How You Can Help Left: WLT’s project partners in Mexico, Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda (GESG) have become expert in positioning camera traps. These are unmanned cameras left in strategic positions to capture animals by chance. The photographs have given a valuable insight into the secret life of the Sierra Gorda forests. This Jaguar was caught on film in the Arenitas region of the reserve which is vital as a refuge for many endangered species. The World Land Trust works with local partner organisation to fund the purchase and protection of threatened habitats across the world, creating safe havens for wildlife. In Mexico we are working with our partner to help save a wide variety of different habitats, together with the wildlife that depend on them. For just £100 an acre (£50 for half an acre or £25 for a quarter), you can help save vital habitats for some of the Earth’s most threatened species - including Jaguar and Ocelot, Black Cover picture: Bears and Military Macaws. Situated in the state of Queretaro, the Buy an acre today, either for yourself or as a gift, and receive a Sierra Gorda personalised certificate recording your support and the latest news on Biosphere Reserve WLT’s conservation work. Your generous support can help save tropical covers an area of rainforests and other crucial habitats and secure the long-term survival of over 946,000 acres its wildlife for as little as £25. (383,000 ha) consisting of 15 A message from Sir David Attenborough: types of vegetation “The WLT’s policy of buying and protecting land is the most direct and including evergreen and deciduous certain road to conservation. It deserves the support of all who care tropical forest, about the survival of the wild places of the world.” shrubs and cacti, oak Sir David Attenborough, OM CH FRS forests, pine forests Patron, WLT and cloud forest. Photo credits: www.sierragorda.net All photographs in this ON RB Project Brief were taken World Land Trust A B C A by Roberto Pedraza, 2 L Blyth House, Bridge Street 1 A A 1 N Technical Director of N 0 R R C Halesworth C E E E E P P D WLT’s project partner, D A A t P P Suffolk IP19 8AB, UK e Grupo Ecológico Sierra n . Gorda. b a Tel: +44 (0) 1986 874 422 r www.carbonbalancedpaper.com d e Fax: +44 (0) 1986 874 425 r a e Email: [email protected] w . w w US donors may contact: [email protected] w y b www.worldlandtrust-us.org Registered US-based 501 (c) (3) pub lic charity in the USA. d Project Brief: Mexico e n g i s www.worldlandtrust.org e D Saving forests and their wildlife in Mexico Identifying key areas for la nd purchase World Land Trust (WLT) has been working with local Mexican conservation organisation, Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda (GESG), since Left: The Sierra Sierra Gorda Biosphere 2007 to protect threatened habitats in Central Mexico. To date WLT Reserve Gorda Biosphere Reserve, Rio Sta. Maria has funded the purchase of 2,509 acres (1,015 ha) of privately owned Arroyo Seco coloured green. Within the Querétaro land within the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, surrounded on the Reserve, 11 ‘Core Zones’ S.L.P. west by semi-desert and on the east by tropical forests. San Luis totalling 61,290 acres (24,803 Rio Sta. Maria Potosi The mountainous terrain of the Sierra Gorda Reserve is the most ha) have been designated by the ecologically diverse area in the country. This is even more impressive National Commission of Natural R io Ja considering that Mexico is one of the most mega-diverse countries in lp Protected Areas (CONANP) for a n their biodiversity and intact the world. Rio Ayutla Rio Tancuilin habitats. These areas are marked Guanajuato Jalpan Rio Escanela de Serra in yellow on the map. Despite Landa de Matamoros their importance, many areas Sierra Gorda is Pinal de Amoles An amazing range of habitats Rio Moctezuma within the Core Zones are home to ... Pe n~amiller Roberto Pedraza, Technical Director of GESG explains: privately owned and under All six cat species found Hidalgo “The Biosphere Reserve goes from the southern tip of the Quer étaro Rio Extoraz threat from cattle ranching, in Mexico: Chihuahuan Desert to the western slope and tropical evergreen agriculture and hunting. • Jaguar forests with Ceiba trees and breadnut, and on the eastern • Puma slope, up to 3,100 metres (10,170 feet) along the crest of the • Bobat Sierra Madre, the forests are dominated by Douglas firs and Recent land purchase: • Margay • Ocelot aspens that are found in the Rockies. There are oak-pine Name of Property: El JAGÜEYCITO • Yaguarundi forests, tropical dry forests and semi-desert scrub. All these Location: In the Core Zone ‘Barranca de Paguas’ on the different forests provide unique habitats for the abundance of south side of the Santa Maria River, north east of the It is Mexico’s richest area wildlife in Sierra Gorda.” Biosphere Reserve. for mammal diversity The area was chosen for its very high biodiversity with with 131 other mammal oak forests at higher elevation and tropical sub-deciduous species recorded forests in the lowlands. Endangered species present include including: Black Bear, Ocelot, Jaguar, Puma, as well as Great Curassows. Neotropical Otter and Queretaro Pocket Gopher. Working with the local There are 334 species community of birds, including GESG’s work also includes community Military Macaw, Great improvement and environmental Curassow, and the education in the villages within the Maroon-fronted Parrot. reserve. Additionally, funds generated through the eco-tourism project area reinvested into the reserve’s Above: Military Macaws . The world Above: The second smallest environmental protection and community population is thought to number less hummingbird in the world, the development programmes. than 10,000 in the wild. This Bumblebee Hummingbird, occurs photograph was taken recently on the at Sierra Gorda. So tiny it is often Right: Women’s groups produce traditional World Land Trust Sierra Gorda Reserve. mistaken for an insect. embroidered items. These products, together is a registered charity: with local pottery, honey and jam, are popular No. 1001291 www.worldlandtrust.org with visitors..