Over 160 people gathered to celebrate Pro Peninsula's success!

On Friday, June 22, Pro Peninsula celebrated over five years of achievements preserving the unique natural resources of the Baja California peninsula with our first Summer Lunada. The event, held to raise funds for Pro Peninsula projects and strengthen ties to the San Diego community and businesses, was a smashing success on all fronts. The Summer Lunada raised over $25,000 for Pro Peninsula! These funds will directly support our programs for coastal preservation, sea turtle conservation, and environmental education on the Baja California peninsula and in San Diego. Over 160 individuals from San Diego, Tijuana and beyond were on hand to enjoy delicious food, drinks, live music by Steve Poltz, and a silent auction. Additionally, a number of local businesses and individuals stepped up to support Pro Peninsula’s Lunada as corporate sponsors and through in-kind donations for the event and the silent auction.

Launched by two visionary graduate students, Pro Peninsula has been part of the San Diego community for almost six years, dedicated to building strong communities for the long term conservation of the Baja California peninsula. Pro Peninsula has forged partnerships with businesses in San Diego and Mexico, as well as scientists, fishermen, teachers and conservationists from all over the world, in our effort to protect the unique natural resources of the Baja California peninsula. We have played a crucial role in the start up of four local and independent environmental organizations on the peninsula, with programs focusing on issues such as sea turtle and coral reef conservation, environmental advocacy, and education and outreach. Pro Peninsula has also provided hundreds of underserved students in San Diego the chance to see San Diego’s own green sea turtles on field trips in the south bay.

We again thank our gracious hosts, Andrew Rudolph and Kenn Baniqued, all of our generous sponsors and donors, each of our volunteers, and everyone who attended. We look forward to seeing all of you again next year! Click here to learn more about the event, and view pictures of the night's festivities!

Want to experience the best job in the world? Become a sea turtle conservationist for a week or a day and contribute to local economies along the Baja California peninsula. Residents along the Baja California coastline spend their days surrounded by majestic beauty and a natural wonderland teeming with life. But existence in a coastal fishing community is tough, and traditional livelihoods become more imperiled every day. Strain from declining fisheries, mega-tourism developments, and demographic pressures threaten the existence of local residents and the natural resources that sustain them. Through our Conservation Tourism program, Pro Peninsula and the Grupo Tortuguero are working to provide local fisher communities with an economic alternative that contributes to conservation of coastal resources. Developing necessary skills, effective marketing, and viable business plans make up part of this cutting edge effort.

A dream vacation: majestic virgin landscapes, nature adventures, and sea turtle conservation all in one!

What can you do to help out? JOIN US!

This summer kicks off with trips in July and August. Ride on board with fishermen and sea turtle researchers working to save Eastern Pacific loggerheads off the coast from López Mateos to Scorpion Bay. Tend nets and monitor black turtles in some of the peninsula’s most beautiful estuaries and lagoons. Walk the beaches at night in Cabo Pulmo and help protect olive ridley and leatherback nests. Sleep under the stars each night knowing that you have contributed to the long term preservation of sea turtles and the coastal communities working to protect them.

Contact Pro Peninsula for more information: chris@propeninsula.org or 619.574.6643.

Carla García, Margarita Díaz, and Chris Pesenti at the 2007 Waterkeeper Alliance Conference

Once again, a group of citizen activists, environmental lawyers, and NGO leaders from the Baja California peninsula met for the annual meeting of the Waterkeeper Alliance. This June, the meeting took place at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, giving participants the chance to see firsthand the lasting destruction from hurricane Katrina and interact with its victims. Participants at this year’s meeting included Magdalena Baykeeper, La Paz Coastkeeper, Pro Peninsula, Environment Now, Punta Abreojos Coastkeeper, as well as representatives from the communities of Loreto, Cabo San Lucas and Tijuana. Since we first met as a group three years ago, this collection of lawyers, fishermen, and conservationists has gelled into a regional network, strengthened by our diversity, our individual knowledge and experience, and a shared commitment to preserving coastal resources along the Baja California peninsula.

Pablo Uribe, environmental lawyer with CEMDA (Mexican Environmental Law Center) says of the experience, “It is fundamental that we meet each year to share experiences, evaluate the time that has gone by, plan future actions, and seek out coordinated solutions.”

With the benefit of time and the lessons learned from battles won and lost, the Baja California Waterkeeper group looked this year to focus on strengthening the network towards long term success. The workshops and discussions at this year’s conference focused on citizens’ legal tools as well as human rights and individual security. We left the meeting with a renewed feeling of team empowerment, and a plan to continue the agenda with a fall meeting in La Paz.

Pro Peninsula Co-Directors Chris Pesenti and Kama Dean were recently recognized for their outstanding leadership and achievement for their dedication to saving the unique wild places of the Baja California peninsula and contributions to communities throughout the region. Chris and Kama received the inaugural Alumni Association Outstanding Achievement Award from the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at UCSD. The IR/PS Alumni Association initiated the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2007 to recognize graduates for success in their careers and contributions to society. The award will be given annually to those who exemplify the positive contributions IR/PS graduates make through their careers, volunteer work and community involvement.

Pro Peninsula's visionary leaders, Chris Pesenti and Kama Dean

Additionally, Kama was nominated for the Herbert G. Klein Visionary Award for Exemplary Leadership, given by LEAD San Diego at the 2007 San Diego Visionary Awards. This award honors individuals who contribute to our community through diversity of service, continuous leadership and whose commitment to our region is exemplary.

Congratulations Chris and Kama!

You could be here, apply today!

Pro Peninsula seeks a dynamic, enthusiastic individual to run our Ocean Connectors youth education program. Teach groups of eager kids about sea turtle biology and conservation, implement a letter exchange to connect youth in San Diego, Mexico and Japan, and lead kids on exciting field trips to the south bay to see San Diego’s own green sea turtles! Click here to view the job description, or contact Daniel Durazo at daniel@propeninsula.org or 619.574.6643 for more information.