Citizen Science Determines Wetland Conservation in British Columbia – Lindero Norte

*Timeline points in the San Quintín Volcanic Valley that contribute to a global and cognitive project.

Antonio Heras

Mexicali

Citizen participation in the development of databases, such as time series points, is crucial to the conservation of the environment, especially the wetlands of the Baja California Peninsula.

One of the points where participatory monitoring tools have been installed is the San Quintín Volcanic Valley, located in a protected natural area in southern Baja California.

This site, the Terra Peninsular Society and the University of San Diego, combine conservation efforts and implementation of these points, which have been essential to protecting natural resources.

Through this monitoring mechanism, citizens can generate information and contribute to science, as it enhances citizen participation in environmental conservation through photographs by creating a timeline and creating a database for consultation to measure changes in landscapes over time.

For the Tierra Peninsular Association, citizen science is an important tool in the conservation of ecosystems, and in the case of the Dan Quentin Volcanic Valley, it contributes to a global and knowledge-based project.

Baja California has seven wetlands of international importance in the Ramsar category for their ecological and social value.

These are the Colorado River Delta (1996); La Assembly-San Francisquito Coastal Corridor (2005); Estero de Punta Banda (2006), Isla Rasa off Bahía de Los Angeles (2006); San Quentin Bay (2008); Remnants of the Colorado River Delta (2008); Hanson Lagoon, Constitution 1857 National Park (2010).

The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Monica Vega, highlighted the importance of citizen science to preserve and maintain the entity's natural areas.

When the 8th session of the State Wetlands Committee, composed of authorities from the three levels of government, civil society organizations and educational institutions, was held, the interest in promoting public policies that benefit the care of the entity's ecosystem was emphasized.

The objective of the Committee is to promote actions for the protection, conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, and their effective management in accordance with the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

The session addressed the projects launched in terms of sustainability, especially for tenants who dedicate their efforts to serving tourism, and analyzed the problems threatening the region that require comprehensive attention.

Attendees toured the nature reserve to assess progress at Los Humidales, Monte Ceniza Volcano, the Volcanic Valley and the oyster farm.