Conservation in Action in the Heart of Mexico SIERRA GORDA, Querétaro

2012 Buffet Award RE-GREENING THE PLANET, A NATURE-BASED RESPONSE • Bosque Sustentable, A.C. Founded in 2002, to protect unique sites with high biological value by Bosque Sustentable, A.C. (BSAC) is an independent civil purchasing them for strict conservation. Today, it society association. The forest management experience protects 8,000 hectares of temperate and tropical Forest loss and soil deterioration in Mexico happens extensive grazing in the forest understory, a practice in the Sierra Gorda communities is a result of networks forests that host an important diversity of flora and for many reasons and are causing serious problems that is so harmful to forest health and the wonderful built by GESGIAP since 1987. BSAC works to establish fauna species and where degradation by logging, cattle for the Mexico’s natural heritage. We are headed for a process of forest regeneration, thus increasing the a conservation economy, restore soils by advising ranching, and other activities has been eradicated. chaotic and impoverished future. The rich biodiversidad performance of environmental services. agricultural producers on best practices, reforest when treasure and sustenance of our country, is in grave • Viva Sierra Gorda. Founded in 2004 as an We have the tools, experience, strategic alliances and necessary and promote natural regeneration otherwise. danger. Loss of moisture and productivity, abuse of Earth Island Institute project, Viva Sierra Gorda is support of many organizations including: the National Training and accompaniment in holistic management, agrochemicals, destructive conventional techniques, located in Berkeley, California. It is a fundraising partner Livestock Coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture diversify micro-entrepreneurial activities, and develop agricultural producers given bad advice, flawed and organization, transferring accessible technologies and Rural Development (SADER), Queretaro State ecosystem products and voluntary CO2 offsets are obsolete public policies, dependence on external inputs and networking. It also created the platform www. Secretariat of Agricultural Development (SEDEA), available. and production of highly contaminated food, are all carbonneutralplanet.org that allows companies and Multilateral Investment Fund MIF-IADB, Mitsubishi negatively impacting our soils. • Joya del Hielo, A.C. Founded in 1996 as individuals to compensate their carbon footprint in Corporation Foundation of the , and the an initiative of GESGIAP’s members and other forests and soils. Extensive cattle ranching in the forests is causing Overbrook Foundation and World Land Trust to conservationists, the aim of Joya del Hielo, A.C. is serious damage, preventing forest regeneration, aiding implement our conservation work. As pioneering degradation and decline, and the grievous threat of experts, Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda developed provoked forest fires is increasing. A forest with no a NAMA project, Nationally Appropriate Mitigation LINES OF ACTION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS value for its owners is always at risk of logging. Actions, which is nationally recognized and listed in the UNFCCC Registry. “Subnational Mitigation Actions Sierra Gorda Earth Center - Highly poisonous foods and soils are the bain of rural Inter-institutional Public Relations, Fundrai- areas which are being abandoned as productivity for the Regeneration of Landscapes,” a provocative Teaching and learning best sing and Environmental invitation on a sub-national level for states to implement Resource Networking diminishes; the water sources, lakes and springs, are practices Activism drying out and the human populations are constantly regenerative practices for forests and soils. growing and demanding more services. Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda works to achieve our goal Mexico fortunately has ranches under regenerative as a measurable response that will increase carbon management that demonstrate how soil recovery can capture by drawing it down to stay in biomass and be achieved. We have several successful pioneers of the ground, and in turn capitalize the countryside by regenerative soil management in Chihuahua, Coahuila, generating economic value of the natural capital and its Sonora and in the Sierra Gorda, all of whom have years keepers. It is time to prepare ourselves for the climate of experience. With determination and commitment, effects that already plague the territory, strengthen food they are engaging technicians, producers, students and production, form agricultural water and carbon sinks, authorities at the highest levels, creating knowledge as well as to dignify life in the countryside, mitigate transfer through a rich educational offer that is aimed global warming and poverty, and recover degraded at a variety of actors. soils and forests. This is how we pledge allegiance to Environmental Education Women and Youth Solid Waste Management our homeland. We want to re-green Mexico. For the past 5 years, our state of Querétaro has been and Community Organizing Leadership Strategies operating a state carbon footprint mechanism, with Martha Isabel “Pati” Ruiz Corzo new financing from a small subnational carbon fee. This Director, Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda I.A.P. tax allows us to create economic incentives for carbon capture in forest re-growth, withdrawing livestock from

