I never imagined we could buy an island': how a community saved Mexico's Galapagos

"On a clear day over the Sea of Cortez, Espiritu Santo looks untouchable. Turquoise water laps at the shores of the island's rocky coves; whale sharks cruise past snorkellers; seabirds caw over ancient cliffs. The pristine island and its Unesco-protected surroundings informally called Mexico's Galapagos are a cocoon of biodiversity. Yet an increase in tourist numbers has led to growing unease among the island's longstanding stewards, as environmentalists report a decline in the area's marine life and call for stricter regulations."

"Espiritu Santo is no stranger to conflict. In the 1990s, the island, roughly the size of Manhattan, was a potential goldmine. Developers were reported to have plans for a casino. The fight to save it, led by grassroots activists and a local billionaire, was an early example of private conservation. Three decades on, those involved warn of its fragile legacy."

"The allure of Espiritu Santo for developers in the 90s was obvious, with its secluded, uninhabited beaches and privileged location near the Baja California peninsula. Although nature zones had some protections, the island had an unusual legal structure that made it particularly vulnerable. It was ejido land a type of communal agricultural property with roots in the 1910-17 Mexican revolution. It was controlled by a group of about 30 landowners (ejidatarios), each of whom owned a small plot."

"That created a legal grey zone around construction, says Exequiel Ezcurra, former president of the Mexican Institute of Ecology. Even a threat in Mexico can be very, very real, he says, pointing to the country's historically lax approach to conservation. We believed that if Espiritu Santo fell, others would fall too, he says, adding that this posed a wider threat, given the immensely important role in global ecology and conservation that islands play."

Espiritu Santo lies in the Sea of Cortez with turquoise waters, whale sharks, seabirds and Unesco-protected surroundings nicknamed Mexico's Galapagos. Tourist numbers have increased while environmentalists report declines in marine life and call for stricter regulations. The island faced major development pressure in the 1990s when casino and resort plans emerged, prompting a grassroots and billionaire-led campaign that secured conservation protections. The island's designation as ejido land, held by about 30 ejidatarios, created legal ambiguities that made it vulnerable to development. Conservationists warn that Espiritu Santo's fragile legacy has implications for wider island ecology and conservation.

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