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Who woudn’t want to keep these around?

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“Why is  Sierra Gorda considered a model Biosphere Reserve? More than half of the resident population participates directly in the restoration, education, conservation and sanitation of the communities and wild lands.“

As far as I know this is an exemplary conservation model, it has found a way in which nature and humans are not at odds and. Instead can co-exist and in fact benefit from one another.

http://vivasierragorda.org/Wild_Mountains_of_Mexico.htm

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The Sierra Gorda reserve has taken a unique approach to conservation in that it has provided poverty alleviating opportunities to existing communities though protecting the environment.

It has created opportunities for locals to get paid by training them in sustainable practices and ecotourism opportunities. In other words the Sierra Gorda Ecological Group works hard to “establish a financially-viable conservation economy”.

Carbon sequestering practices

Soil reclamation practices

Has taught many small farmers holistic cattle grazing in which cattle don’t over graze which can lead to soil erosion and decimation of vegetation

Creation of storm barriers to prevent soil erosion

Ecotourism

 Created several Eco-lodges where visitors can immerse themselves in the community

the Sierra Gorda Reserve has provided/ supported many micro-investment opportunities to community members

such as their pottery center where women get the opportunity to get paid for the craft

And these are just a few of the program they have!!

http://blogs.worldbank.org/dmblog/sierra-gorda-mexico-where-the-fight-against-climate-change-goes-local

http://fieldguide.capitalinstitute.org/grupo-ecologico-uses-holistic-management-and-permaculture-techniques-to-restore-ecosystems-of-the-sierra-gorda.html

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As well intended as conservation efforts can be they are not unproblematic. I think there are new efforts to curb the potential problems that can arise as awareness about these problems grows. Conservation efforts can often be too top down, ignore the rights of communities to a livelihood, and worse displace communities in the name of biodiversity and conservation.

My belief is that conservation efforts do not trump the rights of people to make a livelihood nor displace existing/native communities. And I think that the Sierra Gorda reserve is doing a good job, as far as I can tell, at incorporating existing communities into its conservation plans.

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Cueva Puente de Dios Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve In Mexico

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Chuveje Waterfall - Sierra Gorda, Mexico

https://reefstorockies.com/2012/04/02/qa-with-martha-pati-ruiz-corzo-of-sierra-gorda-ecological-group/

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Cuatro Palos Overlook - Sierra Gorda, Mexico

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It is considered Mexico’s most biodiverse region.

15 vegetation types:

vergreen forest, sub-evergreen forest, subdeciduous forest, deciduous forest, sub-montane shrubland, cloud forest, oak forest, pine forest, juniper forest, fir forest, Alpine chaparral, temperate grasslands, xerophyllus grassland, xerophyllus scrubland and riparian gallery forest.

Thousands of plants

1,718 species of vascular plants and 124 species of macromicetes

131 species of mammals, 363 species of birds, 72 species of reptiles and 23 species of amphibians

 Its more famous animals being ;

the Jaguar, the Yucatan Brown Brocket, the Mexican Black Bear, the Spider Monkey, the Otter, the Great Curassow, the Crested Guan, the Bearded Wood Partridge Dendrortyx barbatus, the Military Macaw Ara militaris, the Red-crowned Amazon Amazona viridigenalis, the Tucan, the Emerald Toucanet and the American Crocodile

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/latin-america-and-the-caribbean/mexico/sierra-gorda/

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The Sierra Gorda Ecological group was founded by Pati Ruiz Corzo along with her husband and local residents in 1989 to rescue the region from development.

In 1997 it was officially declared a reserve making a mission to “conserve natural wealth by generating development opportunities for landowners”.

What makes this place unique is that it has worked to keep and incorporate existing communities in its conservation efforts instead of displacing them.

-It is largest federally protected area with participatory management.

         -32.02% of the territory of the State Querétaro

         -70% is private property           

         -27% is communal or common land and 3% is federal.

        -100,000 inhabitants in 638 communities in 5 municipalities.

http://sierragorda.net/en/sierra-gorda-biosphere-reserve/

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Spread across three states in Mexico, though mostly concentrated in the state of Queretaro, the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve is the 7th largest reserve in the country and one of its most important. It Compromises a third of the states northern most part spanning 383,567 hectares.