Salvage Precious Forests in Mexico

Summary

La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve is half its original size due to forest fires used to clear land. Rare is protecting regional plant and animal species by teaching communities to farm more sustainably.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

To reduce forest fires by 50%, Campaign manager Mario Alejandro Moises and local partners in Mexico will use community outreach programs targeting farmers and land owners to remove economic and cultural conservation barriers. He will promote sustainable land practices that will yield increased crop productivity. $5,000 will help Alejandro produce creative tools like posters, sermons and festivals to engage the community, introducing alternative land use practices that preserve natural resources.

How will this project solve this problem?

Gaining support of the local community is critical to preserving this region. Educational visits and activities will inspire conservation and introduce simple tools like calendars, community planning and natural fences to reduce forest fires.

Potential Long Term Impact

New resources, fresh attitudes and improved crops will result in reducing forest fires and other destructive, illegal land use by farmers and land owners preserving La Sepultura’s forests and wildlife while improving their livelihoods.

Project Message

“In an original manner, Rare attends to conservation where it has ultimately the most lasting effect, through education tuned to the culture and needs of local people.”
- E. O. Wilson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources