'I never imagined we could buy an island': how a community saved Mexico's Galápagos

When developers began circling Espíritu Santo island in the 1990s, a private conservation effort saw them off. But today the Unesco site faces a new threat: mass tourismOn a clear day over the Sea of Cortez, Espíritu Santo looks untouchable. Turquoise water laps at the shores of the island's rocky coves; whale sharks cruise past snorkellers; seabirds caw over ancient cliffs. The pristine island and its Unesco-protected surroundings - informally called "Mexico's Galápagos" - are a cocoon of biodiversity.Yet an increase in tourist numbers has led to growing unease among the island's longstanding stewards, as environmentalists report a decline in the area's marine life and call for stricter regulations. Continue reading...