La Paz

The municipality enjoys an extensive coastline along the Sea of Cortez where aquaculture, ecotourism, and adventure tourism activities, such as trekking, sport fishing, kayaking, and camping, are possible.  Coastal fishing must be subjected to rigorous fisheries management, and the resources available could foster projects for farming some species. 

The natural landscape that exists in the city of La Paz contains significant potential for additional tourism development.  Ecotourism projects that take advantage of the desert landscape, virgin beaches, marine fauna, and cave paintings could be an effective development tool.  Also, fixing up and promoting historical and cultural sites (such as the missions, mines, and towns with age-old traditions and customs) could help La Paz to attract new tourists, and hence create jobs for its growing population.  Additionally, the region is suited to and has experience working in high-quality handicrafts.

Fishing has been one of the most important industries in the past.  From the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, pearl fishing dominated the regional economy.  In 1940, when this fishery collapsed, local fishermen switched to shark, but by 1950, this fishery had also collapsed.  It was only after 1950, that La Paz because the tourist destination that it is today.[1]  As to the city’s fishing activities, the city’s scientific and technological infrastructure, its human capital, and 37.3 miles of coastline are well able to support expanded aquaculture activity.  However, native aquaculture species must be fostered as an alternative to crops such as pearls, but only if adequate environmental impact assessments and monitoring programs are in place.

Financing and micro-credit programs are also needed to support the financial needs of development projects.  Additionally, the area between the city’s malecón and its historic core needs to be visually integrated and redeveloped, with a balance among buildings, roads, green areas, and La Paz Bay.  Remodeling of the coastal malecón must also continue, while other works need to be undertaken to restore and preserve buildings deemed to be historical monuments in the city (including Teatro Juárez, the Palacio Municipal [City Hall], and historic homes), which will, in turn, help to enhance cultural activities.[2]

In rural areas of La Paz, poverty, marginalization, and scarce job alternatives trigger the migration of the young population to urban centers, limiting the feasibility of carrying out alternative productive projects in rural areas.  In view of these problems, local productive projects that add value to primary production should be supported. Designing and operating technological and financial tools that are accessible to the population will bring educational and training possibilities to the region.

Rural communities need better information and training, exacerbated by poor communication between institutions and residents when devising development strategies.  Further, the lack of a cohesive development strategy has led to a lack of productive opportunities for job and revenue creation.  The obvious result is increased poverty, high rates of migration, and damage to the local ecosystem.