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Executive Summary
There is a growing need to examine innovative cross-border climate solutions toward climate action and conservation that extend beyond traditional jurisdictional boundaries. This is especially true in transboundary bioregions with shared watersheds and migratory species such as the tri-state binational region consisting of the U.S. State of California and the Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur (collectively, Las Californias).
The Institute of the Americas (IOA) in partnership with Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), Pronatura Noroeste (PNO), and the UC San Diego Center for U.S-Mexican Studies (USMEX), have prepared this report in an effort to promote expanded binational climate action as well as the protection of shared biodiversity across the Californias.
A key objective is to examine potential financing options for such cross-border collaboration, with an emphasis on conservation of priority habitat for migratory birds. The financing options we explore include, most importantly, tapping California’s Environmental Quality Act and its Cap and Trade program. We also address options in the international, voluntary carbon markets, as well as Mexico’s own emissions trading system. The premise of all options is based on the fact that these blue carbon assets provide carbon sequestering potential if properly conserved, as well as other ecosystem services that have value to the entire region.
Main Report
EXAMINING CROSS-BORDER, NATURE-BASED MARKET SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT BLUE CARBON COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS IN THE CALIFORNIAS.
This report puts together the main findings of our project and summarizes the relevant points from all five topics we discuss (California as a potential source of funding for wetland conservation in Mexico; Mexico’s legal considerations; Coastal wetlands as ecosystem services providers and their valuation; International carbon markets as a source of potential funding for wetland conservation in Mexico, and; An overview of the key bird species and sites of interest).
Explore and download our project’s main report to read about the innovative funding mechanisms we explore to help protect and conserve these important carbon sinks throughout the Baja California Peninsula
Project Partners
Virtual Panel Discussion: Mexico-Colombia Climate Week
Mexico is one of the countries with the largest coverage of mangroves in the world, and with an important extension of seagrass and macro algae. As such, the country is in a prime position to leverage the correct management of these ecosystems to combat climate change. As part of the Las Californias Blue Carbon Initiative, the Institute of the Americas published a study that undertakes an in-depth analysis of the legal and regulatory framework of coastal and marine ecosystems in Mexico and their relation to international and potential future domestic carbon markets, including the legal status of such habitats, with the ultimate objective of shedding light on what is missing legally for Mexico to monetize carbon sequestered by them.
On September 20th, 2022, the authors and other relevant experts discussed this issue on a panel as part of the 2022 Mexico-Colombia Climate week organized by the Green Chamber of Commerce, Mexico Chapter and the Cámara Verde de Comercio LATAM.
You can listen to the full panel here.
Complementary Reports
Tania Miranda
Voluntary and Compliance Market-based Mechanisms:
A Potential Source of Funding to Protect Blue Carbon Coastal Ecosystems in Baja California and Baja California Sur
Briana HernándezCoastal Wetlands in the Baja California Peninsula: Ecosystem Services and its Valuation
Sula E. Vanderplank, Victor Ayala, Geovanni Cordero, Gustavo D. DanemannThe Biodiversity of the Las Californias Region
Sula E. Vanderplank, Victor Ayala-Perez,Geovanni Cordero, & Gustavo D. Daneman
The Baja California Peninsula Wetlands: Characteristics, Designations, Threats and Focal Species.
John McNeecePotential Sources of Funding under California Law to Protect Blue Carbon Coastal Ecosystems in Baja California and Baja California Sur
Análisis Jurídico sobre el Régimen de Propiedad y Aprovechamiento de Manglares, Pastos Marinos y Macroalgas en México, en Relación con su Capacidad de Generar Bonos de Carbono Azul
Valuation of Ecosystem Services
Bahía Magdalena-Bahía Almejas Lagoon Complex
The Bahía Magdalena-Bahía Almejas Lagoon complex (MagBay), located on the western coast of Baja California Sur, is one of the most important and productive regions in Northwest Mexico. This study by the Gulf of California Marine Program is a first stab at quantifying the value of carbon stocks and the social cost of carbon in this Lagoon complex, as an initial step towards establishing carbon credits as a source of income for the conservation and protection of blue carbon ecosystems, in a way that truly encompasses the value of the wide range of ecosystem services these wetlands provide. The tool used was the InVEST Coastal Blue Carbon model, developed by the Natural Capital Project of Stanford University.
Bahía de San Quintín
Similarly, the Gulf of California Marine Program used the InVEST Blue Carbon models to estimate the carbon stock and total net carbon sequestration for two vegetation categories found in the Bay of San Quintín: marsh vegetation and seagrass meadows. San Quintín, in Baja California Sur, México, was designated as Wetland of International Importance on February 2, 2008, by the Ramsar Convention. The bay is surrounded by coastal sage scrub, considered one of North America’s most threatened ecosystems, yet these ecosystems provide critical habitat to numerous species of plants and animals, both terrestrial and marine. Estimating the economic contribution generated through these ecosystem services will strengthen regional management and conservation efforts.
Storymap
Explore this storymap as a visual narration of our project with maps, images and graphs that will take you through the key sites of interest, the key species of interest, as well as the purpose of the project and the main conclusions and recommendations we gathered through the span of a year of work.
