Int.J Sustain. Dm. Wmkl Ecol. 8 (2001) 155-165

Salt production at San Ignacio : a Sustainable Development Project?

Alji-edo Ortega-Rubio, Daniel Lluch-Cota and Aradit Castellanos-Vera

Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, México

Key words: San Ignacio Lagoon, , salt production, sustainable development

SUMMARY This work is devoted to analyzing the pros and cons of the proposed San Ignacio Lagoon (SIL) salt production project in , México. The analysis of the project was done taking into account the technical data of the main potential effects of the SIL project, and by comparing the SIL proposed actions with the data of Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, where an almost identical salt production project has been operating for more than 44 years. The analysis was done from the following perspectives: biodiversity, biosphere reserve management, and socioeconomic development. The resulting analysis of the pros and cons of the SIL salt production project addresses key aspects of sustainable development in Third World nations. The resulting analysis indicates that the SIL salt production project is compatible with the biodiversity conservation of the zone. The SIL salt production project seems to be one of the best options to attain the sustainable use of natural resources of the most arid and isolated zone of al1 México.

INTRODUCTION During 1994, the Compañia Exportadora de Sal has been operating for more than 44 years. The (ESSA, Salt Export Company) ,a Mexican Federal analysis is made from the perspectives of bie company with 49% private Japanese capital, diversity, biosphere reserve management, and proposed a new project to develop salt production socioeconomic development. activities in the surroundings of San Ignacio The resulting analysis of the pros and cons of Lagoon (SIL), Baja California Sur (BCS), México the SIL salt production project addresses key (Figure 1) . aspects of sustainable development in Third World The SIL salt production project has generated nations, such as the balance of environmental considerable attention and controversy, both at and economic considerations; ensuring and main- the national and international level. This work is taining of economic, social and environmental devoted to the analysis of the pros and cons of the sustainability in an isolated and restrictive region, proposed project, taking into account the and the difficulties of developing productive technical data, the main potential effects of the activities in an environmentally controversia1 and SIL project, and by comparing the SIL proposed economically depressed area of a Third World actions with the data of Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, economy. where an almost identical salt production project

Correspondence:Alfredo Ortega-Rubio, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Apartado Postal. # 128, La Paz, 23000, B.C.S. México. e-mail: [email protected] San Ignacio Lagoon salt production Ortega-Rubio et al.

O P 40 Hm SCALE

Figure 1 Location of the San Ignacio Lagoon and the proposed salt production project. Location of Ojo de Liebre Lagoon and the salt production project in operation since 1955

International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology San Ignacio Lapon salt production íhtega-Rubio et al.

