Punta Brava en Japón

Video en internet que nos muestra cómo están vendiendo el proyecto Punta Brava y cuál es la visión de los afortunados millonarios que serán aceptados en el club. Podemos observar cómo caminan por nuestra península imaginándose que no queda nada del matorral costero que consideran unos cuantos arbustos secos, y que en cambio todo es verde y frondoso... un inmenso campo de golfo que se conecta con el mar.

Vemos a los visitantes ya tirando sus pelotas de golf por los acantilados...

Internet video showing how the advertise Punta Brava in Japan.

http://live.arukikata.co.jp/m/WLrTwOOn4HY/

Press Release May 22

Members of the community of Ensenada

vivapuntabanda@gmail.com

http://futurocostaensenada.wordpress.com/category/la-loberapunta-banda/

Press Release

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2009.

 

More than one thousand petitioners call on Tiger Woods to abandon his golf project in one of Baja California’s most Fragile Environmental and Cultural Landmarks

 

Local citizens and residents claim that the project violates local ordinances and

 negatively impacts the natural and cultural heritage of the area.

 

At the southern tip of Ensenada Bay lies Punta Banda. Considered one of the last remaining areas of endangered maritime coastal scrub habitat and the place of numerous prehistoric and historic archeological sites, Punta Banda is a landmark for the local community. This spectacular landscape together with its natural and cultural heritage is now threatened to disappear by the development of a Golf Course and resort designed and promoted by famous golfer Tiger Woods. 

Last April, more than 200 local citizens and several local and international groups sent written communications to Mr. Woods regarding the negative impacts of his project.  However, Tiger Woods remained silent in of the face of this request to abandon the project.

Also, several community members demanded that Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) conserve this place intact. “We fear that if this project goes forward, we will lose part of our history and part of our land.  Punta Banda would be wounded to death” said Carlos Lazcano explorer, speleologist, renowned international journalist and member of the local community. INAH has yet to determine the actions that will be carried out to protect and conserve the archeological remains.

Yesterday, a second communication was sent to representatives of Tiger Woods, this time more than 1200 signatures from the local community, civil society and interested parties from around the globe, –some even admirers of the celebrity– are requesting that he act differently and join worldwide efforts to combat climate change and environmental degradation.

¨The project Punta Brava is not going in accordance with the natural and cultural attributes of the area known as La Lobera. The project is outside of the sustainable and legal standards that rule Mexico¨, said Gabriel Camacho a local resident and long time visitor of Punta Banda.

For this reason, a coalition of non-profit organizations and individuals from the local community are already preparing the lawsuits that will be filed in case the project is approved. Paula Pijoan from the Ensenada Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation said:  “We will make sure that the environment and culture are respected but most importantly that the rights of the local community remain unaffected”. 

 

During the public consultation process related to the project, local scientists, community members and activists pointed out numerous glaring flaws and inconsistencies in the environmental impact report presented by the promoters. This lead the government’s Environmental Secretariat (SEMARNAT) to request additional information from the developer.  A project of similar dimensions in the developers’ own country could easily take years and millions of dollars to be approved. In this case it is not yet clear what plans the federal bureaucracy at INAH or SEMARNAT have for the area. Although the Mexican Constitution guarantees the rights of Mexican citizens to a healthy environment as well as their cultural heritage, local residents have been alarmed to find that the area has already been fenced off, denying all access. Additionally, local residents have pointed out that municipal land use ordinances for the area do not allow the construction of this type of development in this fragile zone, and yet the permitting process continues.

Local community leaders, scientists, residents and activists fear the loss of cultural and natural heritage at Punta Banda. The resort as planned would destroy acres of archeological sites as well as fragile coastal and marine ecosystems home to a wide variety of endangered and endemic flora and fauna.

Press Release April 22

Members of the community of Ensenada

vivapuntabanda@gmail.com

News Release

For Immediate Release: April 22, 2009.

Tiger Woods’ golf resort would destroy one of Baja California’s most Fragile Environmental and Cultural Landmarks

Texas billionaire McCombs ‘discovers’ pristine and endangered habitat; plans exclusive golf course and resort catering to foreign millionaires. 

Punta Banda is the point located on the tip of Ensenada Bay, Baja California, Mexico. It is one of the last remaining areas of endangered maritime coastal scrub habitat and the site of countless prehistoric and historic archeological sites. This spectacular landscape—often compared to California’s Big Sur–boasts sea bluffs, caves, coastal terraces and wondrous tide pools creating a unique coastal environment in the region.  Its cultural and archeological significance has been documented by the international scientific community and Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and visits to the site have long been a tradition for local and foreign peoples alike.

“The hundreds of acres that would be devastated by the impact of this development belong to an ancient cultural landscape that has attracted people for thousands of years,” explained Ensenada anthropologist Michael Wilken. “There may be evidence of the earliest entry of humans into the Americas, and certainly of thousands of years of human history. There may be sacred sites that should be respected or complexes of Kumiai Indian villages. However if only a token amount of “salvage” archaeology is carried out, we stand to lose priceless and irreplaceable knowledge about the shared cultural heritage of the California’s.” 

