November 10, 1998
President Ernesto Zedillo
Ponce de Leon
Resdencia Oficial de los Pinos Puerta
Chapultepec
Mexico
Dear President Zedillo:
We are writing to you out of our deep concern for the preservation
of the land, waters and wildlife of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve, and the
environmental threats posed by the proposed ESSA/Mitsubishi Corporation
salt plant on the shores of San Ignacio Lagoon.
This letter represents the views of 26 environmental and animal
welfare organizations, with more than 5 million members in the United
States, Mexico, and around the world.
The government of Mexico has made important and critical
conservation progress in Baja on behalf of the migratory gray whales and
the desert regions of El Vizcaino. Millions of tourists in the United
States and Canada now enjoy watching gray whales pass our shores during
their annual migration, thanks in large part to the Mexican government
protection programs in the whale birthing lagoons of Baja. Trips to San
Ignacio Lagoon and the surrounding desert protected areas are justly
world-renowned for the experience of nature and wilderness at its best.
Mexico has maintained and protected this natural area for generations of
children from all countries.
Yet, the proposed industrial salt plant would seriously erode the
protections put in place to safeguard San Ignacio Lagoon and El Vizcaino.
Such a massive industrial complex -- converting more than 100 square miles
into roads, conveyer belts, pipelines, docks, diesel pumps, diked
evaporation ponds, holding ponds for toxic bitterns, and effluent outfalls
-- would have lasting adverse impacts on the fragile plants and wildlife of
this region. Furthermore, siting an industrial salt complex in the middle
of El Vizcaino would have negative international consequences for other
protected natural areas around the world. We do not believe this is a
suitable location for industrial development.
San Ignacio Lagoon is the last pristine whale lagoon left for the
gray whale. San Diego Bay was lost years ago. Industrial and tourist
developments continue to grow along the shores of Magdalena Bay. The
Guerrero Negro and Ojo de Liebre lagoon complex have been dominated by the
existing ESSA/Mitsubishi salt works. Despite assurances to the contrary,
there are serious environmental problems at the existing salt extraction
complex, highlighted by the recently released report by your environmental
agency that 94 endangered black sea turtles were killed by salt poisoning
last December. We fear that such problems will surely be transferred to
San Ignacio Lagoon if the new project is approved by your government.
We urge you to withdraw plans for the industrial salt extraction
plant at San Ignacio Lagoon. We strongly feel this area should be
protected as an international treasure, preserving its wild nature
unimpaired for future generations. Mexico is a signatory nation to the
World Heritage Treaty. The reserve was recognized for its international
merits as a United Nations World Heritage Site in 1993. We hope you will
work with us to increase protection for El Vizcaino and to develop
sustainable and compatible alternative economic plans to assist the people
of Baja while preserving the fragile desert and marine environments.
We know in the United States, where the modern idea for National
Parks and Wildlife Refuges was born, that we do not get a second chance if
important ecological areas are destroyed. There are many places where
nations can produce industrial salt -- there is only one San Ignacio
Lagoon, and it cannot be replaced. A massive industrial salt extraction
plant has no place within the protected boundaries of El Vizcaino, the
largest wildlife reserve in Latin America.
We invite you to contact us so we might assist in your ongoing
efforts to ensure protection of the gray whales and the environment of
Baja.
Thank you for your consideration of our views.
Sincerely yours,
Earth Island Institute, California
Earthtrust, Hawaii
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York
American Cetacean Society, California
Animal Protection Institute, California
Animal Welfare Institute, Washington DC
Center for Whale Research, Washington state
Cetacean Society International, Connecticut
Defenders of Wildlife, Washington DC
Dolphin Connection, California
Environmental Investigation Agency, UK
Friends of the Earth, Washington DC
Greenpeace Mexico, Mexico City
Grupo de los Cien, Mexico City
Humane Society of the United States, Washington DC
In Defense of Animals, California
International Wildlife Coalition, Massachusetts
Marine Mammal Fund, California
Greenpeace Foundation, Hawaii
National Parks and Conservation Association, Washington DC
Pacific Orca Society/Orca Lab, British Columbia
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, California
Performing Animal Welfare Society, California
Rainforest Action Network, California
Sierra Club, California
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, United Kingdom
<< Return to IMMP Press Release
For more information contact:
Mark J. Palmer
(415) 788-3666 x139
Nathan LaBudde
(415) 788-3666 x147
Earth Island Institute is a nonprofit organization working to protect the
biological and cultural diversity of the Earth.
The International Marine Mammal Project protects whales, dolphins and other
marine mammals around the world.
