SCERP Project Number: BEAT
Principal Investigators: Mr. Cliff Metzner
San Diego State University
Dr. Mike McCoy
Tijuana Estuary Management Authority
Goal: The overall objective of this project is to develop a proposal for the establishment of a binational biosphere reserve in the San Diego-Tijuana river basin. This initiative is being pursued through, and following stipulations set by, UNESCO's Man in the Biosphere Program (MAB).
Rationale: Through international recognition under MAB, the binational environmental and related educational issues of the biosphere would be addressed through an internationally structured preserve.
Approach: The project staff is drawn from leading environmental and planning experts from both the United States and Mexico. The staff is organized so as to best access relevant officials in both countries in order to best promote the importance of the MAB project. It also seeks regional collaboration on science and environmental technology.
The reserve proposal is designed to link related endangered estuarine ecosystems in Southern California and northern Baja California. This binational effort proposes to incorporate Mexican and U.S. participation at all stages. This proposal seeks to address environmental problems at the level of ecosystem management. To complete this process, continual telephone contact and letter writing to the MAB directorates in both the U.S. and Mexico has been necessary in order to generate support for the proposal.
Activities and Results:
A detailed biosphere proposal has been drafted in accordance with the MAB application form. There has been regular collaboration between universities in the U.S. and Mexico, especially with the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, and San Diego State University. In addition, the MAB proposal for the San Diego-Tijuana Biosphere Preserve has been linked to several land, habitat, and coastal preserve initiatives, thus providing a synergistic proposal to link other related activities.
Status: The finalized proposal, including the completed application, was submitted for review and approval by the MAB Secretariat. Also, contingent on MAB status for the proposed reserve area, as well as some additional funding, a stakeholders workshop will be planned to bring together various representatives from the community to gather input on the overall biosphere preserve management and funding.
Since the submission of the proposal, MAB officials have requested an application for the U.S. portion of the watershed, and for Mexico to submit a proposal for their portion. The hope is that once each biosphere request is granted, efforts to integrate the two portions will be initiated. In addition, MAB required a feasibility report, as well as a UNESCO nomination form. These request are being complied with and will be submitted by mid-spring 1995.
Potential Users/Technology Transfer:
This project has provided the residents of the Tijuana River basin the opportunity to solicit support for ecosystem preservation from the MAB Secretariat. In addition, the collaboration with Mexican colleagues has assisted in developing land use and planning strategies that are potentially binational. This capacity building on both sides of the border will increasingly more important in the future.
Other Personnel:
Mr. Karre Kjos
Binational Development Consultant
San Diego, CA
Dr. Mike McCoy
Tijuana Estuary Management Authority
Arq. Luis Sanchez de Carmona
Consultant
Mexico City, Mexico
Last updated 7/1/99