Wetland Habitat Protection and Coordinated Waterbird Monitoring on Indigenous Lands

Project Description

This project is a collaboration with local indigenous landowners to maintain the Ramsar Site designation for the Canal del Infiernillo y esteros del territorio Comca’ac (Seri). The bioculturally important site is a ~25 mile long shallow marine channel dividing the Mexican mainland from Isla Tiburón and is located entirely within the territory of the indigenous Comca’ac people who have lived on the central Sonoran coast for thousands of years. It includes nine estuaries supporting 56 species included in the SJV Bird Conservation Plan and/or the Pacific Americas Shorebird Conservation Strategy. The objectives of the project are to: 1) apply results of coordinated monitoring to update the Rasmar Information Sheet; 2) build capacity for locally-led citizen science and conservation initiatives; and 3) connect diverse stakeholders with information needed to conserve critical waterbird habitat, wildlife diversity and ecosystems services. Reaffirmation of the Ramsar Site status is a vital step toward guiding future conservation, restoration, monitoring, and management actions. It also has the potential to provide alternative livelihood initiatives, which are increasingly important in the highly vulnerable indigenous communities and ecosystems involved in this project.

Learn More

Lorayne Meltzer
Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies