Description

The WHSRN site Exportadora de Sal - Guerrero Negro (Guerrero Negro, for short) is located in the western half of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. It is adjacent to Ojo de Liebre Lagoon and is within the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve. The site’s lands are the property of the Benito Juárez and Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Ejidos. The numbers of shorebirds registered here make this salt mine one of the most important wetlands on the Baja California Peninsula. Within the salt mine area, 95 species of birds have been observed, including 27 species of shorebirds.

The Guerrero Negro salt mine is the largest in the world, with an annual production of 7 million tons. The company bases its production on the solar- and wind-induced evaporation of saltwater that is contained in a series of concentrated areas where there are no sea-level influences. Additionally, the physical-chemical conditions and biological characteristics of the areas are maintained as stable throughout the year, which is an indispensable requirement for ensuring the salt production process happens adequately. Such stability has allowed diverse communities of fish and invertebrates to become established, which in turn serve as a food source for birds. The region is characterized by its aridness, with winter rains not exceeding 100 millimeters per year, on average.

This WHSRN site is used by at least 100,000 shorebirds throughout the year. The most abundant species are the western sandpiper (Calidis mauri) and red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus). Additionally, Guerrero Negro is the most important site in Mexico for the red knot (Calidris canutus), and one of the most important places for wintering marbled godwits (Limosa fedoa).

Exportadora de Sal’s installations are within the Ojo de Liebre lagoon complex, which is considered an Important Bird Conservation Area (AICA, by its Spanish name)—Number 101, Category NA-4-C (which means the site contains more than 15,000 waterfowl, or 7,5000 pairs of one or more species of waterbirds, or 100,000 shorebirds).

The only potential threats to the site would originate from land-tenure problems between the ejidos and federal authorities.
Site Facts

Country,State,
Province/Region:
Mexico, State of Baja California Sur
Municipality of Mulegé

Relative Location:
The site is located in the western half of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. It is within the Sebastián Vizcaino Bay, borders the Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, and is part of the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve.

Latitude/Longitude:
27º 42’ 30" N; 113º 56’ 30" W

Category:
International

Basis for Designation:
The site is utilized by at least 100,000 shorebirds over the course of a year

Size:
20,102 hectares (49,673 acres)

Joined:
September 19, 2000

Site Owner/Steward:
The property belongs to the Benito Juárez and Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Ejidos, however through a Temporary Occupation Agreement it is being utilized by the company Exportadora de Sal, S.A. de C.V, via a Mining Concession granted by the Federal Government

Site Partners:
Autonomous University of Baja California Sur, El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, Exportadora de Sal, S. A. de C. V., and Pronatura Noroeste.

Human Population within 100 km:
Guerrero Negro (12,000 inhabitants)

Contact:
Roberto Carmona, Autonomous University of Baja California Sur, beauty@uabcs.mx ;

Nallely Arce, Autonomous University of Baja California Sur, nallely_arce@hotmail.com;

Martín Domínguez, Exportadora de Sal, mdominguez@essa.com;

Martín García Aguilar, Exportadora de Sal, amgaguilar@hotmail.com;

Benito Bermúdez, El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, bermudez@conanp.gob.mx;

Gustavo Danemann, Pronatura Noroeste, gdanemann@pronatura-noroeste.org