On February 5, we held the cleanup day at the Chapala Wetland, more than 40 people participated, as well as local companies and groups.
“In this activity we collected 200 kilos of trash in the Chapala Wetland. With these cleanups we help to keep San Quintin Bay in good condition, which is one of the best preserved wetlands in northwestern Baja California,” said Lorena Velázquez, Community Engagement Coordinator.
She added, “With these activities the local community can join in the protection of wetlands. These ecosystems are vital and provide us with many benefits, for example, they promote ecotourism and improve people’s wellbeing because these are places for relaxation and outdoor activities”.
The event was attended by the Secretary of Tourism, Los Humedales Restaurant, the running group Patitas ¿pa’ que las quiero? and students from Espacio de Arte Celeste. Tortillería Mary’s and Tortillería Flores Magón also participated, donating sacks for the cleanup. The San Quintin Foundational Municipal Council provided a truck to collect the trash
The activity took place as part of the celebration of World Wetlands Day, which is led by the Ramsar Convention and each year it seeks to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands and the urgency of protecting them.
The event is also part of the “Plastic Free San Quintin” project, which began in the summer of 2022 thanks to the support of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) to protect the bay through cleanup days and awareness activities.
State Wetlands Committee reinstalled
On February 2, the Executive Director, Fernando Gavito Pérez, attended a meeting of the Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development to reinstall the State Wetlands Committee, which was created in 2017.
Other municipalities such as San Quintin, Tecate and Mexicali, civil society organizations such as Pronatura Noroeste A.C. and Pro Esteros A.C., as well as academia through CICESE and the Institute of the Americas participated.
The Executive Director announced that the meeting also discussed the blue carbon efforts that Terra Peninsular and the Institute of the Americas have carried out, which will serve as a catalyst to add other wetlands in the state.
