Support Young Environmental Leaders in Mexico

English

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

During the months of January, February, and March we held 6 webinars with 193 high school-aged students and The National Council for Educational Development (CONAFE).  The topics covered included: environmental awareness, climate change, biodiversity within the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, forest environmental services, and the zero-waste campaign. 

We provided in-person follow-up with 30 students from the community of Saúz de Guadalupe, and 20 from the National Anthem Elementary School in Lobo, on the Zero Waste Campaign, assisting them in carrying out campaigns to collect recyclable materials. 

As always we use sanitary measures given the health contingency, at our in-person events. 

To mark World Water Day, in conjunction with the 25^th Anniversary of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, and Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda´s 35^th Anniversary, we held the “WATER FORUM”.  The live event took place at Centro Tierra, with 47 students from the Autonomous University of Querétaro prep school, the Technology University of San Juan del Río, and 10 students from the Technical Institute of Querétaro connected virtually. 

The environmental team and the State Water Commission joint program looked like this:

• Orientation and environmental awareness presented by Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo.
• Forest environmental services presented by Salvador Sarabia.
• The biodiversity of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve by the nature photographer, Roberto Pedraza Ruiz
• Ecological techniques for reducing wastewater and the relationship between water and the forests by Brenda Cárdenas Alvarado and Geographer Octavio Beltrán from the State Water Commission´s Water Culture Office.

We visited 100 vendors from the municipal market, and from the broader region to follow up on and promote the Zero Waste Campaign.  We reminded them that when they sell their products they should avoid the use of plastic bags or single-use items.  They should continue to invite their clients to bring their reusable bags and containers for their purchases, to reduce generating waste.  We also informed them that the municipal rules around solid waste are going into effect soon and that there will be fines and sanctions against those who do not comply with the regulations. 

For our rain barrel project, we have coordinated the formation of 17 committees made up of parents from 9 communities in Arroyo Seco and 8 from Landa de Matamoros.  There are 85 people signed up to serve on committees out of the 311 overall attendees.  These committees will be the link between the school and communities´ participation in activities like the collection of recyclables, the separation of solid waste in homes, community reforestation, and the promotion of the Zero Waste Campaign. 

To spread the word about the Zero Waste Campaign during this health contingency, we distributed 350 posters about the separation of solid waste and 928 decals. 

To emphasize the care of ecosystems, we painted 7 murals in public spaces, around the themes of preventing forest fires and solid waste, and Zero Waste.

Español

PROGRAMA DE EDUCACIÓN AMBIENTAL

Durante los meses de enero, febrero y marzo realizamos 6 webinarios con 193 estudiantes del nivel medio superior y el sector educativo de CONAFE. Desarrollando una agenda de sensibilización y con la participación de expertos en la materia, del grupo ecológico, con los siguientes temas: El tema de sensibilización ambiental, Cambio climático, la Biodiversidad de la Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra Gorda, los servicios ambientales que ofrecen los bosques, la campaña de basura Cero.

 Además de dar seguimiento de manera presencial y con las medidas sanitarias al proyecto de basura cero, con la participación de 30 estudiantes del telebachillerato de la comunidad del Saúz de Guadalupe y a 20 alumnos de la escuela primaria Himno Nacional de la comunidad del Lobo, se realizaron campañas de acopio de materiales reciclables.

De igual manera y respetando las medidas de la contingencia sanitaria.

En el marco del día mundial del agua, del aniversario de la Reserva de la biosfera sierra gorda y del grupo ecológico sierra gorda. Se llevó a cabo el “FORO DEL AGUA”, en las Instalaciones del Centro Tierra, con la participación de 47 estudiantes del nivel preparatoria de la UAQ y de la Universidad Tecnológica de San Juan del Río, unidad Jalpan y 10 estudiantes, del ITQ, que se conectaron vía zoom.

