Riviera Nayarit, January 19, 2016. – More equipment such as buoys, boats, chains, and electronic tablets for processing coastal and marine surveillance information; more and better-trained personnel; better coordination between authorities, companies, and civil organizations for surveillance in the Natural Protected Areas of Northwest Mexico; and greater awareness of the importance of living in harmony with nature, is part of the balance of 13 months of effort by the Paralelo 28 initiative and its Heroes Wanted campaign.
A year and a month ago, four civil organizations specialized in environmental conservation joined forces to call on authorities, businesses, tourists, and tourism service providers to collaborate in strengthening the capacities of Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) in places such as Islas Marietas, Cabo Pulmo, Bahía de Loreto, Bahía de Los Ángeles and Bahía de La Paz.
The results are evidence that it is possible to regulate and respect the rules in force and that compliance with the regulations is the key to protecting and conserving Mexico’s natural treasures.
Pronatura Noroeste A.C., Red de Observadores Ciudadanos-La Paz A.C., Ecoalianza de Loreto A.C., and Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparajá A.C. grouped in Paralelo 28 and with the support of the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature, the Carlos Slim Foundation, the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau, Itaca Films, Ontwice Mexico, Bahía Unida A. C. and a large number of participating companies, maintain the fundraising campaign Heroes Wanted, which makes possible the work of Paralelo 28 member organizations, who design and implement strategies for the conservation of PNAs.
“It has been an intense, interesting, and productive 13 months in terms of inspection and surveillance. The results are so encouraging that we are sure that the strategy is the right one: to involve all sectors in protecting and conserving the country’s natural heritage. This is the only thing that in the short and long term can guarantee the sustainable use of Mexico’s natural wealth,” assures María Ugarte Luiselli, Communications Director of Paralelo 28.
The acceptance of the Heroes Wanted campaign has been such that during 2017 it is projected with more strength not only in Nayarit, where the sectors are already an example of coordination for the conservation of Islas Marietas, but it will take greater strength and presence by being implemented in important areas of Baja California Sur such as Cabo Pulmo, Loreto, and Bahía de La Paz.
In addition to raising awareness among tourists, businessmen, and beach users in general of the importance of having a harmonious relationship with nature and respecting the delicate balance of the Natural Protected Areas, the campaign has effectively impacted improvements for Islas Marietas National Park.
More than 100 tourism service providers organized themselves in the Bahía Unida civil association and have become involved in the conservationist initiative, channeling resources to equip the guards, make tours possible, and make periodic reports that show the rules of operation of the ANP are being respected.
To date, close to 40 thousand tourists visiting Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit have collaborated with the conservation of the Marietas Islands, Mexico’s natural heritage, by visiting the islands through companies committed to the sustainability of the destination and by wearing a special bracelet that distinguishes them as responsible tourists. Everyone, tourists and tourism companies, have become conservation heroes.
The campaign is still in force and will take greater force in high tourist season dates such as Easter 2017 and summer. For more information, visit paralelo28.org and Paralelo 28’s social networks.
