First Payment of the Querétaro Carbon Tax
At our facilities, we made the first payment of the Querétaro Low Carbon Emissions Seal to owners of natural forests. This strategy offsets 20% of the carbon footprint of major emitting corporations in the state, and finances the regeneration of forests, and values them economically for the service of capturing carbon in biomass as a result of eliminating cattle grazing in the understory, destructive logging and other activities that degrade the landscape.
We thank the Government of the State of Queretaro´s SEDESU for recognizing the services of forests by developing a financing mechanism that will green Queretaro, a 100% innovative and effective public policy.
The virtuous alliance between civil society, which has the social networks that make this possible, and the State Government, which makes it possible to realize a strategy that obligates companies to measure and reduce their footprint, and strengthen a conservation economy that protects biodiversity.
Field Verification
As part of the process required to become a beneficiary of Querétaro Low Carbon Emissions Seal, we visited the property of Don Fortino Durán, in San Antonio Tancoyol, Jalpan de Serra.
This property was previously used for cattle ranching, but now it is destined for conservation. Thanks to Don Fortino’s commitment, we can witness the magic of natural regeneration on the property.
New oaks are beginning to grow, as well as junipers and other species, which because of their location managed to survive the cattle that were once present.
Don Fortino will now receive financial compensation for his conservation, arranged by GESG with SEDESU, as will many other landowners we have forests.
Art and Biodiversity in Pinal de Amoles
Pinal de Amoles welcomes visitors with 7 colorful murals representing the biodiversity of the Sierra Gorda, painted on the wall of the Rafael Jiménez elementary school, on the side of Federal Highway 120.
The artist, muralist Santiago Boldó, painted some of the flora and fauna species of the Biosphere Reserve, and considers himself a native of Tequisquiapan – “I was born in Chiapas, but since I was one year old I have lived in Tequisquiapan so I consider myself from here, I studied architecture at the Tec Regional de Querétaro, but I always knew I wanted to paint”.
Boldó has been dedicating himself fully to art for a little over five years and when he received the invitation from Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda I.A.P., to carry a message in favor of Mother Earth through his artistic sensitivity, he did not hesitate to answer the call: “It was a beautiful experience to be there in the mountains painting, hopefully it will be the beginning of other works”.
We thank Santiago for his generosity and for joining in the best way to protect life.
You can follow Santiago Boldó on Instagram: @santiagoboldo
Rap-poets for Life
As part of the activities of the Santiago Festival, we received a group of young rap-poets at Centro Tierra’s facilities, led by teacher José Antonio Parga and with the presence of the director of the Historical Museum of the Sierra Gorda, Mr. Miguel Ángel Herrera.
The young people learned in two intense sessions , one by nature photographer Roberto Pedraza Ruiz and the second with the Director of GESG, Ms. Pati Ruiz Corzo.
We hope that these topics will be of great support to make their compositions and join the protection of nature, and the results will include environmental messages to the rappers audiences.
In ASOMARTE
You can’t miss this edition! Meet Mtra Pati Ruiz Corzo and what she has done the last 36 years of life in favor of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve thanks to our friends of ASOMARTE.
Read the article clic here
With the Rector of the UAQ
A strategic work meeting was held with Dr. Teresa García Gasca, Rector of the Autonomous University of Querétaro and Pati Ruiz Corzo, where surrounded by natural beauty, we had the opportunity to exchange points of view, join forces and reach collaboration agreements. We are delighted to work together for the Sierra Gorda.
With Recycling Micro-entrepreneurs
As part of the work developed last month by the Sierra Gorda Ecological Group with its various allies, we worked to strengthen the Sierra Gorda Recyclers Network, this time benefiting small recyclers and community and school collection centers in the municipalities of Arroyo Seco, Jalpan de Serra and Landa de Matamoros, providing them with bins and advertising banners in order to continue to encourage their noble work.
And in collaboration with SEDESU Qro, we promoted the implementation of the Intermunicipal Solid Waste Plan. What do we need? Your support! Learn more here
Interview in Expansión
In Mexico we had not suffered such a direct onslaught of climate change: droughts, water shortages, devastated forests and increasing waste, warns activist Martha ‘Pati’ Ruiz Corzo.
Read the full interview that Expansión conducted with her in recent days here https://bit.ly/3rizxUS
Sierra Gorda Ecotours Promotions
August 2023
Family trips with 20% discount
- Applies to 3 and 4 day tours.
- Minimum 5 people
Video of the Month
Mexico has more than 1800 species of wild bees. I find the Euglosines or orchid bees (about 200 species) fascinating, because it is the males who eagerly visit the flowers to collect perfumed waxes to attract females.
The best perfumer is the one who mates and orchids make sure to disperse their pollen and receive it from other flowers, in this case the magnificent Stanhopea tigrina.
At first I was nervous to feel them so close to my face, as I was worried they were going to sting me. But it turns out that the males are harmless, as they have no sting.
Photo of the Month
On this occasion, the photo of the month comes from a camera trap installed in an old forest that we protect. It made a record of the most relevant; the Scaly-bellied Antbird (Grallaria guatimalensis), a neotropical bird, and the only species of its genus in Mexico.
This photgraphic record in the Sierra Gorda may be the northernmost sighting at a continental level, apart from having protection status as endangered.
It was something unexpected. The Scaly-bellied Antbird shares its home with jaguars, black bears, pumas and other birds that depend 100% on well-preserved forests.
An honor to have her as a tenant and take care of her home!
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