding, has worked throughout Mexico, and his love for the country is reflected in TOF’s 15 years of impassioned stewardship there.
Through the years, TOF has formed relationships with two of Loreto’s leading environmental NGOs: Eco-Alianza and Grupo Ecological Antares (the latter is no longer in operation). Thanks in part to these relationships, the NGOs’ financial supporters, and local politicians, TOF has advanced multiple environmental initiatives throughout Mexico, including the protection of Laguna San Ignacio and Cabo Pulmo.
In Loreto, TOF helped pass a series of bold local ordinances to ban motorized vehicles on beaches and prohibit mining in the municipality. From the community leaders to the city council, the Mayor of Loreto, the Governor of Baja California Sur, and the Secretaries of Tourism and Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries, TOF has thoroughly laid the groundwork for inevitable success.
In 2004, TOF spearheaded the establishment of the Loreto Bay Foundation (LBF) to ensure sustainable development in Loreto. Over the last decade, TOF has acted a neutral third party and helped to create:
The Loreto Bay National Marine Park’s management plan
Loreto’s legacy as the first city (municipality) to ever have an ecological ordinance (in the state of BCS)
Loreto’s separate land use ordinance to prohibit mining
The first land use ordinance to require municipal action to enforce federal law prohibiting motorized vehicles on the beach.