February 14^th  from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, speakers include Sue Bonfield of Partners in Flight and Pati Ruiz Corzo of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, Mexico.

 Feb. 15^th Meet, greet and visit at Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen with Laura Pérez-Arce, Outreach Coordinator for the local grassroots organizations in the Reserve.

Sunday, February 17, 2:00-4:00 pm Mexican American Cultural Center, Austin

Scott Weidensaul, author of Living on the Wind and Return to Wild America describes them as most impressive and charismatic environmental groups he’s met.

Donors from around the world are supporting their environmental education and habitat preservation efforts.

Here is your chance to meet the inspirational leader, Pati Ruiz Corzo, who founded 25 years ago one of today’s most impressive grassroots conservation organizations, Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda.  What began as one couple’s efforts to protect the cloud forests in the northern third of Queretaro State, Mexico (just south of El Cielo), has become a prizewinning Biosphere Reserve with a corps of environmental educators, technical staff for reforestation projects (some funded by carbon sequestration payments), a biological research team tracking jaguars, a community education program with solar ovens, solid waste management and alternatives for economic development especially focused on involving women. The Biosphere Reserve has an official tour operator, Sierra Gorda Ecotours, to guarantee top quality ecotourism guides, ecolodges  (cabins, camping, interpretive trails, mountain biking, typical foods, cultural experiences, and birding) and a network of local enterprises in artisanry and regional products.  The keys to success in conservation on a local and regional level over the last 2 decades are offered as courses and workshops through the official training center, Centro Tierra Sierra Gorda (Sierra Gorda Earth Center) to share their practical experience and expertise.

• Anyone looking for inspiration
• Environmentalists looking for motivation
• Government leaders looking to make connections with a community leader fighting corruption and non-sustainable uses
• Journalists looking for a great story
• Educators looking for Mexico connections
• Tourists looking for an undiscovered spot
• Community development specialists looking for examples
• People looking for new, sustainable products to buy or re-sell
• Biologists interested in jaguars, ecosystem diversity and climate change
• Cactus enthusiasts interested in learning about new species being discovered
• Field trip coordinators looking for new destinations

Martha “Pati” Ruiz Corzo, Director of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve and the charismatic co-founder of the grassroots movement; winner of the 2002 Rolex Award for Enterprise and social entrepreneur of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public. 

Laura Pérez Arce, Outreach Coordinator of Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda (GESG), the founding local grassroots organization.  Co-founder of Viva Sierra Gorda, www.vivasierragorda.org

Roberto Pedraza, Technical Assistant and head naturalist of GESG, birding expert and Pati’s son.

Thursday, February 14^th, Quinta Mazatlan Speaker Series presentation and opening of Art Exhibit featuring Birds of the Sierra Gorda by Dana Gardner, watercolor bird illustrator, and images of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve by Mexican artists Jorán and Elena Baca.  Gardner´s paintings have been created for a Field Guide to Birds of the Sierra Gorda.  6:00 – 8:00 pm.  Artesania items will also be displayed here and at the Partners in Flight exhibit hall (convention center).  Bring your Valentine and be inspired.

Friday, February 15^th  Quinta Mazatlan is providing meeting space for appointments or a chance to visit with Pati and Laura in a personal setting.

Sunday, February 17^th Mexican American Cultural Center, downtown Austin.  Presentation and Social.  Pati, Roberto and Laura will be here to introduce Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda’s programs and accomplishments, showcase tourism opportunities,

The meeting is FREE, but you will be invited to contribute your time, expertise and/or make a financial donation.

Space is limited.  Reservations required so that we can hold a seat and contact you in the event of bad weather or other unforeseeable changes.

For more information on Grupo Ecologico Sierra Gorda, go to:

http://www.naturallycurious.net/gesgnews.htm

www.sierragorda.net  enter in English or Spanish!