The following achievements have been accomplished in environmental education to date:

Updated March, 2006

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Developing environmental awareness in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve.

The environmental education program  in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve is the first of its kind in the region and has served local communities for 16 years. The program targets primary and secondary school students in addition to the general local population. Environmental education coordinators conduct monthly visits to 161 shools in 112 communities of the five counties that make up the Reserve as well as in buffer areas surrounding the Reserve.

There are 17 environmental education promoters who give orientations regarding teaching methods and materials including a series of location-appropiate themes such as watershed, soil, flora and fauna, renewable energies, ecological alternatives, natural resources, air, birds, forests, solid waste management, etc. We also distribute outreach materials such as signs with environmental messages, posters, brochures and the  “Our Earth” educational series package.

The  bond created between students and their parents through this educational process helps to support conservation, restoration and area clean-up efforts. Stream cleaning events, gardens made from recycled materials, environmetnal film screenings, Earth Festivals, nature appreciation tours, volunteer led projects to safeguard flora and fauna, waste recycling and environmental mural painting are a number of these initiatives. This program is conducted in close coordination with the Queretaro State Educational Services Department (USEBEQ) and local and municipal authorities.

Combined, these efforts help make the "Biodiversity Conservation in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve” project a success.