MY LIFE IN TERRA vation of wetlands of the peninsula of Baja California , of which some of us are members .
Touristic development of the Punta Banda coastal lagoon took place partially . Even if several arguments against it were made , these were not enough and only a third part of the sandbar was left undeveloped . This was a lesson for all of us , including authorities , developers and organized civil society . For me , as a first year student of Ecology in CICESE , all these events and expert discussions taught me firsthand and defined my conservationist vocation .
In the mid-90s , another hard test for the conservationist organizations was presented . At that moment , the site that was planned to develop was the San Quintin Bay . This time , our victory was decisive : a group of academic people developed a technical opinion that contrasted sustainable development of the bay with the negative consequences of the touristic development project . With that document , conservationist organizations reached Mexico City and , environmental authorities , led by Julia Carabias , ruled against poorly planned development in the San Quintin Bay .
This successful case encouraged some of us participants of that technical opinion to form an organization dedicated to the preservation of the habitats of Baja California ’ s Mediterranean region . Consequently , in the spring of 2001 Terra Peninsular A . C . was founded . Its origins and first years as an organization were uncertain , to say the least , but after very hard lessons , a learning curve that was paused by recurrent financial crisis in the organization and change of staff , Terra Peninsular has rapidly become established .
In the last five years Terra Peninsular has discovered and started to deploy its potential for preservation , not only in this corner of Baja California , but in the northwest of Mexico .
Now , Terra Peninsular conducts projects of habitat protection , research for preservation , legal and biological monitoring , and education for preservations from national marshes in Nayarit to the Alto Golfo de California in Sonora , and , of course , in all of the peninsula of Baja California .
Terra Peninsular is now formed by a serious and committed Board , a young , professional and dedicated staff , generous friends that support our cause and associated consultants and researchers that give a legal and scientific support to preservation actions .
A challenge for Terra Peninsular is to maintain its reserves and preservation actions . Nonetheless , it has the structure and operation needed to accomplish its mission : contribute to the region ’ s sustainable development by preserving and protecting the natural ecosystems and wildlife of Northwestern Mexico .
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