THE SOUTHEAST REGION is A COASTAL area OF THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA IN MEXICO WITH A UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY, WONDERFUL PEOPLE, AND SMALL TOWNS WITH GREAT TRADITION AND HISTORY. 

We define it as the southeast side of the Peninsula, facing the Gulf of California, covering 160 km of coastline between La Paz and San José del Cabo.
Just a few decades ago this was a very secluded part of Mexico, but its increased popularity as a tourist hotspot has caused an accelerated population growth, lack of water and an unballanced relationship with nature.

OUR UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY

• 3 Natural Protected Areas are here: Isla Cerralvo, Sierra La Laguna, and the coral reef of Cabo Pulmo National Park, which are recognized as World Heritage Sites.

• The Cabo Pulmo reef provides food and protection for many species and exports large fish to the waters surrounding the park.

• The Gulf of California is home to more than 7,000 registered species of fish and generates more than half of Mexico's fishing resources.

• Five of the eight species of turtles in the world and 17 species of seabirds are also found in these waters

• 32 species of cetaceans (dolphins and whales) come to our islands and coasts or live around them.

• A significant number of unique species on the planet (endemic) reproduce on these lands.

WE NEED TO PLAN OUR GROWTH

In the last 40 years, Cabo San Lucas, located just 20 miles from here, has seen dramatic growth in construction and tourism. The coast between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo is now a massive string of hotels, time-shares, and hotel complexes which has also increased the population. According to recent studies, this has caused economic growth but also the destruction of ecosystems, reduced access to fresh water sources, and the loss of public access to beaches.

Why It Matters

The close relationship between two major systems, the terrestrial and the marine, makes coastal communities like ours really fragile. These systems are easily affected by water runoff from the mountains, which flows through streams to the coast, carrying different types of materials, sediments, and pollutants.

The main alterations are caused by the construction of tourist-real estate or mining projects, which lead to the modification of the habitat by clearing the land, construction of docks, walls, piers, channels, obstacles, use of explosives for the extraction of construction materials (sand and pebbles) and pollution.

The dynamics and permanence of our dune and wetland systems, terrestrial and maritime flora and fauna, our coral reef, fresh water sources, and consequently the livelihood of all its inhabitants, depends on the maintenance of this delicate balance.

We need to secure more areas where life is protected
and where the community maintains a balance with nature.

Another of the main concerns is access to fresh water, which is very scarce in the region. The aquifers, especially those of the Sierra de la Laguna, provide water to ranches and most of the communities in the south of the state, including cities such as Los Cabos and La Paz.

Currently, we do not know how much water is used for tourism in the Southeast Region and our recent study indicates that if we continue to grow at the rate that Los Cabos has done, in 20 years we will need at least 46% more water than is recharged annually due to rainfall in the region.

If these water sources are contaminated by construction or mining, the health and well-being of residents can be seriously affected.

We need even more information and clarity about the quality and availability of our water to plan for sustainable development.

CABO PULMO INSPIRES US

In 1995, Cabo Pulmo resident fishermen, armed with information from the University of Baja California Sur, made the difficult decision to stop fishing the damaged reef and dedicate themselves to protect it.

The success of this decision is evident from the recovery of the fish and plants that the Cabo Pulmo reef has had. According to a study that monitored the reef over 10 years, biodiversity within the Park increased by 492%.