MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ENDANGERS MIGRATORY BIRD POPULATIONS
The Mexican Government, as of February 11th 2008, is permitting the industrial development (TGNLM) (1) of Laguna de Cuyutlan in Colima, Mexico, the fourth largest mangrove-lagoon wetland in the nation. This is the largest wetland in a span of 1150 kilometers along the Pacific coast of Mexico. This lagoon is on the principal western migratory corridor for 89 species of water/shorebirds, 22 of which are at risk (2)(2a).
Construction of an access canal for LNG vessels will raise the concentration of salt and water levels in all parts of the lagoon system, which, in turn, will kill species of mangrove and fish not adapted to these new conditions. As a result, many species of amphibians, reptiles, mammals and invertebrates will lose their habitat. The previous and ongoing local uses of the area; salt extraction, fishery and some sewage and pesticide runoff, have been shown to have had no adverse effect on this vital habitat. (3)
The Mexican Government signed, in 1993, with the United States and Canada, the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), which obliges each signatory to respect the environmental laws of the other two countries, and to "increase co-operation between the Parties to better preserve protect and enhance the environment, including wild flora and fauna." (4) The Mexican Government participates in international plans for protecting shorebirds (Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network) and waterbirds (North American Waterbird Conservation Plan) which migrate between the three nations, and which depend on the Laguna de Cuyutlan for feeding and overwintering.
Laguna de Cuyutlan lost its legal environmental protection, after SEMARNAT (5) accepted recommendations for development, based on a 3 month environmental impact study. The state and federal laws protecting mangroves and wetland habitat have been set aside in favour of industrial interests (6). The official decision making process is being legally challenged by local environmental groups (7) as illegal, unprofessional and unscientific.
In February the environmental organization Bios Iguana brought a case under the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) (8) to challenge the Mexican Government's action, according to Articles 14 and 15 of the Agreement (9) The case is to be investigated at the CEC, 393, Rue St. Jacques Ouest, Bureau 200 Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1N9 Canada psolano@cec.org .
BiosIguana asks that journalists and conservationists assist in focusing international public attention on this grave situation. Now, while this ecosystem still retains it's integrity, BiosIguana is calling for a moratorium on development. More time is needed to allow more baseline information on bird populations and mangrove habitats to be gathered. Any decisions for the area must be based on a well researched environmental impact study. At this point, the government has authorized the developer to begin construction, and although Mexican law requires that all mangroves receive protection, there has been no scientific demonstration that these species will be unaffected.
for more information: Esperanza Salazar Zenil bios_iguana@hotmail.com
1.- Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Regasification Terminal belonging to the Federal Electricity Commission (Comisión Federal de Electricidad). The Government plans to install other industrial plants, as well as enlarging the Manzanillo port to become the biggest port in the Pacific Ocean.
2.- Altas de acuerdo al Plan para la conservación de Aves Acuáticas de Norte América (PCAANA) www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/waterbirds/index.html
2 a.- AT RISK BIRDS IN US FOUND IN LAGUNA DE CUYUTLAN: (as per the Audubon Watch List 2007, and Environment Canada's Species at Risk List 2008): Magnificent Frigate Bird, King Rail + in Canada, Clapper Rail, Long-billed Curlew + in Canada, Wilson's Plover, Snowy Plover, Least Tern, Elegant Tern, Gill-billed Tern, Black Skimmer, Western Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Heerman's Gull, Virginia's Warbler, Lucy's Warbler, Wood Stork. http://web1.audubon.org/science/species/watchlist/browseWatchlist.php
3.- Mellink, E. y M. Riojas-López. En prensa. Waterbirds and human-related threats to their conservation in Laguna Cuyutlán, Colima, México. Revista de BiologÃa Tropical 57(1): 2009
4.-NAAEC http://www.cec.org/pubs_info_resources/law_treat_agree/naaec/index.cfm?varlan=english http://www.cec.org/pubs_info_resources/law_treat_agree/naaec/index.cfm?varlan=english
5.- The Federal Secretariat for the Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources.
