'Ranchito Bajajaja' is our inaugural field station, and set just north of the small coastal community of San Juanico (Scorpion Bay) in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The unique ecosystem that surrounds us includes massive coastal sand dunes, expansive stretches of salt flats, and the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve just to our north. We are situated between two of the bays used by Northern Pacific Grey Whale populations for calving in the winters. Even more incredibly, we are directly in the migratory path of at least three additional whale species and four sea turtle species! Scorpion Bay is also famous in the international surf community for its six point breaks.

 

This beautiful arid ecosystem is rugged and untamed, but immensely fragile. The loss of biodiversity in the region is predicted to become increasingly severe as development, overpopulation, climate change, and pollution increase. Our research station will promote local ecotourism and sustainable development through education programs, provide access to researchers, facilitate research in the region, community conservation projects, and visitor education.