A Green Tourism Plan Is Urgently Needed

LA PAZ, BCS. - With the tourism boom experienced by the country's northwest region, a policy change in tourism is required to conserve the mangroves that exist in the area.
The construction of mega-resorts, including hotels, condominiums, shopping and even golf courses, threatens to destroy the fragile ecosystem that protects the coasts from abrasion marine and river, and they are also the source of life for other species.
Cordova Rene Rascon, executive coordinator of the Alliance for Sustainability Northwest Mexican Coast (Alcosta), held that there are examples in the world that tourism can coexist with natural resources, particularly mangroves and can even make use of them because they are part of the sea.
Therefore, the official insisted that in terms of biological and ecological marine and coastal life must change the model of tourism development to stem the destruction of mangroves. He explained that Baja California Sur is located in first place with the highest number and rate of construction of coastal tourism development, according to monitoring by Alcosta between 2005 and 2006.
Unique Ecosystem
He said that in the entire Gulf of California survive unique ecosystems that are spectacular landscapes that require if we kept competing destinations for the tourist to find something different.
But he said there is evidence of impacts on mangroves in the state. Only in the Bay of La Paz, 60% were destroyed. They also record any incidents in Loreto Magdalena Bay, Cabo San Lucas, Mulege, according to information from the Water Keepers organization.
Experts agree that it is time to stop the damage to the wetlands and the overall impact on the coastal area of the region, resulting from activities such as agriculture, aquaculture and tourism development in particular.
Lack planning
According to Pablo Uribe Malagamba, representing Northwest CEMDA, compared to the strong impacts on the shrimp farms in Sinaloa and the tourist boom in Cancun, mangroves that exist in Baja California Sur, although fragile, is still preserved in good condition.
"What we do is plan how they will keep without being obstacles to development and are the basis for that support fisheries," he said.
But the greatest threat remains the projects type "combo", including hotel, golf course and marina. Officials promote investment but with a short-term. "They want to support tourism development but with a short-term, which comes without looking really long-term investments that benefit the state."
Mangroves of the Desert
Doctor in Marine Ecology and Botany, Rafael Rios Mena, believes it is time for the mangroves of the desert are taken into account. Perhaps because of differences in its size and remoteness, said the specialist, has not happened.
However, an administration marked by "bad decisions" for preservation and protection could end up with these vulnerable communities.
Besides the high environmental cost, carries a high social cost, because the developments have led to the migration of people seeking better living conditions, but that in reaching these villages are many problems, including land speculation and providing basic services like drinking water.