During the month of March, the “Training for New Beekeepers” course was held from the 1st to the 22nd in four Sunday sessions, with the participation of 21 people from different communities in the Sierra Gorda.

The course was taught by Leopoldo Morán, a beekeeping technician with the Sierra Gorda Ecological Group, who shared his knowledge and experience with the participants, providing them with the basics to get started in beekeeping.

Through initiatives like this, we continue to promote the development of productive activities in the region.

On Friday, March 20, the Earth Festival was held in the main garden as part of World Water Day, creating a space for gathering and reflection on the care of this resource.

The event featured presentations by Pati Ruiz Corzo, Director of the GESG, and Brenda Cárdenas Alvarado, Water Culture Coordinator at CEA Querétaro, who highlighted the importance of water conservation. There were also public speaking presentations and a performance by the Huapanguero Trio from Technical Secondary School No. 3, which added a special touch to the event.

From the 24th to the 27th, we served as the venue and hosts for the training that CONANP and CONAFOR staff provided to firefighters from four municipalities in the RBSG. It was a memorable event that provided new knowledge, served as a refresher for some, and—most importantly—facilitated interaction among staff from the federal government, local municipalities, Civil Protection, and civil society, reinforcing that we are one team working to protect the communities and forests of the Sierra Gorda during this dry season and forest fire season. Congratulations on this partnership!

Since early March, 285 teachers from different regions of the country and abroad have begun the seventh online cohort of the Diploma in Sustainable Development: Teaching Tools for Climate Action, an initiative launched by GESG in 2011 and which, four years ago, migrated to the Tecnológico de Monterrey virtual campus through the Formando Formadores program.

With a duration of 120 hours and a 100% online format, the diploma program trains classroom teachers, administrators, and technical-pedagogical advisors at any educational level the tools to address the climate emergency in their classrooms and communities. The program is structured into four modules: Global Emergency, Reconciliation with the Earth, Actions for Nature, and Environmental Education.

Enrollment for this cohort reflects a broad geographic reach: from Querétaro, Xilitla, San Luis Potosí, Nayarit, and 6 participants from abroad. Together, these 285 educators will directly impact more than 8,550 students, multiplying the impact of environmental education in their communities.

Upon completing the certificate program, those who achieve a minimum grade of 80 points and complete their capstone project will receive a certificate of accreditation from Tecnológico de Monterrey, recognizing their commitment to education focused on a sustainable present.

During the month of March, clean-up, recycling, and awareness campaigns were held in Pinal de Amoles (Mesas de Santa Inés), La Sierrita in Landa de Matamoros, Concá, and another on the way to La Sanguijuela in Arroyo Seco, as well as on the outskirts of Jalpan on the way to El Polvorín.

Several tons of waste were collected, and recyclable materials such as PET, aluminum, glass, and iron were recovered, in coordination with municipalities, schools, and volunteers. Notable was the participation of the Mesas de Santa Inés elementary school and the activities in La Morita, where proper waste management and the establishment of collection centers were promoted. Likewise, in Concá, we participated in a Recycling Marathon in coordination with UAQ Campus Concá and the Municipal Delegation, assisting with the transport of the collected waste.

We appreciate the collaboration of authorities, teachers, students, and communities who join these efforts in support of the Sierra Gorda.

Mountain communities have developed productive projects based on aromatic plants from the semi-desert, such as pine nuts, damiana, and oregano, which are transformed into oils, soaps, shampoos, and creams for commercial sale.

In this context, on March 9, the AromaVivo Aromatic Species Collection Center was inaugurated in La Estación, Peñamiller. It is a Public Limited Company for Investment Promotion (SAPI) formed by the ejidos of Enramadas, Agua Fría, Boquillas, El Pilón, and Maguey Verde.

The inauguration was attended by partner institutions such as Fomento Social Banamex, SEDESU, CONAFOR, PROFEPA, SEMARNAT, CONANP, the Municipality of Peñamiller, representatives of the ejidos, as well as local producers, including the microenterprise Oromiller from the El Pilón ejido.

This center aims to promote the sustainable use and commercialization of wild oregano and other aromatic species from the Sierra Gorda, directly benefiting more than 500 people and contributing to improving the quality of life for around 1,600 residents.

Fast Company Mexico. In Querétaro, forest conservation becomes a pioneering model for climate action

Expansión: The Carbono Biodiverso model pays for forest conservation in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda and Carbono Biodiverso get the private sector to protect 41,000 hectares of forest