Cecilia Fischer

Cecilia Fischer in a canyon of the Sierra de la Giganta

Cecilia Fischer in a canyon of the Sierra de la Giganta

Program Manager | Keep Loreto Magical

Cecilia Fischer is a seasoned environmental leader, program strategist, and community advocate with more than three decades of experience protecting and promoting the natural and cultural heritage of Loreto, Baja California Sur. Born in Mexico and a resident of Loreto for over 40 years, Cecilia blends a deep local knowledge with global perspective — holding a degree in Sociology from Grinnell College and a unique background that includes earning her private pilot’s license at just 15.

Cecilia’s passion for nature and the human connection to place is at the core of her work. She is a certified bilingual translator (Spanish-English), a licensed tour guide by Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, and an instructor for aspiring naturalist guides in Loreto. Her communications expertise has helped elevate Loreto in national and international media, with features in Good Morning America, Alaska Airlines Magazine, The New York Times, San Diego Tribune, and El Independiente, among many others.

Setting up, at a community-supported agriculture event, to demonstrate the use of local wild plants in cooking. Cecilia’s name for this contribution was “What we do to the soil we do to the sea.”

Setting up, at a community-supported agriculture event, to demonstrate the use of local wild plants in cooking. Cecilia’s name for this contribution was “What we do to the soil we do to the sea.”

Her hands-on environmental work spans both nonprofit and private sectors. Cecilia has contributed to conservation initiatives with organizations like Pronatura Noroeste, Costasalvaje, and Cántaro Azul, leading programs that trained bird guides, protected marine habitats, and delivered safe water solutions to remote ranching communities. Her work has taken her from the reefs of Cabo Pulmo to the ranches of the Sierra de la Giganta, always with a focus on sustainability, equity, and local empowerment.

From 2002 to 2007, Cecilia was the first employee of the Loreto Bay Company, serving as Government and Community Liaison and later as part of its Sustainability Department. There, she led transformative environmental and community initiatives:

  • Launched Loreto’s first recycling program, including the peninsula’s first Styrofoam recycling effort.

  • Relocated over 400 reptiles to preserve native biodiversity in future park areas.

  • Constructed bat habitats to support thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats with guidance from leading researchers.

  • Facilitated key studies and public engagement that helped enact Loreto’s first Land Use Ordinance and secure the foundation for its Ecological Ordinance.

  • Organized Baja California Sur’s first Eco-Tourism Charrette, which helped secure federal micro-financing for Sierra ranchers to preserve artisanal traditions and sustainable livelihoods.

When the Loreto Bay Company transitioned, Cecilia’s work evolved with the Loreto Bay Foundation under the direction of Mark Spalding of The Ocean Foundation. In 2015, Cecilia became a founding force behind Keep Loreto Magical, where she now serves as Program Manager, overseeing community-based conservation, education, and advocacy programs across the region, including her successful effort to lead KLM’s Initiative to Create Two New National Parks, including Nopoló Park and Loreto II Park.

From defending aquifers and coastal habitats to empowering local farmers and artists, Cecilia continues to lead with integrity, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to Loreto’s future.