The San Ignacio Lagoon is a refuge and nesting site for the gray whale located in the El Vizcaino Biosphere Reservein Baja California SurThe park is also home to elephant seals and sea lions, turtles, as well as migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, peregrine falcons, among other species.
It is considered the last undeveloped gray whale calving lagoon on the planet. In the last census conducted by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas) on this site and the Ojo de Liebre Lagoon the presence of 1,364 gray whales was documented, an increase of 238 with respect to a previous season.
In addition to being within a protected nature reserve, it was declared a Ramsar site because it contains the northernmost mangrove forests on the continent and is considered an important fish nursery.
Because of the importance of this site for the conservation of the gray whale, in 2005 a partnership was established between Pronatura Noroeste with the Ejido Luis Echeverría Álvarezwith the participation of organizations such as Wild Coast and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
As a result of this alliance, watchtowers, signage and a routine inspection scheme have been installed to ensure the protection of wildlife and its habitat.
In addition, in 2012 the Management and Use Unit (UMA) Laguna San Ignacio with an area of 80 thousand hectares, a legal tool that strengthened the protection of these natural sites.
Costa Salvaje emphasizes that the alliance's mission is to work with community organizations and private landowners within the Laguna San Ignacio Wetlands Complex to protect this key ecosystem and help invest in community benefit projects.
Currently, the alliance is working with Ejido Luis Echeverría to develop a long-term plan for: natural resource management and conservation; community development and ecotourism training; and implementing natural climate solutions.
Costa Salvaje is also working with a local women's cooperative in Laguna San Ignacio to restore and protect the mangroves that help protect the lagoon against storm surges, sea level rise, store carbon, and provide key habitat for commercially valuable fish and shellfish species.
Source: Wild Coast, Pronatura Noroeste