EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS
Binational Conservation Reserve for California/Baja California Border Region.

ICF received an anonymous gift of $100,000 to establish the Las Californias Binational Conservation Fund to support a 7-month planning and research project that will lead to binational efforts aimed at protecting and conserving critical open space along the Tijuana-Tecate corridor and surrounding areas. This initiative is being undertaken in partnership with Fundación La Puerta, which is also contributing resources to this effort. The project will involve the management and re-granting of funds to San Diego State University's Center for Regional Studies of the Californias, to the Autonomous University of Baja California, and to Pronatura, one of Mexico's leading conservation organizations.

Work under this first phase project will include the identification of all available data sources (e.g. aerial photographs, maps, reports, documentation) along the Tijuana-Tecate corridor and surrounding wildlife corridors with the objective of defining the appropriate boundaries for a proposed binational conservation area based on what lands are deemed to be biologically and culturally significant.

Why is this work important?
The Tecate sister city region and its surrounding foothills and mountains collectively makes up one of the most biologically diverse and yet largely undisturbed rural areas along the California/Baja California border with a wide range of animal and plants species, some of which are threatened or endangered. The area is also culturally and archeologically rich and is of deep religious significance to area Native Americans. Yet, rapid population and urban growth threaten these biological and cultural resources.

Presently, Tecate, B.C. has a population of just over 77,000 but by 2025 its population is conservatively expected to reach 146,539.

The threat to Tecate's quality of life and native habitats is exacerbated by Tijuana's eastward expansion especially when one considers that this metropolitan area is growing at a rate of 65,000 people a year. Left unchecked, squatter communities, industrial development and other unplanned growth will result in Tecate becoming a mere suburb of neighboring Tijuana.

For additional information on the International Community Foundation please call Fay Crevoshay, Director of Communications at 619.235.2300 or send an email at fay@icfdn.org.