CONSERVATION ALLIANCE FOR THE SIERRA GORDA

Wildlands Conservation Conservation Economy – Regenerative Agriculture and Rural Tourism Microenterpri- Livestock ses, Carbon Offsets

Together with the affiliate organizations of the Sierra • Productos y Servicios Turísticos Sierra Gorda, QUALITY GENDER decent work and ZERO HUNGER Gorda Alliance, Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda I.A.P. S.A. de C.V. Founded in 2008 as an umbrella company 2 4 EDUCATION 5 EQUALITY 8 economic growth (GESGIAP) leads a grassroots movement building that aims to catalyze local micro-enterprises to higher consistentcivil participation among the networks with standards within a sustainable destination criteria. reduced sustainable cities responsible consumption which it works across sectors and government levels. Two trademarks include the local service providers: 10 ineQUALITies 11 and communities 12 and production In this way, it protects the wildlands and species of the Sierra Gorda Products and Sierra Gorda Ecotours. The Reserve. The Sierra Gorda Alliance includes: tourism operator helps finance conservation activities climate action life on land partnerships and training for partners in the region and offsets the 13 15 17 for the goals trips to protect old forests.

2 sierragorda.net 3 sierragorda.net Nationally Appropriate Mitigation NAMA Action Subnational Mitigation Actions for the Regeneration of Landscapes Registered under SEMARNAT: NAMA-MX-28; UNFCCC: NS-272

rupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda, I.A.P is operating a forest regeneration. GNationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) Contribution to Mexico’s NDC in Mexico called “Subnational Mitigation Actions for The NAMA contributes to mitigation and adaptation the Regeneration of Landscapes”. This NAMA promo- Impacts for Sustainable Development national and international goals for sustainable develo- goals of Mexico’s Nationally Determined Contributions tes regenerative actions for forest and pasture lands The NAMA’s subnational actions contribute to sustai- pment. Reinforcing the subnational actions, the NAMA (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. We estimate that in 12 high-priority states of Mexico. It is rooted in the nable development in Mexico. They provide rural forest also promotes a regenerative reorientation of the sys- the regeneration of pasture lands will have a net GHG successful Carbon Compensation Mechanism of the and pasture owners new forms of income for environ- tem of government programs, technical support, incen- impact of -2.9 MtCO2e/year in 2030, which represents State of Queretaro, in which the government assigns a mental services, increase the productivity of livestock tives and financial mechanisms in the affected sectors. 52% of the theoretical planned grazing potential esti- portion of the fees for annual license plate renewal to a ranches, create hydrological ecosystem services, sti- We are also forming a critical mass of regenerative edu- mated by the National Institute of Ecology and Climate special fund that supports projects that reduce green- mulate biodiversity and aid carbon sequestration, all of cators, technicians, officials, and legislators who are ca- Change (INECC ) and 41% of the goal of -7 MtCO2e house gas (GHG) emissions in the state and increase which greatly benefit society. In the livestock subsector, pable of significant intervention at many levels. All of for the entire agricultural sector in 2030. The subna- we estimate a 53% increase of income for the participa- the above is paired with awareness campaigns geared carbon capture in its forests. As a part of the NAMA, tional actions for forest regeneration are projected to ting ranches and an increase of environmental services towards the general public in principal cities of partici- GESG and the state of Querétaro are promoting the de- have a GHG impact of -694,000 tCO2e/year in 2030. worth $47 million USD per year. In the forest sector, we pating states regarding climate emergency awareness velopment of similar mechanisms in other states. The The impacts of the NAMA have been assessed utilizing project economic and environmental returns worth $20 and voluntary mitigation of carbon footprints. implementation of planned grazing and other regenera- guidance documents of the Initiative for Climate Action million USD per year. tive practices was successfully begun on pilot ranches Transparency (ICAT) and methods of IPCC 2006 and Join the Fight! in Queretaro, San Luis Potosí, , Chihuahua have been subjected to independent external review. Transformational Change For more information about how your state or muni- and Sonora, and we are promoting replication in other The NAMA seeks fundamental and sustained chan- cipal government can join the NAMA and promote re- states. The NAMA also regenerates forests by elimina- ge for Mexico’s forest sector and livestock grazing generative transformation of natural capital in Mexico, ting extensive livestock grazing, forest fires and logging sub-sector in order to contribute to a zero-carbon socie- please contact Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda. with incentives of payments for ecosystem services to ty in agreement with the Paris Accord, as well as other participating landowners. These actions lead to a sig- nificant reduction in CO2 emissions from forest degra- dation and increase carbon inventories through natural

