KINO BAY CENTER
NEWSLETTER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRO – SPOTLIGHT: MEMORIA SITIO RAMSAR – CENTER DEVELOPMENT – EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION & CAPACITY BUILDING – RESEARCH & MONITORING – COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION & LEADERSHIP – COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Welcome to the 34th season of the Kino Bay Center! We are excited to share our latest news as we continue to integrate science, experiential education and training, community leadership, management, and effective communication toward long-term conservation goals.
Together, we’re building healthy human-nature relationships through collaboration, innovation, and action. Thank you for joining us in the quest to protect the biocultural heritage of the Midriff Islands region!
This case is a clear example of our conservation model in action, where science, education, community leadership, and management all come together…
The Ramsar Site No. 1891: Canal del Infiernillo y esteros del territorio Comcaac (Xepe Coosot) was designated in 2009. In 2021, participatory sessions with community representatives began the process of updating the site’s information. By 2023, the updated Ramsar Information Sheet (FIR) was finalized, confirming that the site still meets 8 of the 9 criteria required for designation as an internationally important wetland complex.
In April and May of 2024, six participatory workshops were facilitated with members of the Comcaac community. The results from the latest Ramsar update were shared and participants visualized the future of the channel, identified existing challenges, and reflected on their causes and consequences. Ultimately, the community reached collective agreements on the actions needed to address these issues and ensure the continued conservation of the site. These dialog sessions were an important step in increasing knowledge and commitment toward effective Comcaac management of this important Ramsar Site.
The activities, results, and faces of this process are portrayed in an attractive booklet that is being shared back to the community this season, as the Center works to support Comcaac efforts to protect their territory.
New Team
The 2024 – 2025 season is already off to a great start! Our team this year consists of 26 members; 18 Mexican (12 from the local area and 1 Comcaac), 5 from the U.S., and 2 binational citizens. The diversity of our staff allows us to embody the Center’s vision of bringing together diverse actors toward the co-creation of solutions to complex socio-environmental challenges.
New staff members this season include Ana Crisol Mendez in the position of Assistant Director of Conservation Programs, Natasha Riccio and Cameron Leonard both in the positions of Assistant Directors of Operations and Andy Galindo in the position of Conservation Fellow for Media and Communications. Welcome, Crisol, Natasha, Cameron, and Andy! Click the button below to learn more about our team.
Infrastructure Changes
The team isn’t the only thing changing at the Center this season. Several infrastructure developments have already been completed or are underway! A new apartment space supports the growing research and educational activities at the Center. A special thanks to Merrilee Caldwell, Marcus Randolph, Annette Tracy and Anne Dorman for making this beautiful space possible. Other Center upgrades include improved water management methods, internet improvements, and vehicle upgrades – all made possible by our amazing maintenance team.
A very special THANK YOU to Frances and Peter Grill for their generous donation of the “Mergulito”, a 23′ skiff that will be very useful on monitoring and educational trips in the nearshore environments.
Thanks so much to Peter, Frances, Lee, Annette, the Center’s maintenance team, and all of the Center’s supporters for contributing so much during this crucial time of expansion for the Center – we couldn’t have done it without you all!
Marine Conservation Classes
This semester, Prescott College students have the unique opportunity to dive deep into the complexities of marine conservation in the Gulf of California. After studying marine conservation theory in Arizona, the class, led by Greg Smart delved into community-based case studies. They engaged with local fishers, learned different fishing techniques, and discussed their observations with resource users, researchers, and managers. They visited a shrimp farm, took a trip aboard a shrimp trawler, visited the island of San Pedro Martir and participated in a mangrove reforestation project, among other immersive experiences, all while exploring the delicate balance between marine conservation and community livelihoods. In the next phase of the class they will work with Irene, Lorayne and Kino Bay Center program staff to do applied conservation projects that contribute to the Center’s work.
Tara School
The Tara Performing Arts High School from Boulder, Colorado returned this September for their fifth program at the Center. Students engaged in a weeklong biocultural explorations program, learning deepening their sense of place in every sense of the phrase – and learning topics ranging from local geography to indigenous plant knowledge and marine ecosystems.
Natural History Institute
The Natural History Institute, based in Prescott Arizona, connects people to the natural world through art, talks and field excursions. This fall, a group of 10 lifelong learners participated in a rich natural history program instructed by long-time Prescott College faculty members Tom Fleischner and Lisa Floyd-Hanna. They were also lucky enough to witness an extremely rare Bryde’s whale sighting during their time here.
The University of Olivet
Ornithology students from The University of Olivet came to the Center all the way from Michigan to explore the ecosystems and cultural perspectives of the region. Highlights for the group included seeing fin whales speeding along at a close distance, learning about the waterbirds of Laguna la Cruz, and experiencing sunset in the Cardon forest. For some it was their first time leaving the United States, seeing the ocean, or experiencing the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert.
Marine Mammals
We’re excited to announce the release of a groundbreaking scientific paper led by Marine Mammal Coordinator, Héctor Pérez, on the disappearance of sperm whales from the Gulf of California in response to the decline of jumbo squid populations. The study examines how these deep-diving marine mammals, which rely heavily on jumbo squid as a primary food source, are adjusting their migration and feeding patterns as squid numbers have dwindled in recent years.
Through extensive field research and data analysis, Héctor and his team have uncovered significant shifts in sperm whale movement patterns, revealing the complex relationship between marine species and their prey. This research sheds light on the adaptive behaviors of sperm whales and raises concerns about the broader implications for marine ecosystems. The paper underscores the need for continued monitoring and conservation efforts to protect both sperm whales and the fragile marine food webs they depend on.
This study has been widely covered by international media such as BBC, Sci Tech, Mongabay Latam and Earth!
Waterbirds: Expanding the Horizons
The Center’s Waterbird Monitoring Program began dedicated at-sea surveys this month which enables us to more accurately analyze distribution, abundance, and seasonality of pelagic seabirds in the region. The WMP will conduct these dedicated seabird surveys along six transect lines in a much expanded study site. The more precise method is possible to thanks to the addition of two pangas (and one new motor) to our fleet – both were made possible by very generous donations.
Researcher Profile: Dan Anderson
Dan Anderson is a prominent researcher and a long-time friend of the Center. This November Dan returned to continue his research on Brown Pelicans in the Gulf of California. He is compiling a database of pelican demographic statistics relating age groups to the overall population. On Isla Alcatraz, it seems there has been a shift away from the previous trend of juveniles outnumbering adults, which they say indicates a decrease in the colony’s productivity and survival range.
The WMP collaborates with Dan to study pelicans on Isla Alcatraz and San Carlos Bay, reporting decreasing populations on Isla Alcatraz and increasing populations in San Carlos Bay. More research is needed to determine the cause of these changes, but they are substantial enough to inspire further research.
Turtles: Integrating a New Program
Grupo Tortuguero de Bahía de Kino is one of the 13 community projects supported by the Center and has, for decades, been a leading example of community organization for conservation. As a result of fruitful collaboration, since the beginning of 2024 the Center has integrated a new Sea Turtle Monitoring Program (STMP), coordinated by Maribel Becerra, leader of the Grupo Tortuguero, and Grisel Heredia.
The STMP works in collaboration with Grupo Tortuguero to contribute to the conservation of the sea turtles and their habitats through long-term monitoring, training local communities, and collaborating on scientific studies and conservation efforts. In this initial stage, in addition to monitoring tasks, the program focuses on training and defining the nature of the collaboration with the Center.
In October, six sea turtle monitoring outings resulted in the tagging of 23 Green Turtles. In addition, through daily beach patrols, six Olive Ridley nests were identified and protected.
One key highlight was the recapture of turtles during this period, providing important insights into the residency patterns of certain species in the region for feeding and nesting. Future goals of the program include creating a database for long-term analysis to identify preferred areas and potential seasonal use by certain species.
Approval of 13 community projects – collaboration toward an increasingly strong community conservation movement
Community leadership and participation are fundamental to achieve biocultural conservation.
This fall, 13 community projects were approved for the 2024-2025 season, continuing the Center’s support for the growing conservation movement in the region. Community projects are a collaboration between the Center and community members toward a common goal. The Center provides training, logistical support and funding for projects focused on education, habitat restoration, monitoring, and species conservation. Since its foundation, the Center has thrived on a strong foundation of friendship and collaboration with the communities of Bahía de Kino and the Comcaac territory.
Through these projects, hundreds of community members actively participate and benefit, strengthening local conservation efforts. These initiatives not only support the conservation of critical ecosystems but also empower local communities to take leadership in protecting their environment for future generations .
Mangrove Resotration Worskhop
The Padrés Unidos, one of the community groups supported by the Center, recently participated in a mangrove reforestation workshop in hopes of someday developing a project to protect and restore mangroves in Laguna La Cruz. The workshop, led by Erika Barnett from the Comcaac Nation, took place within Comcaac territory, offering valuable insight on mangrove ecosystems and conservation techniques.
Participants in the workshop commented on the remarkable achievement of these groups from two cultures, historically in conflict over the territory, now working side by side toward a shared goal of conservation.
For many reasons, events like this represent hope and a true achievement for conservation, addressing not only ecological intervention but, more importantly, bringing people together intercultural collaboration.
Retaining 23 team members for another cycle is no easy feat, and it wouldn’t be possible without the culture of mutual respect, coexistence, and passion for conservation fostered here at the Center. Thanks to the combined efforts of all staff members the Center continues to not only be an amicable place to live and work at, but also one that members want to return to year after year.
Being the binational institution that the Center is, it’s only natural that our team is multicultural, and this year’s team is more diverse than ever with the demographic makeup consisting of members local to the Hermosillo Municipality, others from parts of Mexico ranging as far as the Yucatan Peninsula, some from the United States, and a couple binational members proudly identifying with both Mexican and American backgrounds. With this diversity comes a unique blend of backgrounds and perspectives that provide valuable input to the Center’s mission.
Invitation to Support Our Work
We invite you to support the work of the Center in making a real difference in social justice and environmental conservation. If you would like your donation to go toward a specific area of our work, please contact us at [email protected]
