The Process to Declare the Balandra Estero a Protected Area Advances

In the Official Diary of the Federation, February 1, 2008, the "Notice to inform the public that the study justifying the acceleration of the decree to declare the zone encompassing Balandra as a natural protected area under the category of Area of Protected of Flora and Fauna is under review". The zone encompassing Balandra has a total surface area of 2,131 hectares and includes the terrestrial and marine portions of the area. It is located 25 kilometers to the north of the city of La Paz, in Baja California Sur.

With the publication of the notice, a period of public consultation commences lasting 30 days. At the same time, a separate public consultation period is also open for creation of a municipal Natural Protected Area which will remain open until the 15th of March, 2008. During this period, citizens and landowners are welcome to review previous studies justifying the creation of the area and to present opinions. At the end of this period of public consultation, once all comments and opinions presented have been addressed, the National Commission on Natural Protected Areas will make a final decision with respected to the creation of a natural protected area.

This is a great step forward in the fight to conserve the Balandra Estero, an emblematic wetland of La Paz, of great recreational, tourist and fishing importance.