Terra Peninsular: a Host Institution with Conservation Impact

Terra Peninsular, a Mexican conservation nonprofit, has been a key collaborator in Jonathan’s project, offering advice, networking resources, workspace for meetings and general management support. Terra operates from northwestern Mexico and focuses on the western coast of Baja California. Their mission is to facilitate the creation of natural protected areas in collaboration with municipalities and state governments. They work with groups ranging from national administrations to small private businesses, to form a strong network of parties interested in protecting critical natural habitats.

César Guerrero, Executive Director of Terra Peninsular, explains that Jonathan had been an employee of theirs long before the project proposal had been conceptualized and brought to the CSF Program. “Jonathan Vargas’ idea with Coastal Solutions is very related to our needs, our goals and our expectations to protect the shorebirds in the Todos Santos area, so supporting Jonathan’s plan to create protected areas for the Snowy Plover was an easy thing to approve and enact.”

In the future, Terra Peninsular will continue to support Jonathan’s project beyond the period of his fellowship, and plan to possibly bring the project structure to other important natural sites on the Baja California peninsula. They will also continue to pursue the legal protections with the municipal committee for the Todos Santos beach area, all to continue moving towards their goal of coastal conservation. You can learn more about the conservation achievements of Terra Peninsular on their website and facebook page.

The video “Voices of the Pacific Flyway”, created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, highlights the work of Terra Peninsular in San Quintin Bay, Baja California, Mexico.