In August 2023, Mexico saw the designation of Nopoló Park, a 5,000 acre community green space set aside by Presidential decree to support recreation, habitat, and ecotourism. Located between the foothills of the Sierra de la Giganta mountains and the shores of Loreto Bay National Mark Park, this landscape in Baja California Sur is a popular tourist destination. The Ocean Foundation, alongside local partners, engaged in deep community engagement and organizing around the creation of the park that will now support local conservation efforts while also providing economic opportunities.
Nopoló Park’s watersheds recharge the local aquifers, serving as Loreto’s only freshwater source. The designation will protect the region’s critical water resources that support local agriculture, communities, recreation, tourism, and other economic activities. Sitting adjacent to Loreto Bay National Marine Park, this wide region will continue to attract visitors to engage in whale watching, snorkeling, kayaking, climbing, and hiking. There are over 80 migratory bird species and over 800 marine species that inhabit this landscape, creating a place of incredible biological and ecological diversity.