MATERIAL AND METHODS halophytic vegetation, including species such as Eriogonum intricatum and Muhlembergia parten; cover We gathered al1 the scientific published literature the remaining 5%. Such species are also widely concerning SIL and Ojo de Liebre Lagoon (OLL) distributed in the region (León de La Luz et al., and their surroundings. The main biological, 1991). The proposed ponds will be filled with ecological and socioeconomic charactenstics of seawater pumped from the Lagoon. The proposed the regions where both are located were project intends to insta11 eight water pumps in analyzed. It should be stressed that most of the the northern part of SIL, and pump approximately published literature on the environmental and 1 200 000 mSper day of the Lagoon seawater. biological aspects of the project region was the Marine water will slowly circulate from pond to work of scientists at our research centre, CIBNOR pond allowing evaporation by solar heating and (Arriaga and Castellanos, 1995; Breceda et al., air flow. It will need two years of slow evaporation 1995; Cancino and Ortega-Rubio, 1994; and movement of the water from pond to pond Castellanos and Ortega-Rubio, 1995; Castellanos until the original marine water arrives at the small et al, 1994a; 199413; Lluch et al., 1993; Maravilla, crystallization ponds where the salt will precipitate. 1991; Ortega and Arriaga, 1991a; 1991b; Ortega- The salt produced wíll be mechanically harvested Rubio and Castellanos-Vera, 1994; Ortega and and transported by a band conveyor system to a Castellanos, 1995; Ortega et al., 1988; 1989; 1990; pile near the coast for temporary storage. 1991; Sanabria et al, 1995). According to the proposal of the project (Ortega With al1 this information, and with the et al., 1994), the waste products after salt experience of the 20 years of professional work in harvesting, ('Amargos') the 'bitters', will be in the region, we proceed to review the main issues part used for table salt production and the remains that a large number of green organizations have will be disposed of in the open sea, at least 5 km claimed to be problems with the SIL salt from the coast line. Most the salt works around production project. We carefully weighed such the world dispose of their bitters directly into claims against the biological-ecological and coastal water, not in the open sea. socioeconomical data gathered. The approach Twenty-five kilometres north of the Lagoon was based on a solid biological-environmental mouth (Figure 1),a dock is to be constructed and background of the persons who were developing operated for the loading of the salt into large the analysis. According to Ewel (1993), such a vessels. To avoid dredging, the dock will be 2-km background, at least for conservation in tropical long to allow the docking of large ships. The first countries, is essential, because biologists more 200 m of the dock will consist of a solid stone than any other professional, understand the tight layer, and the remaining length, 1800 m, is interdependence between biological and proposed to be sustained by vertical piles placed environmental health. every 34 m. In the operation phase, only two vessel trips per week will account for al1 loading and transporting of the product to its final destination; thus heavy ship traflic is not to be expected. General aspects of the SIL salt The proposed SIL project (Ortega et al., 1994) includes the creation of 200 permanentjobs, the production project production of 7 000 000 t of salt per year and the The SIL salt production project consists of the generation of $100 000 000 every year. Of this modification of 24 000 ha of hypersaline soil to quantity, approximately 40% will be devoted to build shallow ponds 1-m deep. (Ortega et al., pay State and Federal taxes. There will be no new 1994). These 24 000 ha are located 2 to 5 km permanent human settlements produced by this from the SIL coastline. They are covered by project. The people hired for the SIL project will naturally impermeable hypersaline soil and are be living at Abreojos and San Ignacio, already called Eriales. These Eriales are almost devoid of established towns. any native flora and fauna (León de La Luz et al., Table 1 summarizes the main arguments against 1991).Almost 95% of the surface covered by the the SIL salt production project to date. The first Eriales is naked, impermeable soil. Herbal column presents the cons against the proposed

IntemationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology 157 San Ignacio Lagoon salt production Ortega-Rubio et al.

Table 1 Main arguments against SIL salt production project and technical data gathered

Apments against the Wosedproject Technical data

Laguna San Ignacio Pumping 1.2 million cubic This huge quantity of water taken from the head metres per day from the of the Lagoon represents less than 0.3%of the Lagoon will change the water exchanged every day between the lagoon temperature and salinity of the and the open sea through the mouth of the San Ignacio Lagoon Lagoon (Lluch et aL, 1993) Pier Building a 2-km pier located Only 200 m of the pier are solid rock structures. 25 km north of San Ignacio Only 0.1% of the whales arriving to BCS will ever Lagoon will obstmct the swim near this proposed dock. After 44 years of movement of whaies coming operating ESSA 2 piers in the same region, inside the Lagoon. The ships monthly receiving 6 ships and 43 tugboats, there arriving at the pier could suffer has never been reported a large toxic spill. Aiong possible fue1 spills their route from Aiaska to BCS, the whales pass near important piers, both military and commercial, aiong the Pacific Coast of Canada and USA. Both countries plan to build new piers along these coasts in the following years Grey whale The project will severely affect Of about 30 000 grey whales living in the world, the grey whaies arriving every only 6000 arrive at Mexican lagoons (Maravilla, year at San Ignacio Lagoon. 1991). Of these, approximately 350 arrive every The project will preclude the year at San Ignacio (Maravilla, 1991). Most of the calving and mating of grey whales coming to México, 1200, come every year to whaies inside the Lagoon. The Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, where an identical sait local grey whaie population will production project has been operating for more be so affected that this will lead than 44 years. At Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, the whales to the extinction of this species arriving have been constantly increasing their numbers Biosphere reserve Because San Ignacio Lagoon is The Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve comprises aimost located in the Vizcaíno 3 million hectares. According to the presidentiai Biosphere Reserve, there is a decree of creation, and both management plans total prohibition on the for this Reserve, the sustainable use of the natural development of this, or any resources outside of the core areas of the Reserve other, productive project on the must be enhanced. The Eriales surrounding San Eriales surrounding the Lagoon Ignacio Lagoon are located outside the core areas of this Reserve Socioeconomic aspects In this region the local people At San Ignacio Lagoon, as has been proved at Ojo must only live by fishing and de Liebre Lagoon, fishing, ecotourism and sait ecotourism production can coexist quite well. Fishing inside the San Ignacio Lagoon is marginal and has reached its upper growth limit. For ecotourism, only 1% of the money spent by whaie watchers is spent on salaries and purchases in the area. One of the best alternatives for red economic growth in this area is salt production

