Welcome to the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans.
Join us to explore, understand, and protect the natural resources and cultures of the Sonoran Desert and Sea of Cortez. Our mission is to bring together people, knowledge and solutions for vibrant communities AND resilient ecosystems, in the northern Gulf of California and beyond.
By promoting environmental awareness, disseminating knowledge and encouraging civic participation, CEDO is a fundamental force driving civic dialogue and transparent decision-making. CEDO has been the promoter of a vision: the vision of an open, participatory society consciously building its own future.
– Dr. Exequiel Ezcurra,
Biodiversity Research Center of the Californias, San Diego
Traverse and explore a typical estuary located in the northwestern Mexican Sea of Cortés, discover the vast diversity of species that inhabit them and enjoy fresh oyster products cultivated and harvested by a local female owned cooperative.
Extreme temperature, salinity, and tide conditions make Morúa Estuary a unique ecosystem amongst others that allows for a close appreciation of natural processes and phenomena that occur in the region. We will carefully walk barefoot across the beautiful wetland and with the help of binoculars get the chance to observe a plethora of birds that are adapted to tolerate these extreme conditions while watching out for small invertebrates like the pistol shrimp and fiddler crabs that use the swampy substrate as their habitat. As we reach the end of the excursion, we will stop by a local female owned oyster farm called “Única de Mujeres” where we will have the chance to learn about the oyster farming process and purchase and enjoy a freshly harvested meal.
Atraviesa y explora un estero típico del Noroeste de México descubriendo la diversidad de especies que ahí habitan y disfruta de los productos ostrícolas frescos de una cooperativa sustentable de mujeres.
Las condiciones extremas de temperatura, mareas y salinidad hacen que el Estero Morúa sea un sitio único para apreciar procesos y fenómenos naturales de la región. Caminaremos descalzos por el humedal y con el uso de binoculares podremos observar algunas aves adaptadas para tolerar estas condiciones, sin olvidarnos de los invertebrados pequeños como camarones pistola y cangrejos violinistas que usan los fondos lodosos como hogar. Al final del recorrido, descansaremos en el restaurant de la cooperativa “Única de mujeres” donde un grupo de mujeres locales nos platicarán acerca del proceso de cultivo y cosecha de ostión y nos prepararán deliciosos platillos típicos de sus cosechas.
Una tradición local muy conocida desde la década de 1980, el CEDO organiza una charla sobre historia natural y sus exhibiciones todos los martes y sábados. Esta es la oportunidad perfecta para responder sus preguntas sobre el entorno local. Acompáñenos con su familia para aprender sobre las mareas extremas del Alto Golfo de California, la marsopa en peligro de extinción y los proyectos actuales del CEDO.
Latest News & Announcements
CEDO & The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011-2020)
CEDO & The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011-2020)
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is a multilateral treaty for the conservation of our planet’s biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits […]
Fishing for the Future of Mexico’s Coastal Communities
At CEDO we feel strongly that promoting the well-being of regional fishing communities in diverse ways is the best, and perhaps only way to ensure that healthy marine and coastal ecosystems continue to provide us […]