It was an honor to welcome the team from the Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development (IMADES) of Colima State in western Mexico, led by its director, biologist Angélica Jiménez. They came to learn about the experience we have built alongside SEDESU Querétaro in solid waste management, environmental education, and the management of Carbono Biodiverso, as well as a subnational public policy that is unique in Mexico: the Querétaro Low CO2 Emissions Seal. CONANP-RBSG also joined the meeting. We are convinced that sharing experiences, shortening learning curves, and joining forces is the best strategy to reverse the environmental degradation of our beloved country.

Decades of conservation that can now be seen and verified.
Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda has been working since 1987, and since 2012 our Biodiversity Carbon program has supported forest conservation together with landowners.
With OpenForests, we have brought this experience into a verifiable registry with mapped areas, traceable offsets, and documented payments to forest owners.

Read the full case study

On September 23, at Centro Tierra Sierra Gorda in Jalpan de Serra, the investment promotion company (SAPI in Spanish) “Aroma Vivo” held a working meeting. Aroma Vivo is a community enterprise made up of Sierra Gorda ejidos dedicated to the sustainable use of aromatic plant species growing on their lands.
During the meeting, ejido members from Agua Fría, Boquillas, El Pilón, and Maguey Verde, in the municipality of Peñamiller, reviewed the manuals that will guide the company’s administration and internal controls. They also discussed bringing new ejidos into the enterprise.
The meeting concluded with the signing of an agreement, and thanks to support from Fomento Social Banamex, Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda provided the SAPI with a revolving fund to finance its operations, which will be replenished over time to continue supporting its activities.

On September 19, Jalpan de Serra hosted the 1st Run for Wildlife, organized by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) in collaboration with Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda.
The event brought together people of all ages around a shared purpose: supporting wildlife rehabilitation through the launch of the Wildlife Care Center (CAVIS) as a Wildlife Management Unit (UMA) officially registered with SEMARNAT. This is a joint cooperation project with the Directorate of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, CONANP-SEMARNAT. We thank CONANP and everyone who made this first edition possible, and we celebrate joining forces with the Federal Government to protect wildlife.

After several months of care and rehabilitation, Milo, a northern tamandua (Tamandua mexicana), was released into a well-preserved Sierra Gorda forest, where others of his kind live in the canopy undisturbed. This was made possible by generous people and the collaboration between Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda and the Directorate of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, CONANP/SEMARNAT, now operating as a legally registered UMA. We thank everyone who was part of the process and wish Milo a long and happy life. May he find a mate and raise a family.

On September 12, together with Sierra Gorda Xtreme, we held a clean-up campaign along the riverbank and at the entrance to Jalpan de Serra’s old slaughterhouse.
We collected about 600 kg of waste, including 40 kg of PET and 50 kg of scrap metal that can be recycled.
Actions like this help reduce soil and water pollution, protect the places where our wildlife lives, and restore our surroundings. Caring for our environment takes everyone’s commitment.