Coral Reefs in Hot Water: More Reasons to Protect Cabo Pulmo, Mexico
Posted November 16, 2010 in Reviving the World's Oceans, Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
An article in Science magazine last month reported that 2010 may be the worst year for coral die-off ever in the Caribbean due to abnormally warm waters since June. This spells the latest chapter of disaster for coral reefs; spectacular ecosystems that are often called the rainforests of the sea because they shelter an astonishing 25% or more of all marine species.
The world’s coral reefs are under threat from a deadly trifecta of human –induced impacts: global warming, pollution, and overharvesting. While corals are facing a devastating die-off in the Caribbean due to warming temperatures this fall, only a mainland Mexico away there is another coral reef on the chopping block: Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park.
Cabo Pulmo, Baja California Sur, Mexico is home to the healthiest and most important coral reef in northwest Mexico. After fifteen years of diligent conservation efforts on the part of the local community and other groups the reef is home to the highest concentration of fish in the entire Gulf of California and a refuge for migratory species like whale sharks, manta rays, humpback whales, and five of the world’s seven endangered species of sea turtle. Ecotourism around the reef is thriving as well.
Despite national and international protective designations, Cabo Pulmo is threatened by a proposed mega-tourism complex known as Cabo Cortés. The project is spearheaded by Hansa Baja Investments, an entity of the Hansa Urbana Group of Spain. It includes the construction of 13,000 housing units, 3,655 hotel rooms (together this is equivalent to about 30,000 rooms), some 2 million square feet of office and commercial space as well as marinas, a private jet port, schools, medical facilities, and at least three golf courses. For all practical purposes, the complex is the construction of a brand new city. Not only is it to be built in a sparsely populated, fragile natural area with limited water supply, but the project touches Cabo Pulmo National Park.
We don’t need a crystal ball to know that the Hansa’s project would devastate the coral reef with the associated pollution, increased sedimentation, and greater pressure on the area. Mega-tourist ventures in other parts of Mexico such as Cancun, Playa de Carmen, and Tulum have already taught us this important lesson. Cancun-style projects and coral reefs don’t mix well. The company’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) dismisses any impacts to the reef by claiming that ocean currents flow away from the park and thus would carry away all the pollution. Local residents, scientists and environmental groups say otherwise and identify a whole series of deficiencies and illegalities of the EIS. My point is even more elementary: a responsible company simply does not build a massive tourism complex right next to a National Park. And you especially shouldn’t be doing it if the National Park contains an endangered ecosystem like a coral reef.
The good news is that the destruction of Cabo Pulmo coral reef is completely preventable. In the context of coral reef die-offs we have before us the opportunity to save a vibrant, healthy coral reef home to migratory whales, endangered sea turtles, and hundreds of reef fish. Mexico only needs to stand by its 1995 decision to protect the area and deny authorization of the project. In doing so, Cabo Pulmo can continue to be a shining example of ocean conservation and sustainable tourism development.
Mexico is gearing up to host the UN climate talks in Cancun this December. This is a chance for Mexico to demonstrate its commitment not only to combating global warming, but to protecting the ecosystems that are most vulnerable to it.
The world’s coral reefs are under threat from a deadly trifecta of human –induced impacts: global warming, pollution, and overharvesting. While corals are facing a devastating die-off in the Caribbean due to warming temperatures this fall, only a mainland Mexico away there is another coral reef on the chopping block: Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park.
Cabo Pulmo, Baja California Sur, Mexico is home to the healthiest and most important coral reef in northwest Mexico. After fifteen years of diligent conservation efforts on the part of the local community and other groups the reef is home to the highest concentration of fish in the entire Gulf of California and a refuge for migratory species like whale sharks, manta rays, humpback whales, and five of the world’s seven endangered species of sea turtle. Ecotourism around the reef is thriving as well.
Despite national and international protective designations, Cabo Pulmo is threatened by a proposed mega-tourism complex known as Cabo Cortés. The project is spearheaded by Hansa Baja Investments, an entity of the Hansa Urbana Group of Spain. It includes the construction of 13,000 housing units, 3,655 hotel rooms (together this is equivalent to about 30,000 rooms), some 2 million square feet of office and commercial space as well as marinas, a private jet port, schools, medical facilities, and at least three golf courses. For all practical purposes, the complex is the construction of a brand new city. Not only is it to be built in a sparsely populated, fragile natural area with limited water supply, but the project touches Cabo Pulmo National Park.
We don’t need a crystal ball to know that the Hansa’s project would devastate the coral reef with the associated pollution, increased sedimentation, and greater pressure on the area. Mega-tourist ventures in other parts of Mexico such as Cancun, Playa de Carmen, and Tulum have already taught us this important lesson. Cancun-style projects and coral reefs don’t mix well. The company’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) dismisses any impacts to the reef by claiming that ocean currents flow away from the park and thus would carry away all the pollution. Local residents, scientists and environmental groups say otherwise and identify a whole series of deficiencies and illegalities of the EIS. My point is even more elementary: a responsible company simply does not build a massive tourism complex right next to a National Park. And you especially shouldn’t be doing it if the National Park contains an endangered ecosystem like a coral reef.
The good news is that the destruction of Cabo Pulmo coral reef is completely preventable. In the context of coral reef die-offs we have before us the opportunity to save a vibrant, healthy coral reef home to migratory whales, endangered sea turtles, and hundreds of reef fish. Mexico only needs to stand by its 1995 decision to protect the area and deny authorization of the project. In doing so, Cabo Pulmo can continue to be a shining example of ocean conservation and sustainable tourism development.
Mexico is gearing up to host the UN climate talks in Cancun this December. This is a chance for Mexico to demonstrate its commitment not only to combating global warming, but to protecting the ecosystems that are most vulnerable to it.
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