International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology San Ipacio Lugoon salt pfoduction Ortega-Rubio et al.

(the Eriales) by extended and shallow ponds will result in habitat enhancement. In these ponds, the marine biota will flourish, from a diverse collection of fish, clam, and shrimp in the low-salt concentration ponds (most of the flooded area), to a very specific halophilous microflora in the small hypersaline ponds (Lopez, 1991). The flourishing of the marine biota in the shallow ponds will enable the marine bird community to increase their species richness and their popu- lation (Castellanos et al., 1994a; 199413; Castellanos and Ortega-Rubio. 1995). Figure 2 General aspect of the Eriales. The Eriales are shown in the upper part of the photo: the flatlands deprived of vegetation and fauna Lagoon water quality One million two hundred thousand cubic metres project, the second column the technical data pumped daily out of SIL is a large quantity of gathered. We will analyze the technical data seawater, thus there have been strong concerns concerning the main changes expected to be about the possible effects of this removal on the produced, if the SIL salt production project goes characteristics of the Lagoon (Danemann and forward. Saenz-Arroyo, 1995;Velasco, 1996). However, the SIL contains approximately 600 million cubic metres of seawater (Lluch et al., 1993).This means Expected changes in the environment that the proposed project will take daily less than Soil use 0.3% of the total seawater volume contained in the Lagoon. In the terrestrial environment, the largest modi- Moreover, and since the Lagoon consists of a fication by the project would be the replacement narrow central, deep channel surrounded by of the hypersaline soil, 5 km from the Lagoon, by shallow bottoms, between 40 and 60% of its total 24 000 ha of shallow ponds. This area, as well as seawater volume currently enters and leaves the most of the land around the SIL, 64 000 ha, is Lagoon through tidal currents and natural flow characterized by a natural hypersaline condition patterns. Such tidal exchanges take place two (Ortega et aL, 1988; Ortega and Arriaga, 1991a; times a day (Lluch et al., 1993). Because of this 1991b; Ortega and Castellanos, 1995). continuous movement and significant natural The area consist of low flats that, for hundreds interchange between the Lagoon and the open of years, have been periodically covered by sea, we expect the local effects at the head of the seawater during extremely high tides. Part of this Lagoon, including current circulation patterns water remains in the soil until its ultimate and their effects on the plankton, will be minimal, evaporation, because of the combined action of as compared with the huge volumes of seawater prevailing low precipitation, winds, and high changed twice a day. insolation (Maya and Troyo, 1991). The salt Thus, taking into consideration this daily accumulation that results from this process has seawater recharge pattern, it is unlikely that salinity deprived most of this area of any native flora and and temperature will change in SIL as a result of fauna, leaving almost sterile and impermeable the proposed pumping ofwater from the Lagoon. sand-and-salt flats, called Eriales (Figure 2). This same process is what makes the area good for natural salt production and precludes other Effect of the dock constmction and qeration possible economic development (Ortega et al., 1988; 1992; 1994). One of the main SIL project concerns relates to We believe the replacement of this kind of the potential 'bamer effect' of the dock on coastal biologically and economically unproductive soil fishing grounds near the area, because of changes