Así como con la participación del equipo de la educación ambiental, y personal, de la Coordinación de la CEA. Desarrollando una agenda con los siguientes temas: La sensibilización ambiental, orientada por la Mtra. Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo, Los servicios ambientales que ofrecen los bosques, por el Ing. Salvador Sarabia, La biodiversidad de la reserva de la biosfera sierra gorda, por el fotógrafo de naturaleza, Roberto Pedraza Ruiz y las Enotecnias y la relación del agua y del bosque. Presentado por la Coordinación de Cultura del agua (CEA, Qro). Lic. Brenda Cárdenas Alvarado y el geógrafo Sergio Octavio Beltrán.

Visitamos 100 comerciantes del mercado municipal y de los alrededores de Jalpan, para dar seguimiento y difusión a la campaña de “basura cero”, recordándoles que en la venta de sus productos deben evitar dar bolsas plásticas o residuos de un solo uso, además de seguir invitando a los clientes a llevar su bolsa de mandado y los recipientes necesarios para sus compras y con esto, evitar la generación de más desechables. También informando que próximamente entrará en rigor la aplicación del reglamento municipal de residuos sólidos, en el que se contemplan multas y sanciones para quienes no cumplan con lo estipulado.

Dentro del proyecto de tanques liner, para captación de agua de lluvia, organizamos la integración de 17 comités con padres de familia, 9 comunidades de Arroyo seco y 8 en comunidades de Landa de Matamoros. Sumando 85 personas integrantes de los comités y 311 de los asistentes en general.  Estos comités vincularán la participación de la escuela y la comunidad, en la realización de actividades, tales como: las campañas de acopio de materiales reciclables, la separación de los residuos sólidos en sus hogares, la reforestación comunitaria y la difusión de la campaña cero.

Para reforzar la campaña de difusión de la campaña “Basura cero” dentro de este periodo de contingencia sanitaria, se entregaron 350 carteles de la separación de los residuos sólidos y 928 calcomanías.

Para difundir y hacer más énfasis en el cuidado de los ecosistemas, se pintaron 7 murales en lugares públicos, con los temas prevención de incendios forestales y residuos sólidos.  “Basura Cero”.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

During the months of August, September, October, and November, the Environmental Education Program had 8 virtual meetings which reached 332 high school students.  Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda delivered the presentation, “Awareness of the Climate Emergency: Local Call to Action” with the following themes: current state of the planet (climate disruption), biodiversity of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, forest environmental services, Zero Waste campaign, and environmental awareness.

With health measures in effect, we held the Nature-Based Solutions Camp at the Tonatico Ranch- School.  Twenty-five students from the Autonomous University of Querétaro participated.  The packed agenda included practices for a healthy life; climate disruption and its consequences; the biodiversity of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve; environmental issues of the region; the campaign to minimize solid waste, with the end goal of Zero Waste.  They went on a forest walk to understand carbon capture and hydrological storage, they learned about regenerative management of soils, organic agriculture, clean eating, how to make preserves, how to establish gardens using the bio-intensive method, and how to make compost and biofertilizers, as well as working in teams.  

In April we visited 102 businesses to continue to spread the word about the campaign to minimize solid waste, with its goal of Zero Waste.  The businesses all responded that they would participate and we also shared the information about the municipal regulation around solid waste (a ban on plastics or single-use packaging). 

Another activity that was very relevant during this period of pandemic life, was sharing information about the virtual learning community center.  30 posters were distributed to 11 educational institutions and placed in public spaces.  The courses advertised are free and they help train people to be employable and train in productive diversification. 

To place greater emphasis on the care of ecosystems, we painted three murals in public places around the theme of Zero Waste.

Taking advantage of the rainy year we had, we delivered a total of 20,915 trees, to 73 communities.  The species list included: privet, ash, different varieties of fan palms and bottle palms, jacarandas, white cedar, red cedar, and rosy trumpet trees. 2,683 people directly benefitted and in this way, we are mitigating climate change. 

Español

PROGRAMA DE EDUCACIÓN AMBIENTAL.

