For the past 25 years, WILDCOAST has been on the frontlines of conservation—protecting coastlines, oceans,
wetlands, and wildlife across California and Mexico. What started as a bold vision has grown into a movement
grounded in science, community, and a deep love for the natural world. This timeline highlights some of the
milestones, partnerships, and wild victories that have defined our journey. As we celebrate our legacy, we also
look ahead with determination to keep fighting for the places that inspire us.
2000
WILDCOAST is founded by Serge Dedina and Wallace J. Nichols to protect coastal and marine ecosystems and
wildlife in California and Mexico.
2003
WILDCOAST partners with Maná, the world’s most popular spanish language rock band, to launch a sea turtle
conservation awareness campaign, reaching 100 million people and curbing the illegal sea turtle trade.
2004
The development of the Escalera Nautica, a network of marinas and megatourism projects on the Baja California
Peninsula, is halted.
2005
Laguna San Ignacio (450,000 acres), the last undeveloped gray whale breeding lagoon in Baja California,
Mexico, is permanently protected.
2007
COSTASALVAJE, WILDCOAST’s Mexico division is established. WILDCOAST helps to develop the 939,000 acre Bahia de
Los Angeles Biosphere Reserve in the Gulf of California, one of the world’s most important habitats for whales
and dolphins.
2008
WILDCOAST helps establish California’s marine protected area network (545,280 acres) and initiates successful
effort to permanently establish 1,000+ miles of coastal conservation concessions in Mexico.
2010
The Cabo Cortés mega-development project is stopped, safeguarding Cabo Pulmo National Park, the world’s most
successful marine reserve.
2013
9.3 miles of Morro Ayuta Beach, a critical olive ridley sea turtle nesting site, are secured, halting the
decimation of the population.
2015
WILDCOAST partners with Linkin Park on a global mangrove conservation campaign, reaching 50+ million people.
2016
WILDCOAST helps to establish the nearly three million-acre Islas del Pacifico Biosphere Reserve off the Baja
California coastline.
2017
The Mexican Pacific Corals Conservation Network, including 10 Marine Protected Areas, is established to secure
the protection of 1,600 acres of coral reefs.
2019
WILDCOAST is awarded the 2019 Keeling Curve Prize for blue carbon work addressing climate change and featured
on "60 Minutes" for tackling pollution at the U.S.-Mexico border.
2020
Mangrove conservation is expanded in Mexico, preventing four million tons of carbon emissions, and installs 20
mooring buoys to protect coral reefs. Plants 120,000 mangrove seedlings in Laguna San Ignacio in Baja
California Sur to fight climate change.
2021
Valle de los Cirios WILDCOAST Reserve (38 miles, 51,936 acres) becomes the largest private conservation
reserve in northwest Mexico. WILDCOAST protects 484 miles of shoreline around gray whale breeding lagoons on
the Baja California Peninsula.
2022
WILDCOAST installs Mexico’s first solid waste retention system (trash boom) at the US-Mexico border in
Tijuana, preventing 103,000 lbs of debris from reaching the Pacific Ocean.
2023
2,920 acres of mangrove and beach preserves are established in Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur.
2024
In Oaxaca, WILDCOAST helps secure federal protection of 22 miles of sea turtle nesting beaches and establish
the Mascalco Indigenous Reserve, a pristine 25,000-acre tropical coastal forest and mangrove lagoon.
2025
WILDCOAST installs second trash boom and 58 recycling collection points in Tijuana, stopping 250,000 pounds of
solid waste, tires, and plastic from entering the Pacific Ocean.
