The Baja 1000 car race and its impact on rural communities

Abstract

The Off-Road Baja 1000 race takes place each year on Mexico's Baja California peninsula through rough terrain. The route changes each year, adding excitement for the participants but causing increased damage to the area. No studies have been made to quantify the environmental or socioeconomic impacts so the profit and loss relationships are unknown. The peninsula particularly possesses natural resources by virtue of its beauty, uniqueness and delicacy, establishing two great protected areas: Valle de los Cirios in Baja California State and El Vizcaíno in Baja California Sur State. This study reviews the paths covered by the Baja 1000 races of 2005 and 2006 using GIS. Analyses of the ecological footprint left by the motorcycles and cars show the identification of various impacts to the natural environment, such as ecosystem fragmentation, deforestation of botanical species, animal mortality and terrain erosion, as well as garbage left by the race spectators along diverse sites directly affecting the soil, groundwater table, flora and fauna. Recommendations from this study include the need to control the OffRoad races by means of an Official Norm that regulates these activities and to offer environmental education to the community to make them aware of the impacts they are causing.