Last March we published the news that Las Marietas, located in front of the north point of the Bahía de Banderas, — after being analyzed and concluded by the International Council coordinating the Man and Biosphere Program [MAB] — have been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO because they constitute an important scientific research site, being home to numerous coral species as well as eight marine mammal species, 94 bird species and 115 fish species.
Within this context, I thought that some way there must have been more than one person who furnished UNESCO with at least part of the necessary information so they could embark on the task of researching their inclusion in the list of places declared Biosphere Reserves; then, considering it a relevant fact not only for Puerto Vallarta, the Bahía de Banderas and the Riviera de Nayarit, but for the whole country; I decided to do my own research into what this distinction means and who could have taken part in making it happen.
So goes the saying: “you get to Rome by asking directions”, so I immediately resorted to my good friend, oceanographer and Biological Sciences Doctorate, Amilcar Levi Cupul Magaña, who is always willing and able to converse on this regard and who ―I had no knowledge whatsoever of what he would be sharing with me ― gave me the necessary information to share with you a little of what it represents to many people who have put years of great efforts into placing Las Marietas into the Biosphere Reserve list.
Firstly, we must know that Las Marietas is an archipelago located about three miles from Punta Mita. This archipelago is formed by two landmarks, a long island and a rounded island closer to mainland. These volcanic-originated islands are separated approximately by just over half a mile. The islands age has been dated at a range of 13 to 5 million years based on a geographical study dated in the 70’s.
Naming them a Biosphere Reserve is a distinction on the part of UNESCO given to a site because of its scenic beauty, the diversity if its wildlife as well as its relationship with the community; these were the challenges that had to be overcome in order to achieve such distinction.
This result is a matter of great pride and responsibility for the care and monitoring due to these islands, the commitment for their preservation being now at the international level.
It is also vital to mention that thanks to the constant work and efforts on the part of a group of scientists, professors, students, entrepreneurs and government representatives, in April 2005 Las Marietas were declared a Mexican National Park; the decree pointed out that it included not only the land portion but also the marine surroundings as a buffer zone, a crucial element as in most of past island decrees the marine side was not considered, being it the most transcendental aspect to guarantee the conservation of every space that is named a protected area.
Their distance from mainland makes Las Marietas one of the best preserved sites, one that functions as a shelter, reproduction and breeding site for many marine, terrestrial and birds species, like the blue-foot booby duck, several seagulls and swallows. Their location and position in front of the bay, as well as the range of depths around them make Las Marietas a propitious environment for great underwater movement generating currents of nutrients towards the surface, therefore enriching the bay with micro-algae, a fundamental base to the food chain. The islands are a key factor for the bay to provide us with foods, much of the fish (various lutjanus snappers), as well as the lobster consumed locally also generating an economic profit.
From the touristic perspective, Las Marietas is a great natural attraction bringing together the conditions of a magnificent bird-watching spot, as well as advanced scuba diving. But just the boat ride to Las Marietas is an upbeat, exciting and enriching adventure, especially during the time when the humpback whales visit the bay. A very interesting matter is the fact that, in their depths, Las Marietas serve as a great resonance wall used by whales to amplify the sound of their calls and songs. To these giant cetacea this is the ideal place for the birth and first upbringing stages of their offspring.
From the biological point of view, Marietas is also a very important location worthy of the protected area decree. It brings along the commitment to work in the preservation of its resources, thus guaranteeing the continuity of this natural space as a source of life while remaining a touristic attraction where new alternative (eco-tourism) activities can be offered, always respectful of the protected area and the breeding species.
There is more information on Las Marietas which we will continue to share with you in future articles, it will be part of a series we will be publishing as a sincere tribute and recognition to all those who, in whatever way, have participated and contributed through many years, so that this enigmatic site could become first, a Mexican Protected Area and then a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The following are some of the people whom we thank and recognize for their participation and commitment, deliverance, work and effort:
• Maestro Fabio Cupul magaña
• Dr. Jorge Téllez
• Maestra Carmen Cortes Lara
• Grupo Marigalante
• Biólogo Rafael Girón
• Biólogo Abraham Reyes Juárez
• Dr. Jorge Fonseca Madrigal
• Bióloga Cecilia García Chavelas
• Biólogo Amilcar Levi Cupul Magaña
• Dra. Rosa María Chávez
• Maestro Pedro Medina
• Sr. Ricardo Farkas –Vallarta Adventures
• Maestro Ricardo Díaz Boirioli – Corporativo Ambiental
• Dr. Fabián Rodríguez Zaragoza
• Dr. Juan Luis Cifuentes Lemus
• Dr. Sinue Torres
• Biólogo Jorge Castrejón Pineda - Director del Parque
• Biólogo José Luis Menéndez - Técnico Oper. del
Parque
We wish to clarify that according to biologist Amilcar, there are many more persons who participated in the various activities towards today’s achievement, people whose names are unfortunately presently not available to us, but whom we must thank and recognize for their great contribution. To all of you, wherever you are, thank you, thank you very much..
Thank God for the lives of each one of them and for their great contribution that will transcend to our future generations. Email to a friend
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Within this context, I thought that some way there must have been more than one person who furnished UNESCO with at least part of the necessary information so they could embark on the task of researching their inclusion in the list of places declared Biosphere Reserves; then, considering it a relevant fact not only for 
Naming them a Biosphere Reserve is a distinction on the part of UNESCO given to a site because of its scenic beauty, the diversity if its wildlife as well as its relationship with the community; these were the challenges that had to be overcome in order to achieve such distinction.
From the biological point of view, Marietas is also a very important location worthy of the protected area decree. It brings along the commitment to work in the preservation of its resources, thus guaranteeing the continuity of this natural space as a source of life while remaining a touristic attraction where new alternative (eco-tourism) activities can be offered, always respectful of the protected area and the breeding species.