Goal: Strengthen capacity, science, communications, and conservation financing to improve the management of the 148,087 km² Revillagigedo National Park

The Alliance is partnering with Beta Diversidad and the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) to support the Revillagigedo National Park‘s long-term management effectiveness. 

Revillagigedo National Park hosts one of North America’s greatest concentrations of tropical marine megafauna, from silky sharks, hammerheads, and whale sharks to giant manta rays, bluefin tuna, and humpback whales. The islands – Socorro, Clarión, San Benedicto, and Roca Partida – are positioned at the convergence of the cold California current and warm North Equatorial current. This intersection generates nutrient-rich upwellings, attracting diverse marine life and providing a critical waypoint for migratory species. Recognizing its ecological value, the Revillagigedo National Park was formally included as part of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR) marine protected areas network in 2022. 

In 2017, the government of Mexico created the Revillagigedo National Park, expanding the previously small marine reserve around the unpopulated archipelago to become, at the time, the largest no-take marine protected area in North America. Located approximately 400 km south of Mexico’s Baja peninsula, the park includes three marine use zones – research, tourism, and traditional use/naval – all of which ban any kind of extractive activities.    

Revillagigedo has been designated as Ramsar site, a Hope Spot by Mission Blue, an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International, a Blue Park by the Marine Conservation Institute, and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  

Despite having achieved some key management milestones since its designation, such as the approval of the management plan and the creation of an advisory council, the Revillagigedo National Park still faces management and enforcement gaps in key programmatic areas – gaps that local managers are addressing through strategic partnerships and collaborations.   

The Alliance is supporting the building out of management capacity through the incorporation of new park rangers and fostering connections with global networks, like Big Ocean, to foster learning and information sharing. 

Together with our partners, we are also working to strengthen the Revillagigedo’s Science, Research and Monitoring Program by refining the park’s marine baseline data, increasing public engagement, and assessing viable financial mechanisms.

In 2023, a multidisciplinary and participatory scientific expedition was conducted to the Revillagigedo National Park to gather key scientific evidence that could fill knowledge gaps and inform management decisions. The Revillagigedo National Park authorities are currently processing the data collected from the expedition and results will be published in 2024. 

A documentary was produced and launched in November 2023 as part of this expedition.