Nature-Based Climate Solutions in Mexico's Sierra Gorda
Partner: Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda IAP
Location: Sierra Gorda Region, Queretaro, Mexico
Key Themes: Reforestation, Carbon Sequestration, Community-led Conservation, Land Stewardship
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The Sierra Gorda is a precious resource and ecosystem. For its flora, fauna, and local communities to thrive, a new vision serving the natural world while meeting the needs of local landowners was needed. For the last thirty years, Sierra Gorda Ecological Group has developed innovative models, leading best practices, science-backed tools and community-led programs to continue driving this vision forward.
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Over the decades the GESG team has built out integrated community environmental education programs and celebrations to bring joy to the serious work of regeneration and conservation. The positivity has been palpable in every interview we’ve done. The GESG has developed a human ecosystem to meet the economic, environmental and social needs of the community in service to the conservation work:
training and education
water programs and soil regeneration
solid waste/recycling programs
regenerative best practices in forestry management
investment in community-based tourism
The next frontier for GESG is an innovative model to connect a remote and rural region to a regional carbon marketplace by bringing financial capital from private companies directly to the communities and landowners using a biodiverse carbon program. This would not be possible without the union of the regional government’s implementation of a carbon emission reduction policy and an emission tax being levied on private companies, along with a small vehicle tax for individuals. The government structure and economic motivator provides a new financial pipeline to Sierra Gorda. If successful, this new model has potential to serve as a case study for replication throughout Mexico.
“Now or never is the time for us to reconcile with nature. This is absolutely essential. We need to align ourselves with the flow of life found in ecosystems as one more element that cooperates, regenerates, heals, and helps everything to flow. We must be those agents of change. Let ours be the voice that is raised throughout the Earth.”
— Pati Ruiz Corzo, Director of Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda
Additional Resources
Video: “Carbon Neutral Planet - The World as We Know It Will Cease to Exist”
Take a look at GESG's call to action to all industries to help restore forests in the state of Queretaro, reduce their impact, and help protect and preserve life on our home planet.
Article: “Sierra Gorda Brings Small-Scale Farmers into Mainstream Carbon Market With Dual Validation Under VCS & CCB”
Learn more about GESG's groundbreaking initiatives pave the way for small-scale farmers to join the carbon market, facilitating biodiversity conservation for the Sierra Gorda region.
Article: “Recovering Natural Capital by Regenerating Ecosystems”
One of the main challenges for small-scale, community-led carbon sequestration projects are the global protocols, which are often not aligned with local realities and are costly to implement. Learn more about GESG and the state of Queretaro's solution to this challenge.