KLM volunteers cleaning estuaries in Loreto, preventing water pollution and local habitat damage.
Thank you for Supporting Our Work, Getting Involved and Staying Connected
In 2025, Keep Loreto Magical turned community action into measurable environmental impact. This page reflects what’s possible when people show up and contribute for the place they love.
Ensuring environmental laws are more than just words in Loreto
From community passion to real-world protection
Protecting Loreto means more than reacting to damage — it means preventing it. In 2025, KLM supported community-led advocacy and public oversight that influenced environmental decision-making at the municipal and state level. By showing up where decisions are made, we help ensure environmental laws are enforced and community voices are heard.
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In 2025, KLM:
Protected Loreto’s freshwater sources by monitoring land-use changes and opposing mining and development threats near aquifers.
Supported the Dark Skies Initiative, educating the public about light pollution and its impacts on wildlife, human health, and energy use.
Advocated for ecosystem-based regulations at state and regional fishing forums.
Hosted public environmental updates to share progress on addressing raw sewage dumping, wastewater treatment, air monitoring, and marine protection.
Defended citizen participation in urban planning and zoning decisions.
This work is made possible through sustained community involvement and donor support.
Monitoring Air Quality & Dump Fires
Turning invisible pollution into actionable data
Dump fires and uncontrolled burning in Loreto release toxic pollutants that directly impact public health. In 2025, KLM-funded monitors captured air quality data during multiple smoke events, helping residents make informed health decisions. By making air pollution visible and measurable, communities are better equipped to protect themselves and demand solutions.
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In 2025, KLM:
Supported a citizen air-monitoring network, installing and maintaining air quality and weather stations across Loreto.
Documented pollution from dump fires, providing real-time and historical data on air quality conditions.
Shared findings with the public, helping residents understand health risks during smoke events.
Used data to support advocacy, strengthening calls for improved waste management and fire prevention.
Built local awareness and resilience, helping residents respond safely during smoke events.
Donor support helps Loretanos breathe easier by turning air quality data into science-based health strategies.
Restoring Arroyos, Watersheds & Habitats
Healing the natural systems that connect mountains, town, and sea
Arroyos and estuaries are the lifelines of Loreto’s desert ecosystem, carrying water, nutrients, and life from the Sierra to the Gulf of California. In 2025, KLM led and supported hands-on restoration of arroyos, estuaries, and coastal habitats to reduce pollution, restore native vegetation, and protect critical wildlife corridors. Caring for these systems protects beaches, marine life, and the health of the community itself.
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In 2025, KLM:
Restored and maintained arroyos and estuaries, removing trash, microplastics, and construction debris before they could reach the Gulf of California.
Protected sensitive estuarine habitats, supporting birdlife, pollinators, and sea turtle nesting areas.
Organized regular beach and watershed cleanups, preventing pollution and safeguarding habitats used by wildlife and people.
Engaged neighbors and volunteers, building long-term stewardship of Loreto’s most fragile ecosystems.
Careful, ongoing restoration is helping Loreto’s natural systems recover and thrive.
Protecting Coastal Dunes
Protecting Loreto’s first line of defense against erosion and storms
Coastal dunes are living systems that protect Loreto’s shoreline from erosion, flooding, and storm surge. In 2025, KLM supported dune restoration and protection efforts by reestablishing native vegetation, limiting damage from vehicles and foot traffic, and promoting long-term coastal resilience. Healthy dunes protect beaches, wildlife habitat, and nearby communities.
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In 2025, KLM:
Restored and protected coastal dunes, reestablishing native plants that stabilize sand and prevent erosion.
Advocated against vehicle access and harmful activity in sensitive dune areas.
Installed and supported protective measures, including signage and community education, to reduce damage to dune systems.
Engaged volunteers and neighbors, building shared responsibility for long-term dune protection.
Strengthened coastal resilience, helping buffer shorelines from storms and rising sea levels.
Protecting dunes today helps prevent irreversible damage to Loreto’s coastline tomorrow.
Cleaning Our Beaches & Recycling Debris
Stopping pollution at the shoreline — before it enters the sea
Beach cleanups are often seen as symbolic — but in Loreto, they are strategic. In 2025, KLM led regular beach cleanups paired with meticulous sorting of collected debris, preventing plastics, fishing gear, and micro-waste from entering the Gulf of California. By separating materials by type and size, volunteers reduce harm to wildlife, support reuse and recycling, and better understand the sources of coastal pollution.
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In 2025, KLM:
Organized regular beach cleanups, removing plastics, fishing debris, and hazardous waste from Loreto’s shoreline.
Manually separated collected debris, sorting materials into reusable and recyclable categories to keep waste out of the marine environment.
Removed microplastics and small debris, which pose serious risks to birds, fish, and people.
Reduced threats to wildlife, preventing ingestion, entanglement, and habitat contamination.
Engaged volunteers of all ages, building environmental awareness through hands-on action.
Stopping debris at the shoreline is one of the most effective ways to protect Loreto’s marine ecosystem.
Rescuing Wildlife
Helping wildlife survive the impacts of pollution, development, and human activity
Loreto’s wildlife is increasingly impacted by pollution, habitat loss, vehicle traffic, and human encroachment. In 2025, KLM supported wildlife protection and rescue efforts by responding to animals in distress, coordinating care with local partners, and advocating for practices that reduce harm to native and migratory species. Each rescue is both an act of care and a reminder of the importance of protecting habitats before wildlife is placed at risk.
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In 2025, KLM:
Responded to wildlife in distress, assisting birds, marine life, and other native species affected by pollution, vehicles, habitat disruption, and climate change.
Supported local rescue and veterinary partners, helping ensure injured or displaced animals receive care.
Educated residents and visitors about how everyday actions affect wildlife survival.
Advocated for responsible behavior, including reduced vehicle beach access and better waste management.
Wildlife protection reflects a community’s commitment to living responsibly within nature.
Caring for Community Animals
Improving animal welfare while strengthening community health
Uncontrolled dog and cat populations affect animal welfare, public health, and wildlife across the Baja California peninsula. In 2025, KLM donors helped support free, high-quality sterilization clinics in Loreto by partnering with nonprofit professional veterinary services that bring care to communities without reliable access to services.
These clinics combine expert medical care with deep community trust — ensuring animals are treated humanely, families are supported, and long-term solutions replace emergency response.
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In 2025, KLM:
Helped fund free spay and neuter clinics, removing financial barriers to veterinary care.
Supported trusted veterinary partners, delivering professional surgical care in underserved areas.
Reduced future suffering, preventing thousands of unwanted litters.
Strengthened community networks, connecting neighbors, volunteers, and animal welfare groups.
Improved public and environmental health, easing pressure on wildlife, shelters, and municipal resources.
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Facts from our Summer Clinic Event:
241 animals sterilized in one day
100% free services, including surgery, medication, and post-operative care
8 experienced surgeons supported by trained volunteers
Preventive animal care improves quality of life for animals, families, and the Loreto community as a whole.
Preserving the Norm Christie Library & Environmental Literacy
Safeguarding Baja California’s natural and cultural history for generations
In 2025, the community of Loreto received one of the most significant gifts of knowledge ever assembled on the Baja California peninsula. Historian, explorer, and longtime Baja resident Norman Christie donated his personal collection of more than 3,000 books, research papers, maps, and original materials focused exclusively on the Baja California peninsula.
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KLM’s Role
Keep Loreto Magical played a central role in transforming this extraordinary gift into a lasting public resource. KLM catalogued, organized, and preserved the entire collection, working in partnership with the Teachers College of Loreto where it will be permanently housed—accessible to students, educators, researchers, and the wider community for generations to come.
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About the Collection
The Norm Christie Collection is unmatched in its scope and specificity. According to the Baja California Sur Institute of Culture, no school, library, government entity, or academic institution on the peninsula holds a comparable collection dedicated solely to Baja California.
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Why This Matters
Environmental protection depends on knowledge. By preserving and providing access to Baja California’s scientific, historical, and cultural record, this library strengthens education, literacy, and informed stewardship. It ensures that future generations can understand the land, ecosystems, and stories that define Loreto and the peninsula as a whole.
Caring for Baja’s future also means preserving the knowledge that tells its story.
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The collection includes:
Original research papers from the California Academy of Sciences.
More than 150 detailed maps of Baja California.
First editions and rare works dating to the 1500s, 1600s, and 1800s.
Complete Dawson Series (51 volumes), a cornerstone archive of Baja history and exploration.
Scientific symposium proceedings dedicated to Baja California (1968, 1972, 1978).
Field guides covering birds, reptiles, insects, marine and freshwater fish, mammals, geology, tracks, skulls, and butterflies — all Baja-specific.
Travel and expedition accounts across the peninsula by land, sea, air, mule, kayak, sailboat, bicycle, and on foot.
Norm Christie’s personal annotated binders, documenting decades of exploration and research.
Many of these works are out of print and will never be republished, making their preservation especially critical.
Campaigning to Stop Motor Vehicles on Beaches
Keeping people and wildlife safe by restoring respect for shared public space
Loreto’s beaches are more than recreation areas — they are nesting grounds, wildlife corridors, and natural buffers between land and sea. Yet vehicle traffic on beaches continues to threaten wildlife, damage fragile ecosystems, and put people at risk. In 2025, KLM supported community efforts to reduce and prevent motor vehicle access on beaches, advocating for safer, healthier coastal spaces for everyone.
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In 2025, KLM:
Advocated against vehicle access on sensitive beaches, highlighting risks to wildlife and public safety, including shorebirds, sea turtles, dunes, and beach users.
Supported public education and signage to clarify where vehicles cause harm.
Amplified community voices calling for enforcement of existing protections.
Healthy beaches begin when people move at the pace of nature.
Propagating & Planting Mesquite Trees
Restoring shade, soil, and life in the desert
Mesquite trees are foundational to Loreto’s desert ecosystem. They stabilize soil, improve water retention, provide shade, and support wildlife — yet they are increasingly lost to development and land disturbance. In 2025, KLM supported the propagation and planting of native mesquite trees, investing in long-term ecological health and climate resilience.
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In 2025, KLM:
Propagated and planted native mesquite trees in strategic locations
Improved soil stability and water retention in arroyos and open spaces
Supported habitats for birds, insects, and desert wildlife
Engaged community members in mesquite awareness and restoration.
Planting native trees today builds a healthier desert for generations.
Guiding Hikes & Environmental Education
Walking the Land We Protect
Loreto’s protected landscapes — from the Sierra de la Giganta to Nopoló and Loreto II National Parks — hold the story of where our water comes from and how desert life survives. KLM’s guided hikes invite residents and visitors alike to experience these places firsthand, transforming awe into understanding, and understanding into stewardship.
Led by bilingual naturalists and local guides, these hikes go beyond scenic views. Participants learn about watersheds, medicinal plants, wildlife corridors, and the fragile balance that sustains life in the desert.
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In 2025, KLM:
Organized guided hikes in Nopoló Park, Loreto II Park, and the Sierra de la Giganta.
Educated participants about water sources, native plants, pollinators, and wildlife.
Built community confidence and leadership, especially among local women and families.
Fostered environmental awareness through hands-on learning, not lectures.
Strengthened social connections by helping neighbors explore and protect their own landscape.
Since the program began, hundreds of participants of all ages have joined — many hiking for the first time. By creating welcoming, well-prepared group experiences, KLM has helped people overcome fear, build skills, and form lasting connections to the land and to each other.
People protect what they know — and what they’ve walked.
Sustaining Rancheros & Community Agriculture
Healthy ecosystems depend on healthy communities. In Loreto, that means supporting ranching families who have stewarded the Sierra de la Giganta for generations.
Since 2016, Keep Loreto Magical has helped rancheros build Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs that provide reliable income, strengthen local food security, and reduce pressure to sell land or water rights to mining and development interests. By connecting local producers directly with residents and restaurants, these programs keep families on their land while delivering fresh, affordable, pesticide-free food to the community.
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In 2025, KLM:
Continued supporting San Javier CSA programs to promote sustainable food production, community connection, and stewardship of the land.
Delivered CSA baskets to donors and customers, providing nutritional produce and protecting livelihoods, water sources, open space, and Loreto’s cultural heritage.
Supporting local agriculture helps protect Loreto’s water, landscapes, and way of life—one harvest at a time.