Intemational Joumal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology 159 San Ignacio Lagoon salt poduction Ortega-Rubio et al. in littoral sediment transport at this location. be provided by the Mexican Electrical Utility based However, the expected changes in current and at . There will be no ships carrying sediment transport along the coast, because of a fuel to the pier north of SIL, and there will be no 200-m barrier (the part of the dock to be fuel storage. constructed as a solid rock layer) are restricted to only about 600 m on either side along the shore, depending on the prevailing current speed and Gfey whab direction. (Ortega et al., 1994). Even under the Every winter, grey whales arrive at the coastal worst simulated conditions, the distance of the lagoons of the Baja California peninsula (Ojo de proposed dock from fishing grounds that exist in Liebre, Guerrero Negro, San Ignacio, and the area precludes any significant impacts on Magdalena Bay) for reproductive purposes. these fishing areas (Ortega et al., 1994). Pregnant females give birth and males and The other 1800 m of the dock are not expected nonpregnant females copulate (Maravilla, 1991). to have significant impact on the natural patterns This species used to exist as at least three stocks, of marine currents and sediment transport. This one in the Atlantic, one in the western Pacific and larger portion will not represent a 'barrier' one in the eastern Pacific, but only the latter has because it consists of vertical piles spaced at a far survived in large numbers (Rice and Wolman, larger distance than their diameter and will not 1971). Even this stock was severely endangered present any obstacle for the prevailing shore because of whale hunting, but international efforts, transport (Ortega et al., 1994). and especially the protection of the reproductive Another concern is the possibility of accidents grounds by the Mexican government (Ortega et during the operation of vessels at the proposed al., 1988; 1992) have succeeded in a significant dock, particularly the occurrence of fuel spills recovery of the eastern Pacific stock (Maravilla, (Velasco, 1996). The SIL proposed project 1991). In the early 1970s, the population size was contemplates the proper plans, equipment, and about 10 000 individuals (Rice and Wolman, 1971; staff for attending spills (Ortega et al., 1994).At Maravilla, 1991). Their number had increased to their facilities to date, ESSA successfully operates 15 600 in 1980 (Reilly et al., 1983) and to more a dock at Cedros Island for salt loading, and than 20 000 in 1989 (Tershy and Breese, 1991). another dock inside Ojo de Liebre Lagoon for Aerial censuses over the Mexican lagoons salt transportation (Ortega-Rubio et al., 1998). indicate the arriving population size to be around During 44 years of operating both docks, there 1500 individuals, a number that has remained have been no significant reported accidents or relatively constant for the last decade (Fleisher, fuel spills from the ships and tugboats. This record 1990). Of these, between 300 to 400 usually use suggests that significant oil spills are unlikely. San Ignacio, while more than twice generally The SIL project contemplates the use of similar prefer OLL (Maravilla, 1991). However, the equipment, and staff currently used at OLL to annual number of whales in each lagoon is prevent and control potential fuel spills. At the variable, with the global environmental fluctu- pier located 25 km to the north of SIL, it is ations in temperature and salinity determining proposed that every ship tying up to the pier will whale preferences for northern vs. southern be immediately surrounded by an antispill barrier. lagoons (Fleisher and Maravilla, 1990). There will be ready two 300-foot antispill barriers, Most of the data provided here are based on two pumps, four 20-foot boats, six collection tanks, grey literature, which has not been published in absorbing material, and 25 workers, certified as peer reviewed journals. Also, the number of the counter spill technicians by the US FOSS aerial surveys did not account for turnovers within environmental company (Ortega et al., 1994). the lagoons during the breeding season. However, There is a significant difference between the these are the only data available to date. pier located at Cedros Island, operated by ESSA Though both the leve1 and the growth of the for 44 years, and the pier proposed 25 km to the grey whale population seem adequate, the grey north of SIL. At Cedros Island, it is necessary to whale was, and still is considered by some, an transport, and to store, the diese1 fuel used for endangered species (AuriolesGamboa, 1993). generating electricity. At SIL, the electricity will Thus, many of the concerns about the SIL

