SPBO Seeks Donations for Conservation of San Pancho’s Estuary San Pancho Bird Observatory
September 25, 2023

The San Pancho Estuary Needs Your Help (Birding San Pancho Network)

We are thrilled to share exciting news about the progress made in the conservation of San Pancho's estuary. After several months of perseverance through bureaucratic procedures at the municipal, state, and federal levels, San Pancho Bird Observatory (SPBO) has obtained municipal approval for its project.

Currently, we are advancing in the federal authorization process to protect an urban area of approximately 1200 m2, adjacent to the old sewage treatment plant. This is a crucial step in our effort to preserve the estuary and enhance its management, particularly concerning the troublesome invasive water lilies that threaten this vital ecosystem.

Our director, marine biologist Luis Morales, has led this initiative for over a decade, and thanks to his dedication and the support we've received from the birdwatching community, we've achieved significant progress.

This effort couldn't be more relevant. San Pancho's estuary is an ecological treasure that provides water, biodiversity, and essential environmental services to our community and its surroundings. It is a fundamental habitat for birds, fish, and other creatures that depend on its health.

Thanks to your generous support, we've raised over $10,000 USD and secured legal authorizations totaling over $1,500 USD during the year 2023. However, we now face new challenges.

We need funds to fence the street side of the concessioned polygon, in order to prevent the dumping of trash at the site (with an estimated cost of $2,000 USD). Additionally, we are looking to acquire a plant shredder (with an estimated cost of $7,000 USD) and secure additional funds to train and compensate the personnel who will operate this machinery.

This investment will accelerate the reduction of the invasive water lilies in the estuary, producing compost that we will use to establish a nursery for native plants. These native plants will contribute to the restoration of damaged areas in the riverbed and provide local gardens an hotels, guesthouses and community centers with native pollinating plants favored by both local and migratory hummingbirds, as well as other native plants preferred by birds and other pollinators.

We kindly ask for your consideration in making a donation to continue supporting our ongoing conservation efforts at San Pancho's estuary. This marks the beginning of a new phase of collaboration that will lead to significant and positive changes in our wetland ecosystem.

On behalf of the entire SPBO team, as well as the birds, fish, and all the creatures inhabiting the estuary, we express our deep gratitude to all the authorities and our generous donors, both local and from around the world.

With your support, we can continue to protect and restore this natural treasure that is San Pancho's estuary. Together, let's make our wetland ecosystem stronger and more vibrant than ever.

United for the conservation of our birds and their habitat,

SPBO Team

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