On October 23 Jalpan de Serra held an Ecological March, "Joining Hands to Reduce Climate Change", which represented one of the more than 2,000 actions that took place simultaneously in 181 countries in the greatest day of climate action ever organized; its purpose was to demand action to combat climate change. About 550 people attended the march. The march was organized by the Sierra Gorda Ecological Group (Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda), with the support of the Ecoclubs and the current (2009-2012) municipal administration of Jalpan de Serra, Querétaro. Participants included the Bachelor´s School of the State of Querétaro (COBAQ, Colegio de Bachilleres del Estado de Querétaro), the Secondary School of Sierra Gorda, the State Normal School, the Querétaro State Institute for Work Training (ICATEQ, Instituto de Capacitación para el Trabajo de Estado de Querétaro), the Querétaro State Center for Higher Technological Education (CESTEQ, Centro de Educación Superior Tecnológica del Estado de Querétaro), the Technological University of Querétaro (UTEQ, Universidad Tecnológica de Querétaro), as well as Ecoclubs from Jalpan de Serra and Landa de Matamoros.  The activists marched wearing t-shirts with messages of ways to help reduce global warming, as well as with banners carrying messages to fix the water treatment plants and the sanitary landfills. Arriving at the Main Plaza, the mood turned serious and speakers reflected on the meaning and importance of 350 for global warming and the need to take action.  Following was a presentation by the music group, Sing to the Land, who gave a concert of ecology songs songs. The mayor, Miguel Torres, expressed his administration´s commitment to take action for nature and comprehensive solid waste management, and also expressed his concern about climate change. All international actions are taking place before the convention that is bringing together countries around the world to Copenhagen, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change where a new global climate treaty will be drafted. The target of 350 ppm already has the support of 89 countries. 

We now are part of The Climate Project.

Roberto Pedraza Ruiz, Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda, recently joined the 320 volunteers who were personally trained by former U.S. Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Al Gore, during the First Meeting of The Latin American Climate Project (TCP) in Mexico City. Participants came from 21 different countries throughout the region, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Bolivia, Peru, Panama, Puerto Rico, Belize and Colombia. During the meeting, each participant learned how to give a presentation based on the bestselling book and documentary on Al Gore: An Inconvenient Truth. Those trained at the First Latin American Meeting have become official TCP presenters committed to carrying the message of struggle against climate change into their communities, and to acquaintances and circles of influence. This event was recently held in the Banamex Center located in the Historic Center of Mexico City and organized by the environmental conservation group, Pronatura AC, the Mexican Environmental Law Center (CEMDA, Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental AC), and The Climate Project. Thanks to the invitation of Pronatura A.C. and CEMDA, we now have a presenter who has the tools and materials developed for this purpose by Mr. Gore and his team. Importantly, the commitment, reliability and simplicity of this prominent person was clear at all times; whose main project is now to reduce the serious disorder of climate, caused entirely by humans and already beginning to take its toll with droughts, floods, fires and increasingly violent hurricanes.

"Roberto Pedraza is an extraordinary example of the millions of citizens worldwide who have been motivated by the call to act against the climate crisis," Gore said. "We are delighted that he has made a serious commitment to address this challenge"

Program for Land Conservation.

The Program for Land Conservation, of utmost importance to preserve wild spaces and lands with special biological significance within the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, has made significant achievements this month. It was visited by a group of executives from Prime Steel, a company based in the City of San Luis Potosi, a group that already made a contribution to purchase a new property that joins other properties comprising the private Hoya Verde nature reserve. In addition, the IUCN Netherlands Committee approved a proposal for the purchase of two estates which have considerable biological value and are threatened by human activities. This is the second time the IUCN Netherlands Committee is supporting us in this area, being an important partner for the project. The World Land Trust, our British partner, obtained support from the Farrington Trust for the management and protection of the reserves; this provides maintenance of fences and fire breaks during critical months, as well as necessary monitoring. With these extensions to the privately protected areas, Joya del Hielo A.C. and Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda I.A.P. manage nearly 3,700 hectares, ensuring conservation in the long term.

Sierra Gorda will be present at the World Wilderness Congress (WILD9).

 Sierra Gorda will be present at the World Wilderness Congress (WILD9)to take place in the city of Merida, Yucatan, the 9th Annual World Wilderness Congress will be held 5 to 13 November 2009; this is one of the largest events of global conservation and fortunately on this occasion, is being celebrated in Mexico. November 10 in the morning plenary, Martha Ruiz Corzo, Director of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, will discuss Payments for Ecosystem Services alongside Sally Collins, Director of Marketing and Ecosystem Services of the U. S. Forest Service Department of Agriculture, and a friend of the Sierra Gorda project. Roberto Pedraza Ruiz, Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda, also will give presentations on November 9 and 11 in the Congress symposium program: "Putting a value on natural infrastructure as a tool for conserving wild spaces" and, by invitation from Reforestamos México AC, will give another presentation at the Forest Pavilion on conservation strategies for the cloud forests of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. Surely an event of this magnitude will be a special room to enter, to make new contacts, weave alliances and disseminate the experience gained in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. Finally, thanks to WWF and the Río Arronte Foundation, Sierra Gorda will also participate in the Water Pavilion. For further information see www.wild9.org

Nearly a month after opening its doors, the milk processing plant "MiniVaca" located in the city of Jalpan de Serra, already offers a variety of products that are becoming established in the market with great success. The members of this cooperative venture are farmers with a vision to introduce technology and management in a holistic manner, and to have minimal environmental impact from their herds, in contrast to traditional ranching. The development of this project has benefited from partners like the State of Querétaro Ministry of Agriculture, the World Bank Development Marketplace and Green Grants, who have been essential for its development; this is for a project that has all the potential to grow and involve more farmers.

Our warmest congratulations .- We are pleased to recognize Mr. Jose Calzada Rovirosa as Governor of the State of Querétaro, with whom we are developing a fruitful working relationship and collaboration. Aware of the Governor´s sensitivity and concern for environmental issues, we are sure they will be on the State´s agenda and in government actions.

Ecotours .- Become acquainted with regional traditions in the coming celebration of the Day of the Dead with three days and two nights in the Sierra Gorda, where you can experience the special flavor of a festival in the heart of the Biosphere Reserve. See more….

Photo of the month.

The margay(Leopardus wiedii), also called tigrillo, is the smallest cat of Mexico; it is nocturnal and arboreal and is in serious danger of extinction, primarily from habitat loss. In the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, we apparently have a relatively healthy population, as inferred from motion-detecting camera photos and, unfortunately, the number of these cats reported killed by car. The animal in this photograph was taken illegally but, fortunately, was seized and later released onto one of our private nature reserves. Before disappearing into the forest it allowed us to photograph it.