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| | We need your immediate action to help save an ancient coral reef in Mexico’s Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park. This 20,000-year-old reef -- believed to be the oldest in the eastern Pacific -- is threatened by plans for a massive tourism complex next door on the Baja peninsula. Tell the Mexican government to reject plans for the Cabo Cortés mega-tourism project next to Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park. The reef of Cabo Pulmo provides sanctuary for the greatest concentration of marine species in the entire Gulf of California, including whale sharks, Pacific manta rays, humpback whales, blue whales, dolphins, and five of the world’s seven endangered species of sea turtles. Coral reefs like the one at Cabo Pulmo are considered rainforests of the sea because of the diversity of life they sustain, but they are rapidly disappearing around the world. In 1995, local residents and the Mexican government recognized the ecological importance of the Cabo Pulmo reef and designated it a national park and no-fishing zone. Today, the healthy and vibrant reef teems with marine life, but all of that could be undone in a matter of months. A Spanish real estate company, Hansa Urbana, wants to build a colossal tourism complex on 9,500 coastal acres next door to Cabo Pulmo. With plans for 13,000 housing units, 3,655 hotel rooms, 2 million square feet of commercial space, and marinas and golf courses, the project is the equivalent of an entire new city. Make no mistake: the project would irreversibly damage the reef ecosystem and wipe out local livelihoods that depend on ecotourism. Government authorities initially granted the environmental permits for the project, but are now reconsidering their decision. It’s urgent that you send a message today, telling them to reject the Cabo Cortés mega-tourism project. Thank you for taking action to protect Baja’s imperiled coral reef ecosystem. Sincerely,  Peter Lehner Executive Director Natural Resources Defense Council | ||
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