• THE SIERRA GORDA ALLIANCE

    OUR MODEL

The Sierra Gorda Alliance  Conservation Strategy

We are a model of entrepreneurship and social participation in the Sierra Gorda, Mexico, where we correlate economic development with biodiversity conservation.  We develop the skill set and the economic value for the landowners whose forests provide environmental services- – scenic beauty as well as carbon and water capture.

Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda I.A.P. (GESG) leads a movement of civil society organizations that form the Alliance for the Conservation of the Sierra Gorda. This Alliance is made up of: Bosque Sustentable A.C. (Sustainable Forest), Tourism Products and Services of the Sierra Gorda S.A. de C.V., Joya del Hielo A.C.and Viva Sierra Gorda. Together we promote this living laboratory of best cultural practices for our planet with interdisciplinary teams. Our robust analysis of social and environmental return on investment demonstrates the impact for donors.

We are efficient because we have minimal administration and management costs which add up to about 4.7% of the budget we manage. The rest goes directly to the field, to beneficiaries and to biodiversity.

Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda I.A.P.

GESG was born from a desire of local citizens to protect biodiversity in the mountains in the region.  This model of participatory conservation led the Federal Government to issue a decree creating the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in 1997.  GESG, now with more than 3 decades of work history is interacting with partners from all levels of society, mobilizing sub-national public policy and sharing lessons learned through our educational space and strategic headquarters, Centro Tierra.

Bosque Sustentable A.C.

Founded in 2002, BSAC houses the expertise in conservation forest management and regeneration of soils and the payment for environmental services.  They work to establish a conservation economy specializing in the best practices to restore soils and to incentivize the natural regeneration of forests.  They offer courses and workshops, technical services and accompaniment to diversify micro-enterprise activities, in addition to consulting for the development of ecosystem services products and voluntary carbon offsets. 

Joya del Hielo A.C.

The guardian of a network of private natural reserves in the Sierra Gorda.  It effectively protects ecosystems and species that are at risk.  Here we say “NO” to the wave of mass extinction and give back spaces to wildlife.

Productos y Servicios Turísticos Sierra Gorda S.A. de C.V.

Promotes the scenic beauty of the Sierra Gorda and works with micro enterprises to make it a destination, with a sustainable tourism conservation economy.  Sierra Gorda Ecotours partners with 55 micro- entreprenuers that operate eco-lodges, restaurants, food stands and artisanal workshops in the Sierra Gorda to create a robust visitor experience and a conservation economy.

Viva Sierra Gorda, un proyecto de Earth Island Institute

Founded in 2004 as a project of Earth Island Institute, Viva Sierra Gorda is located in Berkeley, California.  It is oriented towards fundraising, transferring technologies and gaining access to international funders and partnerships.  They run the platform www.carbonneutralplanet.org that allows companies and individuals to offset their carbon footprint in forests and soils of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve.