Sociedad de Historia Natural Nipara, A.C.
Revolucion de 1910 #430, e/V.Guerrero y H. Colegio Militar, La Paz, Baja California Sur, P.C.23020, MEXICO
Balandra is a wetland area situated in Mexico in an area called La Paz, Baja California Sur. It was the last undeveloped beach in La Paz and private developers wanted to develop it for tourism and residential infrastructure. Such development would have altered the mangroves, productivity, landscape, and recreational value of the area (250,000 inhabitants). Land owners refused to discuss the situation with citizens.
Lack of political will to maintain Balandra in a pristine state as demanded by citizens forced them to intervene. They created a citizens’ movement (Collective Balandra) which had participation of 18, 000 citizens of all ages and social groups in movement. They achieved results that allowed for the long-term protection of Balandra. In addition, the federal, state, and municipal governments created political will and understanding among the social and ecological importance of Balandra and the need to protect it.
Objectives and strategies were established by the steering committee. The overall goal was to secure the long-term protection of Balandra. The first objective was to transform citizens discontent into mobilization and this was to be achieved through basing campaign on citizens'''''''' concerns and on positive values and channeling participation through a citizens'''''''' petition, the second objective was building political will and social stewardship which was to be achieved through making citizens'''''''' values and support visible, using diverse campaigning methods: lobbying, public events, direct action, media, and environmental education, outreach with key social groups, policy influencers, and decision makers. The third objective was creating and enabling policy framework which was to be achieved through amending environmental law to allow municipalities to create protected areas. The fourth objective was to secure long-term protection through policies to be achieved through creating municipal protected area in watersheds, Federal marine protected area in wetlands.
The process used to achieve this was by building the case that citizens had the right to enjoy an adequate environment for their development and that this right comes before any private interest. They created an enabling legal framework for municipalities to create protected areas. CEMDA and Niparajá collaborated with Congress Advisors in the drafting of a new chapter of the State''''''''s Environmental Law. The piece of legislation was submitted to the State Congress and the steering committee lobbied for its approval, this was done because owners have the right to profit from their private property, but the State was endowed to impose modalities to property. Launching the petition requesting the protection of Balandra gave citizens a constructive process for channeling their concerns. Although petitioning was a common participation method in other countries, it was not the case in Balandra. Citizens were motivated to participate by a sense of moral engagement with Balandra and by believing that their collective input would have an impact on public policy regarding the destiny of this place. So as to ensure that ecological processes are sustained, the steering committee identified a series of complementing policies that together would provide full protection to the terrestrial watersheds and the coastal and marine habitats of the wetlands. This strategy was discussed with policy specialists to evaluate its feasibility. Niparajá made the technical studies.
Through the petition and extensive lobbying with key policy influencers and decision-makers we overcame the initial political lack of will. Negative perception among politicians and decision makers about ecological groups and green causes made Spoke persons to become respected citizens. Researchers are able to clearly convey the social, cultural and ecological values of Balandra. Media articles were also important.
They were able to mobilize numerous people and resources to the achievement of the goal and to foster a sense of stewardship among citizens and decision makers. As a result, an important group of citizens changed their attitudes and participated in a public affair of their interest (18,000 citizens). This mobilization, technical and political work of the steering committee led to legislation, three policy tools, and an intergovernmental treaty. Additionally, the piece of legislation improved the institutional capacity of four municipal governments to protect habitats of key ecological, social and economic significance.
The first policy was Environmental Law (regional legislation): a new chapter on protected areas was enacted as a result of the practice. This chapter provides a sound legal framework for the creation of protected areas by state and municipal governments. The second policy was Municipal protected area (municipal policy): Balandra is the first municipal protected area created in our region. The decree includes regulations on land use and prohibits coastal development in the watersheds of Balandra. Due to jurisdictional matters, this area does not include the marine zone.
The third policy was the Marine protected area (national policy): The Mexican Park Service is in the final steps to create a marine protected area that will complement the municipal one. Both levels of government have already agreed to manage the protected areas. The fourth policy was urban development plan (municipal, policy): the practice led to the enactment of Balandra as a conservation zone in La Paz Urban Development Plan. This plan sets the guidelines and regulations for land use in the city.
The fifth policy was the Ramsar site (international intergovernmental treaty): The area was incorporated in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. This recognition provides a framework for action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of Balandra''''''''s wetland and its resources.
The initiative achieved outcomes pertaining to different dimensions of sustainability: That is Environmental, Social, Economical and Institutional. This is an outstanding initiative in ecology management and resource protection. It meets the basic criteria of Partnership, Impact and sustainability.