In 1988 Mexico established the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve to include San Ignacio Lagoon, which is Latin America’s largest wildlife sanctuary. Not only is San Ignacio lagoon a gray whale sanctuary, but it is the last and only undeveloped nursery and breeding ground in the world of the Pacific Gray Whale.

San Ignacio lagoon is also an important feeding habitat for four of the worlds seven species of sea turtles: leatherbacks, hawksbills, green turtles and Olive Ridleys (all endangered). In 1993 the United Nations declared San Ignacio lagoon a World Heritage site because of its importance to the world community.

The agreement includes working up a plan for protecting, monitoring and tracking the species that inhabit the lagoon and establishing a system for attending to any eventual environmental contingencies.

The initiative plans to take a long-term view of dealing with threats related to coastal development, illegal fishing and the excessive exploitation of natural resources.

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