Accompanied on February 14-19 by his production team from the French TV program “Vu du Ciel,” Mr. Arthus-Bertrand had the opportunity to document the activities of the Sierra Gorda Queretaro project for the purpose of including another episode in his prestigious series. In 2008, the Biosphere Director  Martha “Pati” Ruiz Corzo met with Mr. Arthus-Bertrand at the Global Agenda Forum of the World Economic Forum, which aroused his interest in the Sierra Gorda project and its founder. During their stay in the Reserve, the crew had the opportunity to document activities ranging from watershed restoration to an Earth Festival, including the developing work in the remote and economically-deprived communiy of La Trinidad in San Luis Potosí, which manages an unforgettable eco-lodge. Without a doubt, this is the most significant reporting that has been done about the Sierra Gorda project. The program will be aired for the first time in France and later in 50 countries, resulting in important international exposure.

With the support of the Tropical Forest Forever Foundation of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, another property was added to the Network of Private Natural Reserves in the northeast part of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve (SGBR).  The property is located on the northern slopes of the Hoya Verde area and contains a magnificent mountain cloud forest relic with some of the biggest and oldest Sweetgums in the Sierra Gorda; another sector contains a young forest with the same species in the process of regeneration. This forest is home to species such as brocket deer, ocelots, Margay cats, pumas, tayras, white-fronted parrots, salamanders, trogons, Crested Guans, and the endemic and threatened Bearded Wood-partridge, undoubtedly the most valuable bird in the Reserve. We now can assure that this forest will be protected in the long term and will continue to have all its components and the capacity to provide environmental services.       

The Hydrological Design or Keyline Design was developed as one of the principles of Permaculture, a technique that originated in Australia, which gives us valuable tools to quickly restore soils; increase their microbial activity (source of all fertile and productive land); return their fertility; shield them from the effects of drought; and turn them into great stores of water that infiltrate the soil layers or that are stored in the humus; in turn, this leads to the sequestration of carbon dioxide in the soils. Hydrological Design establishes patterns of work for continuing the restoration of a watershed and for implementing strategies that lead to optimal use of runoff, which can be modified and channeled to where the formations of the mountains, slopes, and hillsides offer greater opportunity for water infiltration. Following the workshops offered in the Sierra Gorda Earth Center and field visits by experts from Consejeros en Agricultura Sostenible y Permaculture (COAS, Council on Sustainable Agriculture and Permaculture), it is clear that the methodology that we shared is one of high impact, and for this reason these activities are being re-designed for implementation in the field.

Understanding clearly that without healthy watersheds there is no recharge of aquifers and, therefore, no production in springs, the State Water Commission will be joining our restoration activities, showing that the State Government is taking substantial measures to ensure future water supplies for people of the Sierra. With a variety of techniques for holistic management of soils, Bosque Sustentable personnel will be carrying out the construction works with the participation of a large number of people here, and this will generate temporary employment for people from economically-deprived areas.

One of the main websites featuring nature photography worldwide, with special emphasis on the documentation of species of flora and fauna threatened with extinction, now has pictures of species of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve—and several more are in the process of being put online. No doubt the images are a powerful tool to influence public opinion and increase awareness of the accelerating loss of biodiversity on our planet. The collection in ARKive is undoubtedly one of the best references worldwide.

Developed by the staff of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, there is now an official website about the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in Querétaro. You will find basic information about the area, including geography, culture, vegetation types, fauna, environmental problems, and social participation among other themes. The domain is http://sierragorda.conanp.gob.mx/

Three day courses in the next two months for organizations, producers and farmers.

Workshop: Fundraising, Outreach and Public Relations I
Objective: Learn skills for the professional management of relations and contacts to build networks of collaboration towards conservation and defense. (In Spanish)
Date: 25-27 March: Thurs, Fri and Sat
Trainer: Mtro. David Ross y expertos de Centro Tierra Sierra Gorda
Target audience: Personal y Directivos de Ong`s, Áreas Federales de Protección, Dependencias de Desarrollo Rural, Consultores y Evaluadores.

 
Workshop: Developing entrepreneurial capacity among producers and microenterprises
Objective: Learn the skills to develop rural enterprises and into the market.  Includes learning from the experience of rural enterprises on a national basis and from Protected Areas. (In Spanish)
Date: 25-27 Marzo Thurs, Fri, Sat
Trainer: Verónica Olicón Yaaxil Tu ser, Desarrollo e Integridad A. C.
Target audience: Emprendedores rurales de microempresas en  diferentes ANP´s, promotores y dependencias de desarrollo rural.

 
Workshop: Chromatography
Objective: Learn to conduct studies and analyze the quality of soil, composts and biofertilizers for the farmer, producer and gardener to be able to correctly judge and evaluate the biological quality of their lands.
Date: 18-20 April
Trainer: Jairo Restrepo y Eugenio Gras / COAS
Target audience: Campesinos, productores  y técnicos.

Sierra Gorda Ecotours

This season Sierra Gorda Ecotours has a package trip where you can see the cultural and natural marvels in the Biosphere Reserve.  For the Holy Week vacations you can visit the “Sanctuaries of the Sierra Gorda” which includes the Cuatro Palos ecotourism destination, the El Chuveje waterfall and trail, the World Heritage Missions from the 18^th century, take a swim where the two rivers converge in Arroyo Seco, visit the local artisans at work and stay a night or two in cozy cabins in the woods. 

Sierra Gorda Ecotours invites you to experience nature and the communities in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve.

More information:
http://www.sierragorda.net/sg-ecotours/index.htm 

Contact us:
ecotours@sierragorda.net
Tel. 441 296 0242 ó 441 296 0229

Photo of the month.

Currently one-third of amphibian species is in serious danger of disappearing due to water pollution, climate conditions, and a fungus that is devastating various species worldwide.  The red-legged false-brook salamander (Pseudoeurycera cephalica) in the photo has populations in temperate and cloud forests of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve and some of the private nature reserves that we manage.  Your support is necessary to save these wildlands and one way is to become a member of Joya del Hielo A.C. Otherwise, do we have any certainty that the salamanders will continue to have a future in the Sierra Gorda?