LAC Partners with the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in Mexico

Agave in the desert eco-system of Sierra Gorda

Since 1999, the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in Querétaro, Mexico has received enthusiastic support from the LAC. The program there, administered by the Sierra Gorda Ecological Group (GESG), began in 1987 as a grassroots effort to protect the ecological treasures of the area while benefiting the residents economically. Its programs at the time included environmental education programs for the children in the area as well as recycling, reforestation, and other programs for the community. Since then the scope of the GESG Program has grown dramatically: it is now the recipient of a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) grant, and a model for similar projects around the world.

Located in the northern one-third of the state of Querétaro, 300 kilometers northwest of Mexico City, the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve boasts the greatest amount of biodiversity of any of Mexico's chain of 36 biosphere reserves. Elevations range from 350 to 3100 meters and rainfall varies between 350 and 1,500 mm per year. The reserve contains fourteen distinct eco-systems, from semi-desert to mountain cloud forest. Over 350 species of birds have been identified in the reserve, including many migrants from the US and Canada.

In 2004 and 2005 LAC member Dana Gardner painted the common birds of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere for the use of the GESG in various educational projects. To date the GESG has published a small folding guide titled "Aves de la Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra Gorda", a poster "Aves de la Sierra Gorda", and most recently, a book "Aves de la Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra Gorda, Guia Introductoria."

The LAC has sent donations and binoculars for use in the GESG environmental education and Ecotourism programs, and facilitates a letter exchange program between school children in the GESG environmental education program and in GGA's EcoOakland program. This program, Mexico USA Pajaro Pen Pal Project (MUPPPP), has been on-going since 2000. The two groups of children write about their activities with their ecology programs as well as about their families and other interests.

LAC members Audre and Roger Newman, Dana Gardner, Michael Chinn, and Howard Higley visited the Sierra Gorda in Feb of 2004 to check out their Ecotourism offerings and visit schools participating in the Pen Pal Project. We found spectacular and varied countryside, comfortable newly constructed accommodations specifically for Ecotourists, a variety of good birding spots, and wide-spread and enthusiastic community support for the program. The school children were enthusaistic about the letter-writing program.

Emerald Toucanet (Aulochorhynchus wagleri) painted by Dana Gardner for Sierra Gorda publications.

Details about the Sierra Gorda Biological Reserve and the programs and current projects of the Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda can be obtained from their website, http://www.sierragordamexico.org/en/index.html . Individuals and local Audubon Chapters and bird clubs can also contribute directly to Sierra Gorda or participate in its projects through the American Bird Conservatory Plan for Latin American Bird Conservation.

Your contributions and suggestions on other ways we can support this important conservation effort would be much appreciated. You can contact GGAS Latin America Committee secretary Audre Newman: audrenew@gmail.com or Roger Newman: rogercnew@gmail.com for further information.