Farewell, as Long as It Lasts

In the heart of the Baja peninsula lies the canyon community of San Jose de Gracia, a vibrant and resilient settlement that has stood the test of time for two centuries. However, this historic community is now facing an unprecedented challenge - the relentless advance of climate change.

Residents like Crecencia and Santos fear that their community, with its rich cultural heritage and traditions, may disappear within their lifetime. The effects of the climate crisis are deeply emotional, as migrants leave behind their homes, their roots, and their way of life.

The once flourishing food oasis, with a robust fresh water spring, is now a shadow of its former self. The spring is now only a trickle as the rainy season grows shorter and less productive. The waterfalls and ponds that once adorned the landscape have been replaced by evaporated divots in the Earth. Changes in weather patterns are making the land fragile, and the predictability of rain has been lost.

The Baja peninsula is facing multiple threats from climate change, including stronger hurricanes, changes in precipitation patterns and streamflows, loss of vegetation and soils, and accelerated desertification. Tropical storms and hurricanes pose a significant threat to San Jose de Gracia due to potential damage to the two dirt roads connecting the region. In 1992, tropical storm Lester swept several lower houses out of the canyon and took away artifacts and belongings from the community.

The International Center of Photography, in collaboration with the Pulitzer Center and Diversify Photo, has supported reporting on the endangered cultural landscape of San Jose de Gracia. A handful of residents have recently returned to San Jose de Gracia to live off the grid, converting old classrooms into livable spaces using simple solar power systems.

However, the community's future remains uncertain. Over 70 kids were enrolled in a four-classroom school in San Jose de Gracia, but it was left abandoned when families migrated. Conservative estimates suggest that 3.9 million people in Mexico and Central America will be forced to leave their homes due to a changing climate. In a more likely scenario, over 30 million migrants may head towards the U.S. border over the next 30 years due to the climate crisis.

As the landscape becomes less hospitable, memories of the cultures in San Jose de Gracia are also at risk of being lost. It is a heart-rending prospect, as this community, like many others, faces the grim reality of climate change. The fight to preserve San Jose de Gracia and its rich cultural heritage is far from over.

Farewell, as Long as It Lasts