Students from the Center for Marine Technology Studies (CETMar) No. 14, receive technical training on the monitoring of birds and fish.(Photo: Hitandehui Tovar)
According to those in charge of the site, the project focuses on facilitating opportunities for enjoying a stretch of the river as well as mountain canyons, where there are a number of recreational activities: walks along suspension bridges and zipline tours. Palapas (shade structures) and cabins have been built to accommodate visitors to these attactions.
The students realized that community biological monitoring doesn’t only provide technical and scientific tools for the analysis of species or ecosystems, but also brings with it the opportunity to become familiar with their region, the importance of the natural resources at hand and how to make use of them in a sustainable manner. It provides a vision of how nature records the history and culture of the land.
Besides visiting the town of Baja Cucapah in the state of Baja California, they also received training at important sites within the Reserve in Sonora state: 1) La Ciénaga de Santa Clara, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance that is a vestige of what was the Colorado River; and 2) La Pila, a hot, freshwater geyser which is an important habitat for endangered species like the Desert Pupfish.
The trips between April 29 and May 1 were part of the second course of its kind, organized by the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans (CEDO), located in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. Members of the Salinas de Gortari, Samuel Ocaña, El Doctor and Luís Encinas Johnson Ejidos were present, and support was also provided by residents from Desemboque. The first course was held in January.
The Adair Bay Network of Wetland Cooperatives (REHBA) brought together representatives of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) with people from other sectors interested in the design proposal for electrical transmission lines in northwest Mexico, while announcing for the first time the scope of the project.
Known as the 6th of April-Cucupah Transmission Line, the project consists of suspending high-tension cables from the junction at Caborca, Sonora to Mexicali, Baja California, crossing through both the Upper Gulf of California and the Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve and the Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve.
The CFE made clear that what many inhabitants believed to be true was not so: that electricity could be directed to the local towns along the way. CFE stated that it would be impossible because the cables would be carrying high voltage. At that point, the cooperative members insisted that the design must provide some benefits to them, such as solar panels. The spokespeople from the Reserve offered their advice in order to avoid environmental damage and about how the local people might benefit.
In a open letter sent before the event, REHBA explained the situation in this way:Under the auspices of the community training program on techniques for the biological monitoring of fauna in the Upper Gulf of California Biosphere Reserve, students from Puerto Peñasco were familiarized with projects run by indigenous people and other inhabitants of both the Colorado and Hardy rivers.
Student participants from the Center for Marine Technology Studies (CETMar) No. 14 received technical training in the monitoring of birds and fish, both at the offices of Conabio (the National Commission on Protected Natural Areas) at the Upper Gulf of California Biosphere Reserve in San Luís Río Colorado, Sonora and on field trips where they were able to practice those techniques.
Along the Hardy River and its shore, an important location for the development of the Cuapah culture, monitors were able to learn about how well-developed ecotourism projects can be created, such as the one at Rancho Baja Cucapah.
Students from the Center for Marine Technology Studies (CETMar) No. 14, receive technical training on the monitoring of birds and fish.
“We are cooperative members in favor of conservation and sustainable development. For a year and half we have been working with the Upper Gulf Reserve and the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans. Being environmental proponents in our communities has cost us a lot of work, but finally we find ourselves at a time when the people are beginning to see positive changes in the cooperatives, and are understanding more about conservation and sustainable projects.”
We have an ecotourism project where we are starting a community Ecology Center and a Salt Museum, that are both dedicated to highlighting the scenic value of the landscape. We also now have a group that monitors and watches over the wetlands and birds.”
“We feel that this transmission line proposal, which will pass through the middle of our projects and which is generating an impressive amount of talk in the community since there is already a group that is pledging to invest in renewable energy and this projectwill completely discourage them
“REHBA is committed to unity and team work and we believe that this project seeks to disrupt the cooperative’s efforts to continue our conservation interests. We worry that much of the project is being decided at the national level and that it ignores the conservation restrictions of the Reserve.”
“It is for this reason that REHBA, by popular request of its member cooperatives, asked that we arrange a meeting with all interested parties in order to clearly explain the project and listen to all points of view.”
“We arranged an initial meeting date for July 30 of this year. All the representatives, Reserve directors, the agrarian reform department and non-governmental organizations would be present to listen attentively about the project and engage in an organized and cordial debate. Two days before that date, the CFE cancelled the meeting and proposed another date when no one could attend. As a result we are once again calling for a meeting.”
At the September 10th meeting, REHBA arrived at the following conclusions:
“To date, through the assembly of cooperatives, the CFE has obtained the consent for the land use change permit from 90 percent of the cooperatives and private land owners. However, only now after four years an the efforts of REHBA, is it finally presenting the details of the project, but only to the representatives of the cooperatives, regional NGOs and directors of the Reserves.”
“Until now the only benefit for land owners will be financial compensation, provided that there is agreement among participants in future negotiations.”
“Compensation by the CFE for environmental and social impacts is being sought as well.”
REHBA agreed to arrange a second meeting among representatives of the cooperatives and the Biosphere Reserve directors to discuss positions. The tentative date is the third week in November.