160 International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology San Ignacio Lagoon salt production Ortega-Rubio et al. production project relate directly to its potential and biologically unproductive soil, into more effects on the whale population (Velasco, 1996; biologically productive habitat, we expect the Danemann and Saenz-Arroyo, 1995). One aspect marine bird community of this Lagoon to increase of the ongoing controversy deals with the its population numbers at the Eriales (Ortega- construction of the dock. There is concern that Rubio et al., 1998). Comparing the number of this 2000-m long structure may be an obstacle for marine bird species before the OLL salt facilities the whales as they move in and out the SIL. were built and operating (Bancroft, 1927) with It should be emphasized that only 200 m of the the species number after salt production activities proposed dock could represent a physical barrier takes place, there has been found a significant for the normal whale transit in this zone, increase (Ortega-Rubio et al., 1998). We believe particularly at the local level, and especially to the this fact must also be considered, especially since females with calves who prefer to move closest to some of these marine birds are either endangered the shore. However, study of the movements of or migratory species, subject to international 321 whales by Ramírez and Velázquez (1994) at protective management (Castellanos and Llinas, the proposed dock area indicated that whales 1991; Lluch et al., 1993). prefer to move relatively far offshore. Only 12 The SIL project operation does not include individuals swam close enough to pass near the the formation of any new human settlement in projected dock (less than 3 km off the coast). the region, which usually represents a source of Moreover, only 20 to 30% of the total whale negative impacts on marine birds (Castellanos population arriving in México goes to San Ignacio and Llinas, 1991). Moreover, the operations of (the remaining 70 to 80% use the other lagoons, the project imply the control of human access mainly OLL, which is located to the north; Figure and transit across the area. This control is very 1).We can then estimate that less than 1% of the important for conservation purposes, since human grey whales arriving to Baja California Sur will disturbance is a main problem for birds nesting ever swim near the area of the proposed dock. in the zone (Castellanosand Llinas, 1991 ; Salinas- We should also consider that the same grey Zavala et al., 1991; Lluch et al., 1993). We note whale population moves along al1 the Canadian the Mexican Government does not have enough and US west coasts twice during their yearly economic resources to properly guard this migration (Maravilla, 1991).Whales reach México protected area. The access to SIL would be after passing by very large Canadian and USA privately regulated by the infrastructure of the military and commercial port facilities, much salt company, as it is at OLL (Ortega-Rubio et al., larger and more troubled by ship trafic, pollution, 1998). As has been demonstrated at OLL, the and noise than the projected dock at SIL. Their controlled access precludes uncontrolled migration path takes them into, out of, and across transient human visits to the sensitive zones, such the normal shipping routes. Even at locations as the breeding islands (Castellanos et al., 1994a; such as those for oil exploitation in the Gulf of 1994b), but does not preclude ecotourism. Alaska, the evidence of significant impacts on the grey whale remains, at most, unclear (ASA, 1981). Grey whales do not breed in any of the areas Biosphere reserue mentioned and no longer breed in San Diego Bay, which has been highly modified. However, The Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve was established as we have noted, most of the Mexican grey whales (Ortega et al., 1988; Ortega-Rubio and Castellanos- are born in OLL, located to the north of SIL, and Vera, 1994) to promote biological conservation thus will not be affected by the dock building and in its core areas, and environmentally sound operation. economic development in the buffer zones (Ortega et al., 1990; 1992).The San Ignacio Eriales surrounding the Lagoon are located in the buffer zones of the Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve (Tejas et Marine bird populations al., 1991). Because the core of the proposed project is the The presidential decree for the Reserve conversion of 24 000 ha of the Eriales, hypersaline creation and for both management plans strongly

IntemationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology 161 San Ignacio Lagoon salt poduction Wga-Rubio et al. emphasized the search for economic alternatives American citizens. According to Young (1995), for the local inhabitants on a sustainable devel- for 1994 approximately $3.3 million were spent opment basis (Ortega and Arriaga, 1991a).These by tourists visiting SIL, through tours organized ecologically plausible productive projects must by foreign-based companies. Less than 1% of this be developed in the buffer zones of the Reserve, ($26 000) was spent on purchases and salaries in such as the Eriales surrounding the SIL (Tejas et the area (Young, 1995). If there were established al., 1991; Ortega et al., 1990; 1992). specific regulations in the area, such as the requirement of visiting the Lagoon using only the boats of the local fishermen, then this unfair Socioeconomic aspects use of the scenic resources of the zone by foreigners and by local people would change. It has been stated that the only environmentally However, as far as we can predict, the overall sound activities for the local inhabitants picture of the ecotourism benefits will not change surrounding the SIL, are ecotourism and fishery in the visible future. (Aridjis, 1995; Clifford, 1997; Philips, 1996; Other than tourism and fishing, only agriculture Velasco, 1996).Although very important abalone and salt production have generated significant and lobster fisheries are on the west coast of the economic development in this area. Since peninsula, the main areas of exploitation are agriculture is strongly limited by the lack of fresh located outside and far from the Lagoon, while water, salt production is the most obvious near- fisheries inside are, by comparison, small-scale term possibility. Al1 the freshwater of the region is extraction of other resources such as the pismo taken from underground reserves (INEGI, 1996). clam. Moreover, similar artisanal fishing activities To present, the underground freshwater reserves have been going on for many years at OLL and are overexploited, in the region there is an annual have coexisted with the salt industry for 44 years recharge of 40 000 000 mS, and 42 000 000 m3 are without any noticeable negative impact. Similarly, annually extracted (INEGI, 1996). Most of this whales have coexisted with the salt industry at extracted underground water, approximately 86%, OLL, and despite year to year variations, the is devoted to agriculture. Agnculture is extremely number of whales arriving to this area have inefficient in the use of the water. It is expected increased during the last decades (Ortega-Rubio that SIL salt production project operation will et al., 1998).No impact on whalewatching tourism consume less than 1% of the total water actually is likely to be generated by the new project, extracted at the zone (Ortega et al., 1994). particularly since the only activity taking place at An important alternative for economic growth the Lagoon would be seawater extraction, as in this area is to use the impermeable soils of the opposed to OLL, where salt transportation inside Eriales surrounding SIL to produce salt. This the Lagoon takes place (Ortega-Rubio et al., 1998). alternative does not preclude fishery and eco- Neither traditional fisheries nor ecotourism tourism, as demonstrated at OLL (Ortega-Rubio activities are likely to provide future opportunities et al., 1998). The creation of newjobs is the most for economic development within the region. important need for the local population Most of the fisheries in the area are at their (Castellanos and Mendoza, 1991).Because of the maximum production capacity; catches have not aridity and geographic isolation of the zone, the increased in any sustained way during the last lack of local economic development alternatives severa1years. Yearly catches of abalone and lobster have promoted (Castellanos and Mendoza, 1991), along the northwest Pacific coast of BCS fluctuate and certainly will continue to promote, the between 400 to 600 t. For both fisheries there has migration of the local inhabitants to the USA and been no increase during the last ten years (INEGI, mainland México. 1991). According to Young (1995), ecotourism has not promoted any significant leve1 of economic development for the local communities. The CONCLUSIONS ecotourism activities at SIL are monopolized by foreign companies, most of them based in the Though every effort should be taken to assure United States (Young, 1995), or owned by that new development will not result in any

162 International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology San Ignacio Lagoon salt pmduction Ortega-Rubio et al. negative impact on other activities, it seems clear evidence indicates, it is possible to affirm that the that both ecotourism and traditional fisheries are SIL salt production project is compatible with the unlikely to support the needs of a growing local biodiversity consemation of the zone. population, and that salt production has been a The SIL salt production project seems to be major source of economic development for this one of the best options to attain the, so-called, arid, isolated area. Since sustainable development sustainable use of natural resources of the most is one of the main goals of any Biosphere Reseme, arid and isolated zone of al1 México. As it has we believe that this status regarding Vizcaíno been clearly stated by Upreti (1994), the design should not be considered as an argument against of appropriate policies and strategies that lead to any sustainable development opportunity, consemation of the biological diversity, natural particularly when the proposed project is to take ecosystems and the ecologically sustainable place outside the core areas (the core areas are development, is notan option but a requirement. the only ones intended to be only for conservation purposes) .Because there will not be new transient or permanent human settlements produced by ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS this project, it is possible to expect that the effects on local fauna and flora will be limited. This work was supported by the National Coun- Particularly, it is important to emphasize that the cil of Sciences and Technology of México project is proposed to be developed inside a huge (CONACYT) Project No, 1895P-N9507, and the area (more than 64 000 ha) of Eriales. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, It is worthwhile to develop more specific and S.C. We would like to thank Sr. Marcos Acevedo detailed studies on the potential effects of the SIL for his help during our field work, Cerafina proposed project on the ecology of the Lagoon Argüelles for her support during the analysis of and the Eriales, on the biology of the main species the articles, Dr. Ellis Glazier for editing the English of the zone, and on the socioeconomic effects on language text, and Lolita Vázquez for her expert the region. However, as far as the available secretaria1 assistance.

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