Frequently asked questions
What is the history of Niparajá? Niparajá was born 35 years ago thanks to a group of volunteer residents of La Paz interested in environmental conservation in Baja California Sur.
What does Niparajá mean? Niparajá is the name of a deity of the Pericú people, considered the creator of the sky, the sea, and the land, the creator of the peninsula, its plants, animals, and human beings.
What does Natural History Society mean? It means being part of a group of people interested in understanding and conserving nature in a comprehensive way (including inhabitants, species, and ecosystems), considering scientific data and cultural aspects.
What do you do? We work to achieve a healthy balance between the well-being of the population and the health of the region’s ecosystems. Our actions focus on four fundamental natural resources for our state: water, land, oceans, and fisheries.
Do you work with local communities? Yes, we always collaborate with the inhabitants and users of the territory, with the intention of contributing to improving their quality of life and income through capacity building and development models that positively impact their natural environment.
How are you financed? Niparajá is a non-profit organization that does not generate profits and is audited by the SAT (Mexico’s tax administration service). Our resources come from private, national, and international donations.
Who collaborates at Niparajá? We are a multidisciplinary team of approximately 30 people, including:
Board of Directors, led by Paola Ruffo, an architect and designer with experience in diving and photography.
Executive Directorate, led by Laura Martínez, a specialist in environmental conservation.
Staff, made up of highly qualified experts in their field.
What are your achievements? Some important milestones in our work include:
We protect key ecosystems and oases in the Sierra La Giganta and its coastal zone (El Portezuelo Nature Reserve), through the acquisition of land destined exclusively for its conservation.
We have contributed to the preparation of the decrees and management programs, as well as the involvement of users in the 3 most iconic protected natural areas in the region: Balandra (APFF), Espíritu Santo (PN), and Cabo Pulmo (PN), protecting them, among other things, from being converted into private hotel developments.
Our water quality monitoring in La Paz has contributed to the establishment of a new drinking water treatment plant in El Centenario, and to raising awareness that the water comes from the Sierra and must be defended from open-pit mining.
We have promoted the first network in Mexico of Fishery Refuge Zones (ZRP), ensuring species recovery and the sustainability of fishing.
Is it true that you promote Protected Natural Areas (PNAs) that exclude people? No. PNAs are a regulatory instrument managed by the Federal Government. At Niparajá, we support their establishment as long as they favor a balance between biodiversity conservation and community well-being.
Is it true that you hoard land? No, all land purchases are made in complete legality, and all our lands are certified as areas voluntarily designated for conservation.
Are you against development / productive activities? We are not against development; we promote the creation of models that do not affect the environment or compromise the future of communities. We promote alternatives that allow economic growth without destroying the natural resources we depend on.