Monday News & Press Release
Companies, government, and communities protect more than 41,000 hectares of forest in the Sierra Gorda with the Carbono Biodiverso program• In 2025, 47 companies offset their emissions through the Querétaro Seal.• In August 2025, the inventory of properties registered in the Carbono Biodiverso Program was sold out, confirming the success of the model.• Currently, more than 161 private landowners, 10 ejidos, and 3 agricultural communities are participating, protecting 41,261 hectares of forest.• The Aroma Vivo Aromatic Species Collection SAPI was inaugurated, which will benefit more than 500 people in the Sierra Gorda.
Valle Verde Brigade Ready!
We are pleased to share that our Valle Verde Brigade for fire management and control is now active and ready to join the efforts of the Federal, State, and Municipal Brigades to protect the most valuable asset of the Sierra Gorda: its forests. We are now carrying out prevention work, such as maintaining firebreaks, which allow for more efficient and rapid firefighting in the event of a fire, given that there is already a high risk of one occurring. Ready and on alert.
Session of the Querétaro State Fire Management Committee
On the 27th, we attended the first regular session of the Querétaro State Fire Management Committee, made up of authorities from the three levels of government and stakeholders involved in the management, prevention, and fighting of fires and forest fires in our state. Although there is already excellent coordination between the different institutions involved, with clearly defined responsibilities and capacities, the session undoubtedly allowed for further refinement of details. We shared the activation of our Valle Verde Brigade, made up of 11 members, which, thanks to an agreement signed with the Arroyo Seco City Council and the good offices of CONANP, is based in La Florida, to which we will be contributing the salaries of the brigade members and new educational materials on prevention. Everything is done to defend the forest and its inhabitants.
Clean-up and Recycling Days
The activities included a Recycling Marathon, with the installation of new collection centers and a significant collection of materials, as well as a Cleanup Campaign on the Jalpan Dam boardwalk, as part of World Wetlands Day, promoting citizen participation and care for ecosystems.
Producers Learn About Regenerative Practices in the Field
Last Friday, we accompanied producers from the Field Schools program, promoted by the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), on a visit to Rancho Suelo Vivo, in Tonatico, Pinal de Amoles.
During the day, they learned about regenerative soil management and sustainable production practices promoted by the Sierra Gorda Ecological Group, in addition to sharing experiences and lessons learned in the field.
We continue to strengthen local capacities to move toward more sustainable and resilient agriculture, in partnership with the Federal Government.
Earth Festivals
The Earth Festivals kicked off this year and during February we were present at 13 venues where over 2000 people participated across Jalpan de Serra, Landa de Matamoros, Pinal de Amoles, and Arroyo Seco. Students from 26 schools participated, including their parents and teachers.
Activities included educational initiatives on biodiversity conservation, water conservation, and responsible waste management. We presented the play “Una ola de amor por la Sierra Gorda” (A Wave of Love for the Sierra Gorda), which seeks to raise awareness about taking care of Nature locally and promote environmental responsibility, in addition to providing educational materials for classroom time. Through these actions, we are strengthening the culture of conservation and community participation in the region. As always, we are grateful to the teachers of the Sierra, who are unconditional allies in our work.
GESG Presents Biodiverse Carbon at the UNIDO–GEF Forum
Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda (GESG) presented the Querétaro Low Emissions Seal and its Biodiverse Carbon project at the UNIDO and GEF Forum in Vienna as one of the winning projects of the GEF Challenge 2024. This landscape regeneration strategy stands out for integrating biodiversity and carbon capture into a replicable model for vulnerable communities. The forum allowed GESG to share the benefits of the program with organizations in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and to explore new opportunities for financing and international technical cooperation.
Photo of the Month
Three years ago, I first encountered them in the protected cloud and temperate forests of one of our reserves. But this month’s encounter allowed me to get better images of the Queretaro Owl (Glaucidium sanchezi, alias Tamaulipeco) because it is as much here as it is there. It is a species endemic to northeastern Mexico, and it is an honor to effectively protect its home where its forest remains serene and orderly. Just beyond the boundary of our reserve, as always, are chainsaws with their noise and destruction.
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