6.-Law of Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection (LGEEPA); Federal Administrative Procedure Law; Federal Wildlife Law; Organic Law of Federal Public Administration; LGEEPA Regulations on Ecological Zoning; NOM-022-SEMARNAT-2003; NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2001; Environmental Law for Sustainable Development for the state of Colima; Coordination Agreement for the Preparation, Issuance and Implementation of the Ecological Zoning program for the Laguna de Cuyutlán; Urban Development Program of Manzanillo
7.- Bios Iguana A.C de Colima, Mexico www.bios-iguana.com
Grupo Contra la Contaminacion de Campos, Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico
Also supported by Redmanglar Internacional http://www.redmanglar.org/
8.(CEC)
http://www.cec.org/home/index.cfm?varlan=english&CFID=6038729&CFTOKEN=33881682
9. The Secretariat may consider a submission from any non-governmental organization or person asserting that a Party is failing to effectively enforce its environmental law, if the Secretariat finds that the submission: ... http://www.cec.org/pubs_info_resources/law_treat_agree/naaec/index.cfm?varlan=english
http://www.cec.org/pubs_info_resources/law_treat_agree/naaec/index.cfm?varlan=english
***ACTION ALERT!*** - What You Can Do:
Please Sign This Petition below and send to the following contacts:
México
Felipe de Jesús Calderon Hinojosa
Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx
Tel. (52 555) 0 93 53 00
Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada
Titular de la Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
c.secretario@semarnat.gob.mx
Fax: (52 555) 628-0643
Lic. Enrique Lendo Fuentes
Titular de la Unidad Coordinadora de Asuntos Internacionales
Fax: (52 555) 628-0694
enrique.lendo@semarnat.gob.mx
Canadá
Jim Prentice
Minister of Environment of Canada
jim.prentice@ec.gc.ca
Fax (819) 953 0279
David McGovern
Assistant Deputy Minister Internacional
Affairs Branch, Environment Canada
david.mcgovern@ec.gc.ca
(819) 997 01 99
USA
Scott Fulton
Acting Assistant Administrator
Office of International Affairs
US Environmental Protection Agency
Fax: (202) 565-2407
fulton.scott@epa.gov
Sylvia Correa
CEC Team Leader
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(202) 565-2411
correa.sylvia@epamail.epa.gov
We the undersigned non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and concerned individuals from around the world are deeply troubled by the intentions of the Mexican Government of permitting since February 11th 2008, the industrial development (Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal LNG), which will enlarge the Manzanillo port to become the largest port in the Pacific Ocean. In Laguna de Cuyutlan in Colima, Mexico there exists the fourth largest mangrove-lagoon wetland in the nation. This is the largest wetland in a span of 1150 kilometers along the Pacific coast of Mexico. This lagoon is on the principal western migratory corridor for 89 species of water/shorebirds, 22 of which are at risk
Construction of an access canal for LNG vessels will raise the concentration of salt and water levels in all parts of the lagoon system, which, in turn, will kill species of mangrove and fish not adapted to these new conditions. As a result, many species of amphibians, reptiles, mammals and invertebrates, as well as birds, will lose their habitat. The previous and ongoing local uses of the area; salt extraction, fishery and some sewage and pesticide runoff, have been shown to have had minimum adverse effects on this vital habitat,
Now, while this ecosystem still retains its integrity, we are calling internationally for a MORATORIUM on all industrial development within the Laguna de Cuyutlan. There must be a public process to review the zoning decision, based on a new/fully completed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This Statement must comply with international scientific standards to all aspects of its process, including methodologies for inventories of flora and fauna, especially for migratory and endemic bird populations. Scientists from Canada and the USA, whose countries will also bear the impacts of habitat loss and increased risks to their bird populations must also have opportunities to participate in reviewing this EIS. Proven sustainable solutions to the dangers to the mangroves must be proposed by the developers, and assessed by unbiased specialists. The developers' history of compliance to environmental laws must be reviewed and made public.
The Mexican Government's permission for this development project to proceed has in effect caused the Laguna de Cuyutlan to lose its legal environmental protection.
The Mexican Government signed, in 1993, the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) with the United States and Canada, which obliges each signatory to respect the environmental laws of the other two countries and to "increase co-operation between the Parties to better preserve, protect and enhance the environment, including wild flora and faunaÅ " We therefore demand that the three countries respect and honor this important Agreement.
While this ecosystem still retains its integrity, we most urgently demand a moratorium on this port development to allow more baseline information on bird populations and mangrove habitats to be gathered.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
