By: CEDO Intercultural.

The “Peggy J. Turk Boyer Collection” is a recognition of the research and work carried out by the founder of the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans who, in collaboration with researchers, naturalists, scientists, and academics, contributed information for the conservation of the Sea of Cortez.

In the period from 1960 to 1980, the first study and research efforts of the University of Arizona were carried out in “Casa García”, a facility functioning as a field station for researchers and groups coming from different institutions. In 1980, when CEDO opened its doors, these groups were hosted at the Agustín Cortes Building, which began its history as a field station. Here, pioneering researchers, academics, and naturalists started to generate information and identify specimens from the Sea of Cortez, with the goal of learning and conserving the area. The material and collections of these long hours of field and theoretical work were given to CEDO Intercultural to keep and protect. These records contain valuable information that has served as a basis for national and foreign researchers, students, interns, and visitors interested in learning more about the region and promoting the area’s conservation. Because of these records, CEDO Intercultural and the people who visit us year after year have been able to increase their knowledge of this amazing region.

During the last 40 years, CEDO Intercultural has worked continuously in the ecoregions of the Sonoran Desert and the Northern Gulf of California, including the Protected Natural Areas of the Upper Gulf, and further south, in the Puerto Peñasco-Puerto Lobos Biological and Fishing Corridor, in the State of Sonora. Over four decades, CEDO has managed to integrate people, knowledge and solutions to foster resilient communities and ecosystems.

CEDO Intercultural is committed to supporting social and environmental progress by developing and strengthening the capacity of the residents of the local communities and empowering voluntary and effective action by using and promoting citizen science community monitoring, education, partnerships for sustainability, NaturArte (our ecotourism and experiential learning program), and our biological resource center which houses a historical biological collection, including a vaquita (Phocoena sinus) skeleton.

For more information visit www.cedo.org