Dear Ocean Futures Society Members,

I wish to share with you a wonderful development for conservation of the magnificent Pacific Gray Whale.

Today, I returned from Mexico’s San Ignacio Lagoon -- the only place on Earth where gray whales mate, give birth and take care of their young without human interference or commercial development. Sadly, the lagoon has also been the site of a massive plan by Mitsubishi and the Mexican Government to construct the largest salt production facility ever built. This monstrosity would have destroyed 116 square miles and impacted hundreds more square miles of the Sebastian Viscayano Biosphere Reserve, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Last week, after years of concerted opposition, the Mexican Government and Mitsubishi jointly announced they were abandoning the salt works project. Those of us in the international environmental community who worked closely on San Ignacio met to celebrate and assess the far-reaching impact this decision represents.

To me this was a perfect example of how committed people, all working in partnership, can make a difference. No one person or organization could have achieved this formidable accomplishment alone. Today, the problems are too large and the forces at work to destroy our natural heritage too great for anything but a team approach.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) took the lead in calling public attention to the threat. Not only did they rally support for opposition to the project but they worked through the legal and political systems to raise awareness and lobby for rational management. A coalition of Mexican environmental organizations worked tirelessly to apply pressure inside Mexico. A team of internationally recognized scientists visited the lagoon and let the world know that, in this case, they believed the value of nature far outweighed the economic benefits of a commercial salt development. Many other individuals and groups contributed to the effort, each in their own way.

I had the great pleasure of meeting with Dr. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce De Leon, President of Mexico to discuss the project. We had a private meeting and talked for about 45 minutes, openly discussing the situation in San Ignacio. I shared with him my personal perspectives on the project, its impacts and the fact that I didn't believe it was either in the best interests of the local people of the region nor the country of Mexico as a whole. President Zedillo, who is a diver, shared with me his own inclinations and concerns. I was reminded as we spoke how difficult it can be for elected leaders to reconcile their own feelings and judgments with the pressures and realities of power politics. I was honored and touched to be brought into his confidence in such a way, but, of course, I will never know what impact this had on the ultimate decision.

I think there are some important lessons for us all in this issue. It demonstrates how the cooperative strategy works. It is like the biodiversity we are committed to protecting -- we all were different and we each did what we could do best. In the end, our differences were our strengths as each used different approaches to achieve a common goal.

But conservation is a journey without end. I am not totally convinced this salt works project is dead. And, though the door may have been closed to a salt works at San Ignacio Lagoon, it is entirely possible that the issue may creep in through the window or slither under the door at some future date at another pristine natural site!

We humans have much to learn. We are evolutionary infants and are still searching for the appropriate way to live in our house in peaceful coexistence with our housemates. We cannot destroy the furniture, we need to get along with our neighbors and if we make a mess we need to clean it up. We are doing some things right and we must pay attention to what works, learn from the good examples and replicate or adapt them to new situations.

So I was a happy celebrant these last two days applauding all who worked so hard. I personally was celebrating two things -- the protection of San Ignacio Lagoon and, of possibly equal importance, the lesson we all learned about the value and effectiveness of teamwork and collaboration.

President, Ocean Futures Society