* 2009 Winners of Mexico's Award of Ecological Merit 

Welcome to the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans, CEDO.  Join us as we explore the creatures, habitats and cultures of the Sonoran Desert and Sea of Cortez.

CEDO comes from its name in Spanish, El Centro de Estudios de Desiertos y Océanos. We opened our doors in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, México, in 1980. Each year thousands of people participate in our research, education and conservation programs. CEDO maintains a biological field station for visiting classes and field researchers. Our visitor center/gift shop is open daily, and we offer eco-adventures for families and children. Make sure to come see us in Puerto Peñasco. We work closely with visitors, local communities and the government to understand and minimize human impact on local environments and species.

Save the Date: November 13 is CEDO's 30th Anniversary Gala
Join CEDO to celebrate 30 years of exploration, conservation and discovery in the Gulf of California. Our November 13 event will be held at our field station in Puerto Peñasco and will include an awards ceremony, live music and fun for all ages. For more information, including the NaturArte Festival and Discovering Nature with CEDO Education Day taking place October, please click here.

Northern Gulf and CEDO News

Subdirector Position Open at CEDO
If you are interested in the position please click here to learn more.

Update on the Vaquita
According to a new study, which CEDO was involved in and took place in 2008, the current number of vaquitas is estimated at 250. This is better than the estimated 150 that was believed to be their population number. While this is promising, we still have a long way to go to ensure the vaquita will be here in the future. Please spread the word! Below are articles about the study in Nature and from TakePart.com.  And a YouTube music video to remind us about the endangered porpoise:

- YouTube: click here and turn up the volume on your speakers!

- Nature: "Endangered-porpoise numbers fall to just 250."
- TakePart.com: "New Study Shows Decline in Endangered Vaquita Population."

New 30th Anniversary Merchandise: T-shirts, Posters & Prints
In honor of our anniversary CEDO has a variety of new merchandise for sale, including t-shirts, posters and art prints. Click on the images below to view a few of the items, but visit our Eco Shop to see everything else that is for sale.

 
Celebrate CEDO's 30th Anniversary This Year
What began in 1980 is still continuing today, and this year we would like to invite our members, friends, colleagues, visitors and anyone else who has a connection to CEDO, to celebrate our 30th anniversary with us. Please visit our 30th Anniversary webpage for more information, but make sure to check back regularly, as we will be continually updating the page throughout the year.

 

Bahía San Jorge's Wetlands Recognized as Internationally Important
Read more about this significant declaration, under the Ramsar Convention, in our press release section.