Area: 9,85 km²
Location: From Punta Eugenia, Baja California Sur, off the Pacific Coast of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
Number of inhabitants: 302
Island Protected : Yes
Protection status :
- Terrestrial protected area, part of the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve.
- MAB UNESCO as part of the El Vizcaíno since 1993.
- Important Bird Area. IBA No- 09
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Natividad is a continental island located 9.3 km from Punta Eugenia, Baja California Sur, off the Pacific Coast of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT
- Nesting site for 95% of the world population of the Black-vented Shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas), an endemic breeder in Mexico with around 46,322 -120,000 breeding pairs.
- Its dominant vegetation is desert scrub. It hosts 81 native plant species, including one endemic species.
- Native fauna consist of 11 nesting birds, two reptile species, one endemic subspecies of mouse and three species of marine mammals.
ECONOMICAL CONTEXT
- Mainly fishing (MSC certified) that includes abalone, lobster, fish, sea urchin, snail, sea cucumber and sargassum.
- Aquaculture (abalone and sea urchin).
- Fish processing plant.
- Tourism (surfing, diving and occasionally cycling).
- Local trade.
One of the main challenges of the inhabited islands in the Pacific is that they are owned by the federal government, and therefore there is an enormous lack of support from the government to provide basic services such as waste disposal, among others.
SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT
The island is property of the federal government and managed by the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP).
