Earth Festivals in Progress
As always, the Serrano teachers are an ally of utmost importance for environmental education. This month we have been presenting the Fiestas de la Tierra, sharing with students, teachers, parents and our colleagues led by Mtra. Olivia Perez. Each place we visit surprises us more, because the love they show for their mountains and the Earth with each of their activities and expressed in songs, stories, plays, among others after three years of hiatus due to the pandemic. Apart from the gastronomic fair by the ladies, where traditional recipes and flavors emerge, with up to 6 different dishes, may based on wild flower petals, are shared.
We invite you to stay tuned for our next events as we have many more to come.
Each Earth Festival raises a wave of love for nature.
The Biodiverse Carbon
We were pleased to receive in our facilities officials from SEDESU and guests from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP-BIOFIN), and the Mexican Fund for National Conservation (FMCN) on the 16th and 17th of this month, to present and discuss with them the scope and economic, social and conservation benefits of the Queretaro Seal, which developed jointly with SEDESU. This mecanism will allow companies and industries based in our state to reduce and mitigate their carbon footprint. This is done through the payment of compensation to forest owners in exchange for the withdrawal of activities that have degraded the forests. Querétaro is thus spearheading at the national level, with a 100% innovative subnational policy and with ample potential for replication. We also conducted a field trip to show them first-hand the effectiveness of a regenerative tool that is as simple as it is effective; the removal of cattle browsing and chainsaws, allowing life to flourish again.
GLP Films documents the Biodiverse Carbon Program
During the week of April 24-29, GLP Films, the U.S. media agency that empowers projects and brands focused on sustainability and positive environmental impact through recognition, toured the Sierra Gorda with GESG staff to learn about the Biodiverse Carbon program, and the benefits already received by landowners who have chosen to be part of the initiative.
GLP Films was able to see up close the advantages and benefits of the program, learn about the environmental education that has been carried out in the mountain region for more than 35 years through the Earth Festivals by Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda and tour part of the Flavor Trail, which helps to empower mountain women as microentrepreneurs, as well as other projects focused on sustainability and circular economy such as the harvesting of products of interest to the demand in the beauty and health industries, offering native oregano and damiana.
Fourth Payment for CO2
We were pleased to receive in our facilities almost 30 forest owners from the municipalities of Landa de Matamoros and Jalpan de Serra in our facilities and make the 4th payment for capture and storage of forest CO₂. Between them, the area totals 2793 ha dedicated to conservation with the support of the World Land Trust (2500 ha) and our Biodiverse Carbon program (293 ha), including areas of El Ejido Madroño, dedicated to conservation.
Thus, in exchange for the removal of cattle grazing and no timber extraction, their forests are regrowing, and by increasing their biomass, CO₂ capture occurs, biodiversity is protected and the landowners have a higher income than their traditional activities.
Undoubtedly, the WLT is a major partner for conservation, combating climate change, protecting biodiversity through fair compensation to their owners.
Basic Course for Forest Fighters
From April 3 to 5, personnel from CONAFOR and CONANP gave a “Basic Course for Forest Fighters” at our facilities to the forest firefighting brigades of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas and Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda I.A.P., located in the Valle Verde and San Juan de los Durán areas. During this course we covered topics such as: basic concepts of fire management, principles of fire behavior, topography, type of fuels, fire fighter preparation and incident command system. Our brigade is funded and operates thanks to the support of the World Land Trust and Global Giving.
GESG welcomes the participants and hopes that the knowledge they will take away will be of great interest and use.
Video of the Month
Premiered in 2018, the series dedicated to Mexico and its natural wealth filmed by the BBC, has a chapter dedicated to its mountains, where the Sierra Gorda has a special place. For this, Roberto Pedraza collaborated as a guide and with several shots integrated in the segment that we share with you, and was broadcasted by Discovery Channel Latin America.
Sanitation in “El Sabinal”
Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda, in coordination with ECO Sierra GORDA Extreme “the guardians of nature” and inhabitants of the community of El Rayo, carried out a river cleanup campaign in the place known as El Sabinal, where we cleaned an area of 100 m x 10 m, managing to remove an average of 2.5 tons of water lilies, an exotic and invasive plant that damages the aquatic systems of the region. What was removed and collected will be used as input for composting. We thank the subdelegate and the support of the neighbors of El Rayo who joined in the cleanup of their river.
Sierra Gorda Ecotours Promotions
May and June 2023
Book your lodging at Cabañas Sierra Gorda and receive a 20% discount on your second night:
– Valid on private rooms and cabins.
– Period of validity: May 3 to June 30
July and August 2023
Family trips with 20% discount
– Applies to 3 and 4 day tours.
– Minimum 5 people
Biosphere Reserve Care Campaign
The Sierra Gorda is one of the most beautiful and biodiverse places in Mexico. Unfortunately, its ecosystem is in danger due to the presence of motorized vehicles. The emission of polluting gases and the impact on the flora and fauna are worrying and it is our duty to protect it. Therefore, we invite you to join the initiative to ban the use of motorized vehicles in the Sierra Gorda.
🔊 ¡Listen to us on Spotify!
Earth Life University Interview
We invite you to listen to the interesting interview that the @EarthLifeUniversity team conducted with Mtra. Martha “Pati” Ruiz Corzo, How to build entrepreneurship based on nature? Learn more about her beginnings and her love for mother earth. It is already available on Spotify, here we leave you the direct link: http://bit.ly/3K3wre9 🌐Share! So that more people know about Queretaro´s Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve.
Photo of the Month | Monarch Butterflies
The Monarchs are already on their way back to their homes in the United States and Canada, and in April I photographed this traveler, in poor condition, but tireless in its passage through the Sierra Gorda. Their migration is one of the great wonders of nature, threatened from all sides thanks to the pressure and short-sightedness of our species. Logging, monocultures, agrochemicals and the extra pressure of global warming. A pleasure to meet them and wish them good travels.
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Our mailing address is:
Ave. La Presa S/N Barrio, El Panteon, 76340 Jalpan de Serra, Qro., Mexico.
email: info@sierragorda.net
