With the US being very active in UNESCO during the past few years, culminating with rejoining the organization, much discussion has been happening at World Heritage USA (ICOMOS) regarding cooperation with Mexico. This cooperation could culminate in no less than 4 possible world heritage nominations.

Annual Meeting 2023 - World Heritage USA

1) Intro 23:10 to 24:10 (Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, Camino Real de las Californias, and El Pinacate) *video continues into further explanation until 33:35

2) Summary 57:50 to 58:40 (Big Bend National Park and El Pinacate Gran Desierto de Altar National Biosphere Reserve)

One aim of this cooperation is the 'Inclusion of bi-national sites on the U.S. and Mexican Tentative Lists'.

▪️Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (Mexico) [US/Mexico Extension - Chihuahua State & New Mexico]

▪️El Camino Real de las Californias [New Tentative Nomination - Baja California & California]

▪️El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar National Biosphere Reserve (Sonora, Mexico) [US Extension - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge]

▪️Big Bend National Park (Texas, US) [México Extension - Parque Nacional Cañon de Santa Elena]

*No mention of the Kino Missions [Sonora & Arizona], so I am unsure if this proposed project remains under any discussion or consideration.

Attending a World Heritage USA Webinar right now on "Tradition and Legacy on El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro"

Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

- Why the US did not join the nomination in 2010? In short, there was issues with the BLM (Bureau of Land Management)
- A US Nomination was being prepared in 2009, the file as prepared still exists somewhere, but it was stopped by Washington D.C. before being included on the US Tentative List
- The reasoning was because of land use developments related to Richard Branson's planned 'futuristic spaceport' originally to be constructed in New Mexico
- The expected challenge today is the variety of land management agencies and stakeholders (BLM, NPS, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, City Government, Tribal Lands)
- Mexico is supportive of the nomination and in fact wants to be a part of the extension to include 6 additional sites in Chihuahua, state governments in New Mexico and Texas have thus far been receptive
- The Kino Missions (Sonora & Arizona) are NOT in active development and were largely considered less significant than the 2 other cultural routes in California and New Mexico
- Potential barriers remain, under-funding and the political climate (coming elections)
- The US today is interested in pursing the Extension (and have consulted with Alessandro Balsamo from UNESCO), along with 3 additional binational nominations with Mexico (Camino Real de Tierra Adentro will likely be the first)

El Camino Real de las Californias
El Pinacate / Cabeza Prieta and Organ Pipe Cactus
Sierra del Carmen Mountains / Big Bend National Park

The youtube video has been posted!

Tradition and Legacy on El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro - World Heritage Webinar

Detailed information about the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro extension proposal: Start at 19:15 to 27:45

Short summary of 3 other bi-national aspiring nominations - 36:00 to 39:45
- El Camino Real de las Californias
- El Pinacate / Cabeza Prieta and Organ Pipe Cactus
- Sierra del Carmen Mountains / Big Bend National Park

Official announcement by World Heritage USA and a Spanish-language report this Spring. Its all happening faster than I thought! The NPS Office of International Affairs has been crucial to this partnership with Mexico.

Introducing the U.S./Mexico Binational Nominations Initiative

Proposal to add US section of Camino Real de Tierra Adentro to UNESCO declaration

Nice to see this initiative remains active.

US / Mexico Binational Nominations Initiative: El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Site Visits

https://worldheritageusa.org/us-mexico-binational-nominations-initiative-el-camino-real-de-tierra-adentro-site-visits/