By Cindy Hardin, Director of Outdoor Education | Photos by the author

San Blas is a relatively small town (population 10,000) located on the west coast of Mexico in the state of Nayarit. It is surrounded by a large Mangrove estuary that is fed by rivers flowing down from the Sierra Madre Occidental.

This estuary is known worldwide to birders as a birding hotspot. Resident tropical species, like the Roseate Spoonbill and the Wood Stork are present in large numbers. It is also an overwintering spot for many migratory species, including the bird that Los Angeles Audubon Society has chosen as its symbol, the Western Tanager.

I had the good fortune to spend some time in this beautiful spot. In order to best see the estuary, it is essential to hire a small boat to slowly cruise the waterways. My boatman and guide were one in the same, a gentleman named Chencho, who has been a naturalist guide for 45 years.

Chencho knew all the spots to see some amazing species. I saw at least 100 hundred Wood Storks roosting in snags along the water’s edge. He pointed out Boat Billed Herons sequestered in the vegetation. During a night cruise he was able to spot owls roosting, and timed our cruise to the exact location where huge amounts of bats swarm through as they commence their night time feeding. Chencho also took care to move slowly and quietly through the waters, never disturbing the abundant wildlife present. It was delightful and inspirational to be in his presence in the midst of so much natural beauty.

All of Chencho’s expertise had been acquired during the decades he has worked as a guide. He had institutional knowledge of the area, and was able to tell me that biodiversity levels had remained pretty constant over the years. This knowledge did not come from the obtaining of an academic degree. His education was from the source: being present at the site for decades on an almost daily basis. Chencho also explained to me that the Mexican government was aware of the importance of this ecosystem, and in fact that it was a protected Ecological Reserve.

Chencho is truly an expert naturalist and conservationist. Sadly, in some circles, his knowledge might not be seriously considered, or worse, simply written off, due to his lack of formal education or a degree. Unfortunately, we have an example of this happening right now in our own backyard in regards to a very precious piece of habitat: the Ballona Wetlands.

At the moment, the State has approved a plan that would disrupt much of the Ballona Wetlands and that is a ‘restoration’ in name only. A section of habitat, known as Area A, is slated to be bulldozed beyond recognition in a misguided attempt to “re-connect” the wetlands to the open ocean. However, historical records indicate that Ballona Creek only very occasionally reached all the way to the sea, and only during extremely heavy rain years. The plan, known as Alternative One, would create a full tidal habitat that never existed previously on the site.

To make matters worse, there is abundant documentation of a huge number of species that currently use Area A as foraging and roosting spots. Some of these species are threatened or endangered, like the Least Bell’s Vireo and the White-Tailed Kite. The vegetation found in Area A, like Arroyo Willow and Mulefat indicate that freshwater is very close to the surface. In fact, during years that see average and above average levels of rainfall, freshwater pools can be found that host fairy shrimp, dragonfly larvae and other water dwelling invertebrates. These seasonal freshwater habitats are a much more accurate reflection of what the wetlands were historically.

Local naturalist experts have extensively documented the presence of these and many more species with photographic evidence over the past two decades. This evidence was included in many public responses and comments during the review period of the Draft Environmental Report for this project. Sadly, although the photos and comments were acknowledged, they were not taken into serious account as the sources were considered “amateurs”. These so-called amateurs, like the Mexican guide Chencho, are on-site on an almost daily basis, and like Chenco, have a deep and encompassing knowledge of their local habitat.

Ironically, some of the “experts” cited in the Environmental Impact Report have only visited Ballona a handful of times. The small amount of time actually spent on-site precludes the ability to see the habitat throughout the seasons, and changes that occur at different times of year. For example, if a botanist is only present during the drier months of summer and fall, the wildflowers that bloom in winter and spring will not be seen. An entomologist would certainly miss the Fairy Shrimp in the seasonal ponds if their research only brought them to Ballona during a drought year. Sadly, we are a culture that is obsessed with titles and accreditation, and depth of knowledge that is acquired through non-traditional channels does not at times carry the same weight when viewed by official (i.e. government) agencies.

It remains to be seen if the State’s plans for Ballona will actually come to fruition. At the moment, several lawsuits are active in the hopes that the course for Ballona will be altered. And one can still contact local and state politicians (including the Governor) to express opposition to the Final Environmental Impact Report.

In the meantime, there is something that anyone who cares about nature can do. Become an expert on your own favorite spot! If you are reading this there is a good chance that you already have a nature location that is a particular favorite. It might be one that you visit frequently. Take notice of this area, and make a point to visit it during different times of year. Document what you see, either with photos (if you have a smart phone, use I-Naturalist) or quick jotting down of notes in a notebook. Try to learn a little bit of its history, and what species were historically present as opposed to what is there now. Share your knowledge with friends and neighbors, and if they seem interested, take them for a visit to “your spot”.

There is power within citizenry, and the advent of citizen science has helped scientist around the world to better document habitats and species present. The Great Backyard Bird Count, and annual event, recently concluded, provides a snapshot of birds in local neighborhoods around the world. This helps to track changes in biodiversity, and to raise awareness of its value. And as always, time spent outside is almost guaranteed to lift the mood and improve the health of the observer.

As David Brower, famous naturalist and denizen of the Sierra Club said: “We never stop the developers, we just slow them down.” More voices and local knowledge do have the ability to foment positive change. Knowledge gained from on the ground experience is valid, viable and valuable. So be your own expert for the space you love-your information may just one day be of help to preserve it!