It was developed by our GIS specialist from
Pronatura, Geovanni Cordero
UC San Diego Campus – International lane
+1 858 453-5560
[email protected]
Navigation map
2021 Institute Of The Americas | All rights reserved.
Tania Miranda, Director of Policy, Environment and Climate Change Program, Institute of the Americas
Contact: [email protected]
Voluntary and Compliance Market-based Mechanisms:
A Potential Source of Funding to Protect Blue Carbon Coastal Ecosystems in Baja California and Baja California Sur
This report examines market-based carbon mechanisms as a potential source of financing for blue carbon restoration and conservation in Mexico. Despite some protection offered to coastal wetlands in Mexico, government resources for protected areas are limited, as is the case for NGOs who have acquired lands for conservation. Furthermore, there are still many other areas without proper protection, in particular many of the coastal wetlands of Bahía Magdalena in Baja California Sur. In that sense, there is a strong case for exploring additional funding mechanisms, such as carbon offsets, which can help fund conservation efforts. The report offers an overview of market-based carbon mechanisms in Mexico and around the world, and reviews why carbon markets present an increasingly interesting funding source for blue carbon asset conservation. Mexico has the second largest mangrove restorable area after Indonesia, even though it is the country with the fourth largest mangrove extension. Yet, many of its blue carbon assets face multiple land-use pressures that lead to their degradation, and using market mechanisms is a compelling option to help fund protection efforts, thus ensuring the sequestration of carbon as well as other environmental and social benefits these ecosystems provide.
Briana Hernández
Coastal Wetlands in the Baja California Peninsula: Ecosystem Services and its Valuation
Mangrove forests provide a multitude of ecosystem services. Among many other benefits, they are a cradle for a diverse array of life, support the livelihoods of local communities, and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Because of the public good, non-market nature of many ecosystem services, mangroves are undervalued and subject to deforestation around the world, including Baja California. This report uses the Bahia Magdalena Lagoon Complex (BMLC) as a case study and reviews several conservation policies that may be used to conserve mangrove forests. A key challenge is the need to create mechanisms that allow landowners and local communities to benefit from mangrove conservation and management programs. Therefore, it reviews several policies used in Mexico that take this approach, including Payments for Ecosystems Services (PES) programs and Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs). It concludes that coexistence of payment programs (i.e. PES, carbon emission trading credits, philanthropy) and an ICDP in a proper sequence, while reinforcing intrinsic value-based attitudes, could facilitate meeting conservation management goals. Cross-border cooperation between the United States and Mexico is also essential for conservation because of the interconnected nature of ecosystems that do not follow political borders.
John McNeece, Senior Fellow for Energy & Trade, Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, UCSD. Contact: [email protected]
Potential Sources of Funding under California Law to Protect Blue Carbon Coastal Ecosystems in Baja California and Baja California Sur
This paper examines potential sources of funding under California Law to protect blue carbon coastal eco-systems in Baja California and Baja California Sur. The potential funding sources include (1) the California regulatory regime for protection of specified species and related habitats; (2) the California Cap-and-Trade Program to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by certain covered entities, and (3) the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) with respect to mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions related to CEQA-covered development projects. We conclude that there are paths for funding blue carbon project on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico from each of these sources. However, there are barriers along each of these paths, particularly arising from uncertainties as to the interpretation and application of the respective bodies of law. It will be necessary to engage with government bodies on both sides of the border to determine if such barriers can be overcome.
Análisis Jurídico sobre el Régimen de Propiedad y Aprovechamiento de Manglares, Pastos Marinos y Macroalgas en México, en Relación con su Capacidad de Generar Bonos de Carbono Azul
Sula E Vanderplank, Dr. Gustavo D. Danemann, Director Ejecutivo, Pronatura Noroeste AC Ocean S. Geovanni Cordero H., Coordinador SIG, Pronatura Noroeste AC Víctor Ayala Pérez, Pronatura Noroeste AC Contact: [email protected]The Biodiversity of the Las Californias Region
California has lost 90% of its wetlands, which provide numerous ecological services to an array of plants and animals, including many species of conservation significance, especially migratory birds. Birds are the most significant herbivores in weltand systems, and move between the wetlands of the Californias (California, US and the Baja California peninsula, Mexico). There are numerous opportunities for biodiversity protection in the wetlands of Baja California and Baja California Sur. Migratory birds in particular highlight the importance of binational habitat conservation in these wetlands. Examples exist that highlight the mechanisms that can be used to support biodiversity conservation in Baja California, Mexico, in support of protected species in the United States. There is a strong future for binational wetland conservation, resulting in a positive benefit for both nations.
Sula E Vanderplank, Dr. Gustavo D. Danemann, Director Ejecutivo, Pronatura Noroeste AC Ocean S. Geovanni Cordero H., Coordinador SIG, Pronatura Noroeste AC Víctor Ayala Pérez, Pronatura Noroeste AC Contact: [email protected]
The Baja California Peninsula Wetlands: Characteristics, Designations, Threats and Focal Species.
Deep-dive into seven wetlands of the Baja California Peninsula, including general characteristics, designations, threats and focal species of the following: Colorado River Delta Wetland System; Punta Banda Estuary; San Quintín Bay; Guerrero Negro Wetland Complex; San Ignacio Complex; Magdalena Bay Lagoon Complex; Ensenada de La Paz.
About the Environment & Climate Change Program
This initiative strives to catalyze climate leadership amongst the private sector and sub-national governments in Latin America, to promote sustainable growth, tackle climate change and minimize environmental impacts in the region.
For more information, please visit: https://iamericas.org https://iamericas.org/environment-climate-change/
You can also reach out directly to Tania Miranda, Director of Policy of the Environment and Climate Change Program at the IOA, at [email protected]
About the Institute of the Americas
Established in 1981, the Institute of the Americas is an independent, nonpartisan Inter-American institution devoted to encouraging social and economic reform in the Americas, broadening communication and strengthening political and economic relations between Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States and Canada.
For more information, please visit: https://iamericas.org