Report on the Binational Partnership for Coastal Conservation and Sustainable Development

1.0 Introduction

This report details the strategic partnership between Cross Border Xpress (CBX) and the international conservation organization WILDCOAST. The collaboration aims to advance coastal and marine conservation across the U.S.-Mexico border, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative leverages CBX’s position as a major travel hub to promote sustainable tourism and protect vital ecosystems in the binational region.

2.0 Partnership Objectives and Alignment with SDG 17

The core of this initiative is a cross-sector collaboration, a prime example of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. It unites a private enterprise (CBX) with a non-profit conservation organization (WILDCOAST) to achieve shared sustainability objectives.

• Stated Goal: To raise awareness and support for the protection of natural areas that define the U.S.-Mexico coastal region.
• Strategic Alignment: The partnership recognizes that environmental challenges transcend national borders, requiring unified action. As stated by WILDCOAST co-founder Serge Dedina, “conservation has no boundaries.”
• Corporate Responsibility: CBX CEO Jorge Goytortua emphasized the commitment to “strengthening our shared region through partnerships that make a real difference,” highlighting the role of the private sector in achieving sustainable development.

3.0 Key Collaborative Activities

The partnership encompasses several targeted activities designed to maximize public engagement and direct support for conservation:

1. Awareness Campaign: Co-branded signage will be displayed on the CBX pedestrian bridge, reaching a large international audience of travelers.
2. Digital Outreach: A social media video campaign will be launched to amplify the conservation message.
3. Resource Mobilization: CBX will provide in-kind sponsorship of travel tickets for WILDCOAST’s fundraising events.
4. Capacity Building: A conservation field day will be organized for CBX staff to foster a deeper understanding of and commitment to environmental stewardship.

4.0 WILDCOAST’s Contribution to Global Goals

WILDCOAST’s work directly addresses critical environmental targets outlined in the SDGs. The organization’s efforts provide natural solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The organization actively works to conserve marine ecosystems by protecting coral reefs, reducing plastic pollution, and safeguarding critical sea turtle nesting sites.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: Efforts focus on protecting and restoring vital coastal ecosystems, including mangrove forests, which are crucial for biodiversity.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: By restoring natural carbon sinks like mangrove forests, WILDCOAST contributes directly to climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.

5.0 CBX’s Role in Fostering Sustainable Tourism

As a key infrastructure link, CBX facilitates travel to destinations where WILDCOAST’s conservation work is active. This partnership reframes the travel experience to include an element of environmental responsibility.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: By promoting sustainable tourism, the partnership supports local economies that depend on the health of the natural attractions WILDCOAST seeks to protect.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The collaboration strengthens the resilience and sustainability of the binational San Diego-Tijuana region by investing in its natural capital.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights a partnership focused on environmental conservation and cross-border collaboration, directly and indirectly connecting to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary goals addressed are those concerning environmental protection, climate action, and partnerships.

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The partnership’s core mission is “coastal and marine conservation.” WILDCOAST’s specific activities, such as “reducing plastic pollution, conserving coral reefs, and protect[ing] sea turtle nesting sites,” are central to the objectives of SDG 14.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   While the focus is marine, the work extends to coastal ecosystems that bridge land and sea. The article mentions efforts to “protect coastal ecosystems” and “restore mangrove forests,” which are critical terrestrial and wetland habitats that support biodiversity and fall under the purview of SDG 15.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   The article explicitly states that WILDCOAST works to “address climate change through natural solutions.” The restoration of mangrove forests is a key natural solution for carbon sequestration, directly contributing to climate change mitigation efforts outlined in SDG 13.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   The entire article is about a partnership between a private entity (Cross Border Xpress – CBX) and a non-profit conservation organization (WILDCOAST). It emphasizes that “protecting our coast and ocean requires cross-border collaboration” and that the partnership aims to “strengthen our shared region.” This directly embodies the spirit of SDG 17, which promotes multi-stakeholder collaborations.

5. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   The article mentions that the “partnership supports efforts to promote sustainable tourism.” This connects to SDG 8, which includes targets for promoting tourism that is sustainable and benefits local communities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities and goals described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution. This is directly addressed by WILDCOAST’s work on “reducing plastic pollution.”
  • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts… and take action for their restoration. This is supported by the organization’s efforts in “protecting coastal ecosystems,” “restoring mangrove forests,” and “conserving coral reefs.”
  • Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas… This target is implied through the overarching goal of “coastal and marine conservation” and protecting natural areas.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands… This is relevant to the work of “restoring mangrove forests,” which are critical coastal wetland ecosystems.
  • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and… protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. This is addressed by the specific action of “protect[ing] sea turtle nesting sites.”

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. The partnership’s activities, including “co-branded signage,” a “social media video campaign,” and a “conservation field day for CBX staff,” are all forms of awareness-raising and capacity building.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The collaboration between CBX (private sector) and WILDCOAST (civil society) is a direct example of this target in action. The article notes, “our partnership with CBX matters… Together we’re showing that conservation has no boundaries.”

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The partnership’s goal to “promote sustainable tourism” aligns with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not provide quantitative data but implies several qualitative and activity-based indicators that could be used to measure progress:

• Existence of a multi-stakeholder partnership: The formal partnership between CBX and WILDCOAST is a primary indicator for Target 17.17.
• Implementation of joint awareness campaigns: The “co-branded signage on the CBX bridge” and the “social media video campaign” serve as indicators for awareness-raising efforts under Target 13.3.
• Capacity-building activities: The “conservation field day for CBX staff” is a specific indicator of building institutional capacity on conservation issues (Target 13.3).
• Mobilization of resources for conservation: The “in-kind CBX ticket sponsorship for WILDCOAST’s Baja Bash fundraiser” is an indicator of resource mobilization for sustainable development (related to SDG 17).
• Conservation and restoration actions: The specific activities mentioned—”restore mangrove forests,” “reduce plastic pollution,” “conserve coral reefs,” and “protect sea turtle nesting sites”—serve as direct, albeit unquantified, indicators for progress towards Targets 14.1, 14.2, 15.1, and 15.5. Progress could be measured by the area of forests restored, amount of plastic removed, area of reefs protected, and number of nesting sites secured.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: timesofsandiego.com