Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California

Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California

States of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinora, Sinaloa, and Nayarit
N27 37 36.0 W112 32 45.0
ref: 1182

Descriptionmultiple locations

Date of Inscription: 2005
Criteria: N (ii) (iii) (iv)

Brief Description

The site comprises 244 islands, islets and coastal areas that are located in the Gulf of California in northeastern Mexico. The Sea of Cortez and its islands have been called a natural laboratory for the investigation of speciation. Moreover, almost all major oceanographic processes occurring in the planet’s oceans are present in the property, giving it extraordinary importance for study. The site is one of striking natural beauty in a dramatic setting formed by rugged islands with high cliffs and sandy beaches, which contrast with the brilliant reflection from the desert and the surrounding turquoise waters. The site is home to 695 vascular plant species, more than in any marine and insular property on the World Heritage List. Equally exceptional is the number of fish species: 891, ninety of them endemic. The site, moreover, contains 39% of the world’s total number of species of marine mammals and a third of the world’s marine cetacean species.

Justification for Inscription

Criterion (ii): The property ranks higher than other marine and insular World Heritage properties as it represents a unique example in which, in a very short distance, there are simultaneously “bridge islands” (populated by land in ocean level decline during glaciations) and oceanic islands (populated by sea and air). Moreover, almost all major oceanographic processes occurring in the planet’s oceans are present in the property, giving it extraordinary importance for the study of marine and coastal processes. These processes are indeed supporting the high marine productivity and biodiversity richness that characterize the Gulf of California.

Criterion (iii): The serial property is of striking natural beauty and provides a dramatic setting due to the rugged forms of the islands, with high cliffs and sandy beaches contrasting with the brilliant reflection from the desert and the surrounding turquoise waters. The diversity of forms and colours is complemented by a wealth of birds and marine life. The diversity and abundance of marine life associated to spectacular submarine forms and high water transparency makes the property a diver’s paradise.

Criterion (iv): The diversity of terrestrial and marine life is extraordinary and constitutes a unique ecoregion of high priority for biodiversity conservation. The number of species of vascular plants (695) present in this serial property is higher than that reported in other marine and insular properties included in the WH List. The number of species of fish (891) is also highest when compared to a number of marine and insular properties. In addition the marine endemism is important, with 90 endemic fishes. The serial property contains 39% of the world’s total number of marine mammal’s species and a third of the world’s total number of marine cetacean’s species. In addition the serial property includes a good sample of the Sonora desert ecosystems, considered one of the richest deserts in the world from the desert biodiversity point of view.

§ Advisory Body Evaluation

1182-001	Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California Flora and fauna protected area	Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa,	N29 00 00 W112 20 00
1182-002	Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere reserve	Baja California, Sonora,	N31 38 00 W114 37 00
1182-003	San Pedro Martir Island Biosphere reserve	Sonora,	N28 22 30 W112 20 15
1182-004	El Vizcaino Biosphere reserve	Baja California Sur,	N28 22 30 W112 20 15
1182-005	Bahia de Loreto National Park	Baja California Sur,	N25 50 35 W111 13 00
1182-006	Cabo Pulmo National Park	Baja California Sur,	N23 27 00 W109 25 00
1182-007	Cabo San Lucas Flora and fauna protected area	Baja California Sur,	N22 53 00 W109 52 00
1182-008	Marias Islands Biosphere reserve	Nayarit,	N21 35 00 W106 32 00
1182-009	Isabel Island National Park	Nayarit,	N21 51 00 W105 53 00