Partner: Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda IAP
Location: Sierra Gorda Region, Queretaro, Mexico
Key Themes: Reforestation, Carbon Sequestration, Community-led Conservation, Land Stewardship
PROJECT MISSION
Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda (GESG) was founded over 35 years ago, led by the singular vision of one woman, Martha “Pati” Ruiz Corzo, and her family and their mission to preserve, protect, and regenerate the unique biodiversity of the Sierra Gorda. Since their founding, the GESG team has built integrated community environmental education programs and celebrations to bring hope to the serious work of regeneration and conservation. Today, their local, science-based model is being applied to a regional carbon reduction program and provides a critical local model that can be replicated on a global scale. As the impacts of climate change continue to accelerate declines in biodiversity, GESG’s work brings us hope for a better future.
The film highlights the successful conservation and climate solutions they initiated in response to the rapid environmental deterioration of their home in the Sierra Gorda bioregion in Querétaro, Mexico.The Sierra Gorda is a precious resource and ecosystem. For its flora, fauna, and local communities to thrive, a new vision serving the natural world while meeting the needs of local landowners was needed. For the last thirty years, Sierra Gorda Ecological Group has developed innovative models, leading best practices, science-backed tools and community-led programs to continue driving this vision forward.
Impact
Our work for Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda (GESG) was highly successful and won several major awards. GESG won the Climate Innovations category in the 2024 Regenerative Travel Impact Awards in Climate Innovations. The film is also the winner of My Hero Film Festival 2024, the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival 2024, an Official Selection for the Colorado Environmental Film Festival 2025, and the Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2025.
This award-winning film powerfully highlights the successful conservation and climate solutions they initiated decades ago in response to the rapid environmental deterioration of their home in the Sierra Gorda bioregion in Querétaro, Mexico.
We continue to promote Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda I.A.P. (GESG)’s work because of their incredible resilience, perseverance, and creativity with nature-based climate solutions. They always strive to bring progress to the region and serve as a global example of community-led, research-based conservation projects. We all think the world could use some inspiration and hope in the fight against climate change because there is no Planet B.
It is a story of resilience, innovation, and the extraordinary power of local action. Local stewards are the custodians and agents of change and a driving force for a nature-positive future.
Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda (GESG) won the Climate Innovations category in the 2024 Regenerative Travel Impact Awards in Climate Innovations. The film is also the winner of My Hero Film Festival 2024, the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival 2024, an Official Selection for the Colorado Environmental Film Festival 2025, and the Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2025.