Durante los meses de Agosto, Septiembre, Octubre y Noviembre, el Programa de Educación realizó, 8 encuentros virtuales, sensibilizando a 332 jóvenes estudiantes del nivel medio superior. El Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda, desarrollo una agenda con el siguiente contenido: Tema: “Sesión de sensibilización ante la emergencia climática: Llamado a la acción local” con los siguientes temas: Estado actual del planeta (Disrupción climática), Biodiversidad de la reserva de la biosfera sierra gorda, Servicios Ambientales Forestales, Campaña "Cero basura" y Sensibilización Ambiental.

De igual manera y respetando las medidas de la contingencia sanitaria se realizó en el Rancho-Escuela Tonatico, el campamento titulado “Soluciones basadas en la naturaleza” en la que participaron 25 jóvenes de diferentes áreas académicas de la universidad autónoma de Querétaro. En éste se desarrolló una nutrida agenda de temas y prácticas para la vida saludable;  como lo son, la disrupción climática y sus consecuencias,  la biodiversidad de la Reserva de la biosfera, sierra gorda, la problemática ambiental  más relevante en la región serrana, y  la difusión de la campaña de minimización con la meta de “basura cero”, se realizó la caminata al bosque para comprender la captura de carbono y captación del agua en los bosques, el manejo regenerativo del suelo, la agricultura orgánica y la alimentación sana, elaboración de conservas, el establecimiento de hortalizas con el método bio-intensivo, elaboración de composta, de biofertilizantes  y el trabajo en equipos.

En abril visitamos 102 comerciantes para continuar con la difusión y promoción de la campaña de minimización de residuos sólidos, que tiene como meta basura cero, a lo que los comerciantes responden estar de acuerdo con su participación en la misma.  También se difundió el contenido del reglamento municipal de residuos sólidos.

Otra de las actividades sumamente relevantes dentro de este periodo de contingencia sanitaria, fue la difusión del Centro comunitario de aprendizaje virtual, 30 carteles entregados a 11 instituciones educativas y en lugares públicos. En la que se ofrece una oferta de cursos gratuitos en apoyo a la capacitación en empleabilidad y diversificación productiva.

Para difundir y hacer más énfasis en el cuidado de los ecosistemas, se pintaron tres murales en lugares públicos, con el tema: “Basura Cero”

También aprovechando las lluvias, se entregaron 20,915 árboles para la reforestación de 73 comunidades, de las especies: Truenos, fresnos, variedad de palmas abanico y cuello de botella, jacarandas, cedros blancos, cedros rojos, y palos de rosa. Beneficiando a 2683, personas. Y de esta manera contrarrestar los efectos del cambio climático.

During the months of April, May, June and July, the educational program held 22 virtual meetings with 681 elementary, middle and high school teachers and 44 students.  Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda took the attendees through an agenda that touched on the following themes: current state of the planet (climate disruption), biodiversity in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, forest environmental services, the Zero Waste campaign and environmental awareness.

Teachers participated from the municipalities of Jalpan de Serra, Landa de Matamoros, Arroyo Seco, Pinal de Amoles and the Huasteca of San Luis Potosí State.  The student group participated from Caborca, Sonora.  Everyone showed a lot of interest in the presentation and some shared their experience. 

With respect for the health measures created in response to the health contingency, we held a workshop at the Tonatico Ranch School.   24 high-school aged young people participated in the program called, “Nature- based solutions.”  The agenda had many practices for healthy living.  It included a forest walk to discuss the carbon capture and water storage in the Sierra Gorda, regenerative management of soils, organic agriculture, healthy eating, how to make preserves, gardening using bio-intensive methods, biofertilizers, and composting.  The training includes talks about the biodiversity within the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve and environmental threats to the region and the consequences of climate disruption.  We also shared our campaign to minimize waste with the final goal of Zero Waste. 

In April we visited 82 businesses to continue spreading the word about the campaign to reduce waste.  The businesses have made the commitment to avoid the use of single-use products in their sales.  All together we have hung up 80 signs with messages about zero waste. 

We had 12 community meetings with the 154 participants, all taking the necessary precautions, wearing masks and maintaining a safe distance.  In those meetings we talked about the campaign to reduce waste and the prevention of forest fires within the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve communities.

Another very relevant activity during this time, has been the distribution of 5,161 didactic materials to teachers, who through parental committees have distributed them to students.  In this way we have informed students about climate change and the actions that we should take to counteract the warming of the planet. 

Two murals in public spaces were painted in this period emphasizing the need to care for ecosystems, with the words, “Starting forest fires is a Federal Crime.”

344 people participated in 14 clean up campaigns along the main roads in the municipalities of Landa de Matamoros, Japlan de Serra, Arroyo Seco and Pinal de Amoles. 

Taking advantage of the rain, we have up until now delivered 9,085 trees for community reforestation.  The species list includes: trivets, ash, a variety of palm trees, jacarandas, white cedars, red cedars, etc.

During the months of January, February and March we held 12 virtual meetings with 626 teachers from early education, elementary, middle, high school and higher education as well as with some young students.  The team at Grupo Ecológico gave a presentation called, “Building awareness about the climate emergency: A local call to action.” It encompasses the following themes: State of the Planet, Biodiversity, Forest Ecosystem Services, “Zero Waste” Campaign and Environmental Awareness.

The participating teachers were from Jalpan de Serra, Landa de Matarmoros, Arroyo Seco, Pinal de Amoles and the Huasteca Potosí.  The students participated from Rioverde, S.L.P, Bahía de Kino, Sonora, and we had a session with the Human Rights Ombudsman in Querétaro.  The talks covered the richness of the biodiversity of the Sierra Gorda, ecosystem services and a local call to action. 

In March, we invited the vendors in the Municipal Mercado of Jalpan de Serra to become green businesses and to stop the practice of selling their products in plastic bags, plastic wrap, and other single use materials like aluminum foil.  We gave the participants a sign that says “This Business is Green” inviting their clients to join the Zero Waste Campaign, and bring their reusable bags to market.   

We also held 52 community meetings, with another 629 participants.  We respected the sanitary measures of maintaining a safe distance and wearing face masks.  We presented on the campaigns to reduce solid waste and forest fires.  We passed through the different municipalities of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, providing information over a loudspeaker, we gave out brochures promoting the forest fire prevention campaign, we hung signs with messages about preventing forest fires in Carrizal de los Sánchez in Jalpan de Serra, in Neblinas, el Lobo, Otates in Landa de Matamoros and Sauz de Guadalupe in Pinal de Amoles.

In order to emphasize and spread awareness about the caring for our ecosystems, we painted two murals in public areas with the themes- take care of the planet and separating solid waste.

We painted two murals with the words, “Starting a forest fire is a Federal crime.”

We visited 243 businesses to continue spreading the word about the minimization of solid waste campaign.

We gave vendors, 100 flyers with the message “Be part of the solution” and 288 climate action magazines. 

The environmental educational program carried out 26 Earth Festivals during the month of February and in the first days of March and held community meetings to engage the community in conserving our green patrimony.  We had planned to hold reforestation activities in school yards and with communities this year, but because of the COVD-19 with schools closed, we only performed reforestation activities with communities. 

Thanks to our partners Earth Day Network, we were able to deliver 30,000 trees to 58 communities.  The trees delivered included; White Cedar, Red Cedar, Ash, Jacaranda, White leadtree, Pink poui, Chinaberry Tree, Privet, Mexican fan palm, Miniature date palm, Bottle palm.

We have continued to do outreach to children and young people even though schools are closed, by providing materials to teachers, who send weekly homework packets home with parents.  These have included posters featuring pollinators and biodiversity coloring books with the flora and fauna of the Sierra Gorda.

We have also painted eight murals related to preventing forest fires, saving water, caring for birds and biodiversity, run weekly radio programs, and published to social media in order to raise awareness of how privileged the 100,000 of us are to live here, in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve.  And the need to respect this natural protected area, and our personal responsibility to prevent forest fires. 

Our objective is to make communities aware of our shared natural wealth and all of the services green areas provide; counteracting global warming, producing food, providing bird habitat, improving water capture and creating microclimates.

We are grateful to Earth Day Network for their support and to you all for helping us reach communities during this unprecedented year.