The beauty of this site has attracted Texas billionaire B.J. “Red” McCombs, who ironically hopes to dynamite the area and create an exclusive golf course and resort. Prices for these homes range from 3 to 10 million dollars; helicopter flights will allow the elite clientele to take a short ride from San Diego to the resort. Infrastructure needs for the golf course include copious amounts of water which are unavailable in this arid region. The project foresees a desalination plant which will drain huge quantities of salt sludge directly into the bay. This brine has the potential of affecting water quality and the whole marine ecosystem.

McCombs has a history of sitting projects in pristine areas which have lead to opposition and litigation; one example is Wolf Creek in Colorado, where permitting processes have been successfully stalled by local communities.  In the case of Punta Banda McCombs is relying on the reputation and stature of international golf celebrity Tiger Woods to promote the development.  However possible losses of the cultural heritage at the site, as well as the environmental fragility are major issues, and have provoked strong resistance from the Ensenada community, which is keeping a close eye on the permitting process.

At recent public hearings related to the project, local scientists, community members and activists pointed out numerous glaring flaws and inconsistencies in the environmental impact report presented by the promoters, leading the government’s Environmental Secretariat (SEMARNAT) to request additional information. While Punta Banda is known for its archeological significance, the INAH, the federal agency in charge of all cultural and historic preservation in Mexico, has shown little interest in sites without pyramids or monumental architecture, granting developers quick, low cost permits with minimal mitigation. A project of similar dimensions in the developers’ own country could easily take years and millions of dollars to complete; in this case it is not yet clear what plans the INAH’s federal bureaucracy has for its archeological “salvage” project. Although the Mexican Constitution guarantees the right of Mexican citizens to direct access to the coast, local residents have been alarmed to find that the area has been fenced off, denying all access. Additionally local residents have pointed out that municipal land use ordinances for the area do not allow the construction of this type of development in this fragile zone, and yet the permitting process continues.

Local community leaders, scientists, residents and activists fear the loss of cultural and natural heritage at Punta Banda. The resort as planned would destroy acres of archeological sites as well as fragile coastal and marine ecosystems home to sea lions, harbor seals and peregrine falcons. Today Tiger Woods will be receiving 200 plus letters and petitions written by local residents and organizations.  The community is calling on Tiger Woods to withdraw his support of this project, to consider the enormous value of the area for future generations and to collaborate in the creation of a Nature Preserve which would protect the archeological sites and ecological integrity but also allow for appropriate public use and enjoyment of the area, including hiking in the area’s spectacular landscapes, exploring caves, kayaking, repelling, sightseeing and scientific research in this rich biodiversity area. “This area must be protected not only for Mexican citizens but for the whole world to benefit from its magnificent landscapes and cultural heritage” said Mercedes Armendariz, local resident of Punta Banda.

 

Help us: Save Punta Banda

Dear Friends:

Can you help us save one of Baja California’s most spectacular natural landscapes?

 

HERE’S THE STORY: Punta Banda, the point of land that forms the tip of the bay of Ensenada, Baja California is one of the last remaining areas of endangered maritime coastal scrub habitat in the region, as well as the site of countless prehistoric and historic archaeological sites. Often compared to California’s Big Sur, Punta Banda’s rocky sea bluffs, caves, coastal terraces, shorelines, tidepools and the extraordinary biodiversity of these terrestrial and marine environments have made it a natural museum that must be preserved for present and future generations.

 

HERE’S THE PROBLEM: Unfortunately the area has recently been “discovered” by Texas billionaire investor Red McCombs who has enlisted golf celebrity Tiger Woods to promote the development of an exclusive golf course and resort. Homes will cost 3 to 10 million dollars each and transportation will be provided by helicopter. Access to local people, a right under Mexican law, has already been cut off. Hundreds of acres of endangered habitat and countless archaeological sites will be destroyed. A desalinization plant will dump huge quantities of salt sludge into the bay, affecting water quality and marine life. And yet the promoters’ website calls this a “light imprint on the earth.”

 

WHO ARE WE? The Viva Punta Banda Coalition is formed of local citizens, scientists, businesspeople, housewives, and other friends of Punta Banda concerned about the preservation of Baja California’s unique natural and cultural heritage.

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO? 

1-Sign an online petition voicing your support: SIGN PETITION 

2-Write your own letter to Tiger Woods and send it to mark.steinberg@imgworld.com

3-Forward this message to your friends and family to multiply this effort. (Using the option BCC)

 

MORE INFORMATION:

Punta Banda pictures and press release  

Facebook Salvemos Punta Banda 

Youtube Video 

 

CONTACT US: vivapuntabanda@gmail.com