Message from the Director in Honor of GESG’s 37th Anniversary
Many yesterdays accumulated, a time that has passed so fast, in a journey of 37 years and suddenly we are here, in 2024, working with double traction always on, aiming to do our best. Burnished, embroidered, the threads of activity that we have followed for decades, such as Environmental Education in a privileged process with high level alliances, mobilizing significant transformative experiences within the communities and an ecological citizenship involving 440 teachers who graduated with us and are attending thousands of school children in the state of Querétaro.
The sanitation and solid waste management program is a citizen network that moves mountains of garbage out of the territory, and for the first time we have waste treatment plants.
A Querétaro Seal for Low Emissions that has allowed us to economically value carbon capture services in favor of forest owners, regenerating the State’s natural capital, under a very innovative, legitimate and transparent mechanism.
And 62 micro-enterprises that have been strengthened, organized as tourism service providers, continuous training with 350 direct participants each year, developing a very exciting local entrepreneurship.
The best is yet to come, our work is in full swing, grateful for a virtuous alliance with the Government of the State of Querétaro, including public policies for climate action, innovation and as a beacon of solutions based on nature, and sharing this with many other organizations in the country and the world.
We hope our Planet has enough resilience to give us the time to regenerate everything damaged, to mend and heal; only a great wave of love from a new society in action can bring us hope. Perhaps this is what it is all about, to invest our highest values, to commit ourselves and focus on raising a wave of love for the Earth. Today, as yesterday, with our hearts stirred and our minds at altitude, we remain in the trench, here and now, mobilizing all possibilities.
Happy anniversary to all of us who are involved in the great satisfaction of having such a beloved cause.
Strengthening of Micro-entrepreneurs
In addition to promoting motivation as a strategy for improving competencies, setting goals and recognizing personal and collective achievements within the Network, the importance of the savings culture emphasizing the need to acquire effective financial tools for optimal business management.
This workshop represents a significant step in strengthening the skills and capacities of the microentrepreneurs of the Community Tourism Services Network, enabling them not only to improve their business practices, but also to contribute to the economic development of their community.
Protecting Sanctuaries from Fire
With the consecutive heat waves that May brought, our “Valle Verde” brigade and colleagues joined the fight against 3 forest fires, in coordination with brigades from CONAFOR, CONANP and SEDEA, where quick attention and having enough elements was the key for them to affect minimal surfaces, given the extreme dry conditions and record temperatures.
In two of the cases, recklessness, ignorance or indifference were the causes, since they were provoked. The other was initiated by lightning, but in all cases the health and lives of the combatants were put at risk and being nesting season, undoubtedly specimens and nests of several species of fauna were destroyed. We thank the World Land Trust for their funding and support to have a brigade of 10 members equipped and ready to give immediate attention to firefighting.
Let us NOT allow the natural heritage of the Sierra Gorda and Mexico turn to ashes.
Educational Trips with TEC Campus Querétaro
In addition to field practices, they visited natural sites where they had the opportunity to connect with nature and have a forest therapy session.
We cater to professional and student groups; travel, learn and be inspired to be an agent of change.
Video of the Month: Drinking Fountains for Life
A drinking fountain we installed is making all the difference for a long list of characters and wildlife species, who with the drought are really having a hard time. We invite you to help them, any tub, pot, or trash can do the trick, by putting a rock for them to perch on or a piece of wood. And in the daytime, bees, wasps and lots of birds.
Photo: Roberto Pedraza Ruiz, Conservation Photography
Donate for the Forests, Donate for Your Home
The real heroes need our support!
Extreme drought is wiping out life in the Sierra Gorda, making the rainy season the only hope for all.
Fires are another threat and are undoubtedly the greatest danger, the only ones facing this great flaming monster are the warriors who make up the various fire departments and fire management.
They risk their lives and their health, leaving their homes very early in the morning, to be among the flames and save us all, the problem is that they do not have the best protective equipment, but together we can make sure each one is properly equipped: clothing, footwear and tools that really protect them.
Help us make it happen! Make your donations in the following link and help us to share this great cause with everyone.
Whoever knew it that way, lucky you. Treasure that image of the Jalpan River, with pools of fresh water and its cypress forests, many of which have already left us or are drying up. Photo from 2015 Vs May 20, 2024, same trees.
This drought and heat wave is a mass extinction event. And remember that this year, 2024, is the coolest year left in our lifetimes.
Photo: Roberto Pedraza Ruiz, Conservation Photography.
Teachers as Agents of Change for the Planet
A new generation of the “Teaching Tools for Climate Action” diploma course has just begun with 222 teachers online with the Tec de Monterrey and Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda IAP. We are proud that for the first time almost 85% of those enrolled are teachers who work in the Sierra Gorda. Since 2022, we have trained 440 teachers who have completed 120 hours and a final project as part of the program. For 37 years, environmental education has been the cornerstone that has made the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve a reality.
Let’s continue to protect the heart of Mexico through environmental education and the great work of teaching.
World Bee Day
In honor of World Bee Day, an honorary event was held with the objective of raising awareness among children and adults about the vital importance of pollinators in our ecosystems, we thank all the beekeepers, entrepreneurs and organizations that attended and participated.
During the event, there were informative lectures on the crucial role that pollinators play in nature, practical tutorials on making creams and waxed fabrics using beeswax, and a play entitled “Detectives of the Environment” by the Gaviota Group, which was captivating and fun for the audience.
Listen to us on Spotify!
The radio program Nuestra Tierra, which has been on the air for more than 20 years, is now available digitally on this streaming platform. Get fresh news from the team and participants from the mountains.
Copyright © 2022. Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda, all rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Ave. La Presa S/N Barrio, El Panteon, 76340 Jalpan de Serra, Qro., Mexico.
email: info@sierragorda.net
