Cross-Border, Nature Based Market Solutions to Protect Blue Carbon Coastal Ecosystems in the Californias

March 2022

environments. Plants are a critical component of the wetland ecosystem because all other organisms in the wetlands consume them or are higher up the food chain from the primary producers, plants and algae. Furthermore, for some species, these wetlands provide shelter for a substantial portion of their total population. For example, the peninsular coastal wetlands receive up to 355,000 shorebirds, and 150,000 ducks and geese every winter. Furthermore, up to 90% of the American Oystercatcher, 88% of the Marbled Godwit, and 76% of the Pacific Red Knot entire populations winter in these wetlands as well. One of the species of interest to the State of California, that winters in the wetlands of the Baja California Peninsula, is the Pacific black brant, for which 80%of its population winters in sites such as San Quintín Bay, San Ignacio Wetland Complex, Guerrero Negro wetland complex and Bahía Magdalena Wetland Complex. Baja California’s Peninsular coastal wetlands are also important to the Ridgway ’ s Rail. In some localities such as San Quintín, the R. o. levipes subspecies population became larger than the total population of this subspecies in the state of California. For the Western Snowy Plover, the Peninsular wetlands are an important breeding and wintering site, as it protects almost 30% of their population. Here, only over 745 adults of this bird have been recorded. Other species that stand out and breed in these sites are the Double-crested Cormorant, the Brown Pelican and the California Least Tern. The Bald Eagle, mainly located in Bahía Magdalena, has been on the rise in other wetlands such as the San Ignacio Wetland Complex. Given the importance of the Baja California peninsula’s coastal wetlands as critical nesting and stop over grounds for migratory birds of importance to the State of California, a case can be

made for expanded binational cooperation to promote the long-term protection of these priority habitats and species.

II. What is the disparity in economic growth, urbanization and ecosystem destruction between

California and the Baja California peninsula?

CALIFORNIA:

Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Since its founding in 1850, following the Mexican American War of 1846-48 that divided the former Mexican territory of Las Californias, California’s economy has experienced steady economic

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