On Tuesday, May 4th, 2021, Mayor Armando Ayala received in his office Pronatura Noroeste Director, Dr. Gustavo Danemann, who requested his support to manage the creation of the “Arroyo San Miguel” State Park before Governor Jaime Bonilla.
The proposed state park would cover six kilometers of stream bed and the San Miguel beach, a total of 67.53 hectares. The area, located in the El Sauzal de Rodríguez Delegation, has been traditionally used for surfing, being considered the “cradle of surfing” in Mexico, as well as for family gatherings and outdoor recreation. The San Miguel stream is the last stream preserved in natural conditions in the urban area of Ensenada, and it ends at a beach with the same name, next to the toll booth.
The Director of Pronatura Noroeste said that “decreeing the Arroyo San Miguel State Park will allow the preservation of a natural space that Ensenada residents need for leisure and recreational activities and represents a model of the characteristic landscape of the Pacific coast of Baja California. This space is currently used by families and individuals who enjoy time in nature, and only the will of the state government is required for its protection.”
Gabriela Caloca, Pronatura Noroeste Water and Wetlands Conservation Program Coordinator, highlighted that the San Miguel stream and beach are used by Sauzal families and this initiative arose precisely from the residents of the delegation.
Mayor Armando Ayala, who received a copy of the technical proposal submitted on March 22nd to the Secretary of Sustainable Economy and Tourism of the State of Baja California, committed to bring before the State Government the decree for the creation of what would be the first state-run Natural Protected Area. The mayor was very interested in the project, since the proposed State Park would contribute 9.5% of the surface of the green areas required for the City of Ensenada and 100% of those required for the residents of El Sauzal, according to the World Health Organization.
Gustavo Danemann indicated that “the State and Municipal governments have an unparalleled opportunity to leave a historical legacy for Baja Californians. Jaime Bonilla has the opportunity to decree the first Natural Protected Area in the state and, with it, respond to the request of the citizens to have areas for recreation, family gatherings, and the enjoyment of nature, in addition to preserving the natural heritage of Baja California.”
In a written message, the El Sauzal de Rodríguez Municipal Representative, Jesús Ramón Machado Cota, said “with the creation of a protected area, the residents of El Sauzal would have the possibility to significantly improve their quality life in many ways,” and expressed being “in the best place to work collaboratively and make the Arroyo San Miguel State Park a reality.”
Héctor Villalobos Buelna, Director of Urban, Ecological, and Environmental Administration, Jaime Figueroa Tentori, Director of Infrastructure, and Norma Elvia Martínez Santos, General Coordinator of the Cabinet were present at the meeting with the mayor.
The representatives of Pronatura invited the community to learn about the project on the official website of the Arroyo San Miguel State Park and to sign a petition that aims to show the state governor the importance of this project, which will benefit all Baja Californians.
