Save The Waves Coalition is pleased to announce a new partnership with The Conservation Alliance through the award of $35,000 in grant funding, supporting their work of creating the first state park in Baja California. As one of 23 awardees for the 2014 summer cycle, and one of only two new grantees, Save The Waves is thrilled.
“We couldn’t be happier with this outcome”, said Executive Director Nik Strong-Cvetich, “These grant funds will go directly to supporting work with our partners in creating Baja California’s first State Park at the historic San Miguel wave and watershed.
Save The Waves will utilize this new Conservation Alliance funding to create the first state park in Baja California alongside their partners from ProNatura Noroeste, Wildcoast and SurfEns.
The San Miguel project was identified as a priority project of the World Surfing Reserve in Baja’s Bahia de Todos Santos. As one of the last intact watersheds on the Baja peninsula, the health of the San Miguel watershed and the quality of the wave are directly connected. Protecting the inland watershed for future generations will in turn protect the wave seated at the mouth of San Miguel arroyo, but also offer a green space to the community of Ensenada. The grant will help fund three key steps to further the creation of the State Park:
1) Launching of a public campaign and film to illustrate the local and international support for the creation of the first State Park to the Governor of Baja California;
2) Funding a Surfonomics study to demonstrate the local economic impact of the wave; and
3) An international exchange to assist in the management and long term creation
“We are excited to take the next steps on this project in lockstep with our local partners at ProNatura Noroeste, Wildcoast and SurfEns” said Director of Programs, Nick Mucha.
The Conservation Alliance is an organization of outdoor businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate.
For more information see www.conservationalliance.org.