Thanks to the Querétaro Low CO2 Emissions Seal, through the project we presented to SEDESU in 2023, in its first stage 7,887 ha of forests belonging to 27 private owners and 3 Ejidos, were protected from timber extraction, deforestation and degradation by cattle, with regenerative management that allows the capture of 41,133 tCO2e – thanks to the fact that local landowners received a payment for their conservation. In this way, we ensure hydrological recharge, which in these times of drought, stopping the degradation of forests and maintaining their woodland should be of the utmost importance. And we hope to substantially increase the protected area soon.
This is a virtuous cyclele between GESG, private initiative and SEDESU.

Last Sunday, February 11, 2024, personnel from the Sierra Gorda Ecological Group conducted a cleanup campaign in coordination with Eco-Sierra, the Guardians of Nature and the subdelegate of the community of El Rayo, covering from the Ermita de Purísima de Arista to the Recta de Matlán, with a route of approximately 2 km, collecting around 750 kg of waste, which will be sorted for use.
Later on February 18, in coordination with Eco Sierra Xtrem Guardianes de la Naturaleza, we carried out another cleanup campaign covering 1.5 kilometers in which 21 volunteers participated and collected about 1,500 kg of waste.
We thank Tortillerías La Milpa for their support with sacks and the Director of Municipal Public Services of Arroyo Seco for his support in transporting the collected waste to the landfill. We can all participate by taking the waste to the collection centers and not throwing it on public roads or clandestine dumps.

The intense drought and extreme heat we are already feeling are a warning to everyone in the Sierra Gorda. They are not only a symptom of climate change, but also of possible forest fires. I February our facilities hosted a training workshop offered by personnel from the National Forestry Commission for the command system in the fight against forest fires, in which our Valle “Verde” brigade, together with participants from CONAFOR and CONANP, elements of civil protection, public safety and volunteer firefighters were trained. This workshop will allow for better communication, strategy and command in the event of a fire among the different combatants and brigades.It was an honor to facilitate the delivery of the workshop by the experts, and we thank all our valuable and brave heroes, thanking them and respecting their great work.
Do not allow any type of fire in the Sierra Gorda, do not use fire during the dry season.

The good practices to maintain a healthy environment in the Sierra Gorda extend to the region of Xilitla, S.L.P., where 11 communities in the area managed to collect 13 tons of recyclable materials, which shows the great commitment of its teachers to the sanitation of their communities. Thanks to the continuous participation of students from different educational levels, as well as to the committed teachers and leaders who take care of the environment on a daily basis.The cooperation of all the inhabitants in the collection of paper and PET is valuable for the Sierra Gorda, and having them as GESG collaborators is the greatest satisfaction.

In the facilities of Centro Tierra, we had the presence of L.A. Griselda Otero Hernandez. Ma. del Carmen González Villeda, Technical Pedagogical Chief of the USEBEQ Government of Querétaro to talk about the agreements and results obtained in the workshop “School Climate Action Protocol”, in which 40 educational authorities from the mountain region participated. Among them were heads of sector and supervisors of the basic level school zones of region 1, Jalpan de Serra. We were delighted to have 3 days of training educational authorities on relevant environmental issues such as; Climate Disruption, Sierra Gorda biodiversity, Environmental Education, the Intermunicipal Solid Waste Plan, the actions of the green protocol, among others.

Visit the new Flavor Trail Little Plaza in La Estación, Peñamiller. As part of the image improvement activities for tourism micro-enterprises and with the support of Nacional Monte de Piedad, the rehabilitation and equipping of 6 premises located in the community of La Estación in the municipality of Peñamiller, Qro. was carried out, an activity that directly benefits 6 families and generates a total of 20 direct jobs. The 6 new spaces are part of the Flavor Trail and will soon begin the implementation of the  Cypress Seal (Sello Sabino) to standardize their services and maintain a quality standard in food preparation.

During the last few months our monitoring team has been dedicated to establishing carbon monitoring plots, with the objective of quantifying how much carbon our forests and jungles in the Sierra Gorda are absorbing and sequestering. Tree heights, diameter at breast height, and otherecosystemmetrics are measured. The monitoring is being carried out in four types of ecosystems: lowland rainforest, oak forest, mesophyll or cloud forest, and pine forest. This is part of the follow-up to the carbon payments to mountain landowners, both from SEDESUQro’s Querétaro Seal and the World Land Trust.We thank the landowners for facilitating the monitoring and joining us as guardians for their conservation.

I have had many encounters and sessions with the Green Macaws. But this last one was the best of all. In a reserve that we guard, where nature is full and not avoiding power lines, clearings or human structures.
In the picture, a green macaw after having lunch with its partner with bromeliad buds, is framed by the new shoots of a liquidambar tree and taking off to look for more food. An honor to have them as visitors and offer them safe lunches in this protected forest.

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