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Premios
ENERGY GLOBE WINNER 2006
National
ENERGY GLOBE Overall Winner Mexico 2006 1st Place, International ENERGY GLOBE
Youth Mexico 2006 3rd Place
Environmental Education in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve
The Sierra
Gorda situated in the eastern part of central Mexico covers an area of 380,000
hectares and is part of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. The area has
an enormous biodiversity consisting of 2308 different plants, 327 bird, 131
mammals, 73 reptiles, 25 amphibious and 625 different butterflies species.
Therefore, in 1997, the government declared the area a Biosphere sanctuary. The
Sierra Gorda Ecological Group (GESGIAP) has been running an environmental
education and training program for 19 years with environmentalists, teachers,
pupils and students. Together with private landowners they form a strong
alliance to preserve the biodiversity of the region. Monthly over 15,000
students out of more than 170 schools as well as parents, teachers and
administrative bodies take part in the program, helping to protect and
guaranteeing the sustainable use of the natural biosphere. The activities
include the operation of recycling centers, reforestation projects by schools,
waste collecting activities, construction of sewage plants, a planned waste
disposal as well as the organization of community events to strengthen the
community feeling. Additionally new income possibilities have evolved for the
local population. These include an infrastructure for ceramic production,
woodworks, leather production, and a sustainable species protection. This
successful educational program has helped to prevent the migration of the
inhabitants of the region.
ENERGY GLOBE
WINNER 2007
National ENERGY GLOBE Overall Winner Mexico 2007 1st Place
Development of ecosystem products in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve of
Mexico
The Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda, its sister organization Bosque Sustentable and
partner institutions have created the Land Conservation Program in the Sierra
Gorda Biosphere Reserve of Mexico. The program includes land acquisition (2,826
has) and rental (6,127 has) for strict conservation, payments for environmental
services (12,506 has), and carbon sequestration in reforestations (1,823 has
which have sequestered 44,080 tons of carbon and have provided income for dozens
of local families). The payment for ecosystem services program targets
properties valuable for both hydrologic recharge and biodiversity and
compensates landowners for improved land stewardship practices (72 families to
date). Both national and international funds have been raised to provide local
landowners with alternative income and technical support. The resulting
protection of the ecosystems of the Sierra Gorda and the environmental services
that they provide benefits us all.
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