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 El
Pinacate Biosphere Reserve began receiving
Parks in Peril funding in 1994. At
that time the reserve had only recently
been decreed a protected area. The
pressure on the mineral resources
was very strong with uncontrolled
cinder mining and volcanic rock extraction.
Local people were unknowingly illegally
hunting within the reserve. However,
the reserve had an advantage—because
of its very dry and very hot conditions,
few humans have lived within its boundaries.
Although there are approximately 67
established ejidos within the reserve,
of those only 20 are inhabited.
Initial
conservation strategies focused on
developing a management plan and establishing
an on-site presence. Existing buildings
and structures were renovated, vehicles
were acquired, staff was hired and
patrol routes were established. At
the same time, environmental education
and outreach programs were created
to initiate contact with local communities.
Negotiations quickly began with mining
companies, the federal government,
state officials and reserve staff
to end the illegal extraction of material.
Now most of the illegal activities
have been eliminated or controlled.
Initially
efforts with the local communities
was not very productive. Although
monthly meetings were held in ejidos
to encourage their participation in
compatible development projects, these
were largely unsuccessful. We believe
this was due to two major factors:
1) the arid environment makes it hard
to undertake typical productive pilot
projects and 2) the reserve did not
know what types of projects would
be successful in this arid environment.
To solve this problem social science
specialists were contracted to evaluate
the feasibility of projects and determine
which sectors of the community would
be most likely to carryout the projects.
As a result, outreach staff are now
working with female ejidal members
on to produce and sell regional style
crafts. In other ejidos, ecotourism
and rural tourism opportunities are
being explored. To compliment this
effort, the state government tourism
agency and a private group, La Ruta
Sonora, A.C., are developing a tourism
route through the region that will
aid with the development of a local
ecotourism industry. These combined
community and governmental efforts
are crucial to ensuring the long-term
management and financial sustainability
of the reserve, as well as providing
some income for communities within
the reserve.
One
solution to address the persistent
challenge of acquiring sufficient
funds for basic operations was to
establish a local nonprofit, la Fundación
para la Conservación del Pinacate.
They recently sent out their first
fundraising letter to past visitors
to the reserve. Funds raised by the
letter will be used for basic operation.
Local municipios will also play an
important role in the long-term security
of El Pinacate by providing volunteers
for events such as reserve clean-up
days. In the past they have provided
heavy equipment needed to close unused
roads and supplies to build signs.
The reserve is currently negotiating
with the municipios of Puerto Penasco,
San Luis Rio Colorado and Plutarco
Elias Calles to get their commitments
for financial support for on-site
protection staff.
Now
that the basic infrastructure has
generally been established, and consolidation
essentially completed, the reserve
staff will strategically address broader
management issues - including the
control of exotic species. Of particular
interest are invasive weeds, non-native
fish and cattle. These strategies
will be coordinated with the adjacent
Alto Golfo Biosphere Reserve and protected
areas on the U.S. border. Other management
issues to be addressed are mechanisms
for private lands conservation and
the development of ecotourism as a
means to provide on-going funding
for local communities.
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