For years, José Luis Ceseña Calderón poached in the Gulf of Californiaone of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on the planet. Today, he is captain of a surveillance vessel patrolling those same waters to protect them.
His story is the narrative axis of the chapter dedicated to Mexico at Guardiansthe new documentary series of United for Wildlife and the Royal Foundationproduced by the Prince William.
But behind this transformation there is a local organization that has been working for the sea for more than 15 years: the Citizen Observers Network A.C. (ROC), based in La PazBaja California Sur.
"Whatever you are looking for, you will find it here. I used to be one of those who damaged the ecosystem, today I am part of those who protect it," said José Luis in the episode.
"For me, being a guardian of the bay now makes me proud, because honestly, I used to destroy the ecosystem a lot, and I see the difference in how we were damaging it with the fishing methods we used to use.
Its inclusion in this global series is an acknowledgement of the power of the organized citizen surveillanceto the capacity of civil society to take care of their ecosystems and the real possibility of constructing replicable models of conservation.
ROC, a local model for the world
José Luis's story is not an isolated exception, but an example of the approach that has characterized ROC from its origin: the integration of local knowledge, collaborative science, coordination with authorities and community participation, he emphasized. María Ugarte LuiselliExecutive Director of the citizens' organization.
"After 16 years of field experience, we can state with certainty that the ROC model is replicable anywhere in the world. Its success lies in the effective coordination between civil society and the authorities, working together towards a common goal: the protection of the environment," he said.
He stressed that uniting citizen passion with political will is the key to achieving a lasting and positive impact on the conservation of our natural resources. ecosystems.
The chapter on Guardians shows the daily life of this interdisciplinary team that patrols the bay of La Pazmonitors water quality on beaches and works with communities to reduce illegal activities. With cameras in hand, the film crew documented not only the operations in the water, but also the social fabric that sustains the organization.
ROC on the global stage
Guardians is a six-part series that travels through different regions of the world where communities are defending threatened ecosystems, from the Himalaya to Amazon. The participation of ROC puts Mexico on the global map of the environmental conservation based on people.
The episode dedicated to Mexico premieres as a preamble to the World Oceans Day and will be screened during the United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice, France.
In this international forum, ROC will share his experience with global leaders, demonstrating that the defense of the environment does not depend solely on large budgets or technologies, but on the sustained commitment of those who live in and know the territory.
"The reality is that protecting the natural world has become one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. We need to understand and recognize nature's guardians and the vital work they do," said Prince William, during the presentation of the series.
The series Guardians not only portrays spectacular landscapes or species at risk. It also emphasizes that the conservation can and should be led from the local level, with citizen tools, scientific knowledge and networks of trust.
The story of José Luis and ROC is a sign that the sea can have other futures if those who inhabit it decide to become its guardians.
Source: ROC