KEYLINE design - hydrological recharge holistic management training Teaching and learning best practices Teaching sierra gorda earth center earth sierra gorda biointensive agriculture, no chemicals courses and workshops with experts

4 sierragorda.net 5 sierragorda.net THE FLAVOR TRAIL TOURS FOR FAMILIES AND GROUPS High mountain cuisine at the roadside restaurants along the scenic route of the Sierra Sierra Gorda Nature Gorda Biosphere Reserve, Querétaro, México. It’s your opportunity to discover the secrets of the most eco-diverse natural protected area in Mexico, aided by our expert local guides. Swim in crystalline rivers, bird watch at dawn and walk through the jungles and cloud forests of the Sierra Gorda, this tour seeks to bring you as close as possible to nature and to enjoy the regional dishes along the Flavor Trail.

LAS MANZANITAS COMEDOR CONCHITA Las Orquídeas

Seasonal fresh squeezed apple Seasonal dishes, among the best Typical dishes like “cecina” which juice from the orchard, edible wild handmade corn tortillas and issmoked meat on coals, or the mushrooms as the rains begin, tasty taco fillings, located on the atypical egg grilled between and a handmade spicy hot sauce road to the reservoir in the Magic banana leaves and beans in broth in a molcajete, are the favorites Town of . with a spicy cheese sauce, are you shouldn´t miss by this native some of the delights of this tradi- chef. tional kitchen run by Doña Oralia.

ECO-LODGE NETWORK Each local owner and operator receives you with genuine warmth and hospitality and we collaborate with them to ensure an unforgettable experience and quality customer service. Groups and families can explore nature and visit them safely, as they explore the cliffs and gorges with the very people who care for and know most about the Sierra Gorda. Illustration of Ecotours in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. Artist: Aslam Accomodations Trails and Culture of the Sierra Gorda This is a travel experience to enjoy with the family, as you hike through the oak and sweet- gum forests that include stops at the most emblematic restaurants of the Flavor Trail. On this tour will awaken your senses with the sounds of the forest and the savor the menu that only the Flavor Trail can offer.

CABAÑAS CENTRO TIERRA Rincón de Ojo de Agua La Trinidad

The cabins are located in the These charismatic cabins are Visit the small community with Magical Town of Jalpan de Serra, ideal for visiting the Cave of Swa- the separate cabin area located and are only 1.5km from the llows (Sótano de las Golondrinas) to the west of , in the most historical center and 250m from at sunrise, a karst sinkhole. They well-preserved cloud forest in the the Jalpan Reservoir (Ramsar are surrounded by pine and oak region. The local experts guide Site). We have private cabins with forests and are perfect for a fami- you through different trails and capacity for families or larger ly escape to nature. serve meals in the private cabin groups. kitchen for visitors. After visi- ting the famous Edward James attractions in Xilitla, take an hour sierragordaecotours.com drive up the mountain to an inimi- table forest hideaway. Sierra Gorda Ecotours sierragorda.ecotours 6 sierragorda.net 7 sierragorda.net HOW TO HELP

Reduce your personal and work travel & calculate your CO2 footprint at carbonneutralplanet.org Offset your footprint to regenerate forests, soils and biodiversity in Sierra Gorda.

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Contact Us Visit Us Follow Us Martha “Pati” Ruiz Corzo, Director. sierragorda.net sierra.gorda Laura Pérez-Arce, Public Relations, bosqueysuelo.com Fundraising, Media Director. sierragordaecotours.com sierragordamexico 441 296 0700 ext. 125 carbonneutralplanet.org @SierraGorda [email protected] 8 sierragorda.net