Alejandro’s campaign is progressing right on schedule. As the Rare Pride Campaign Manager for La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve, he has completed the first university phase of Rare’s training curriculum at the University of Guadalajara, one of the largest and most respected institutions of higher learning in Mexico. Participants in this program come from all over Latin America.

This phase included nine weeks of classroom training and hands-on activities that prepared Alejandro to build a comprehensive project plan, including use of concept models, threat ranking, and stake-holder engagement strategies.

Alejandro is now back in the field in the communities of La Sepultura for his Pride campaign planning phase. He has facilitated the stakeholder meeting and threat ranking, produced a draft barrier removal analysis, and is now starting his community survey where he will survey nearly 1,000 people (and a control group) on their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior about forest fires and their agricultural practices- many of which have been passed down from generation to generation. This information will help Alejandro form specific conservation objectives for the campaign.

He will then return to Guadalajara on June 2nd, where he will participate in the Rare alumni event – a first time celebration of the Rare Pride campaign manager alumni network that emphasizes supporting and mentoring fellow conservationists for long term conservation sustainability worldwide. Afterward, Alejandro will start five weeks of training in the second university phase before returning to the field where he will implement his campaign.

Here’s a brief recap of Alejandro’s campaign and goals for preserving natural resources in La Sepultura:

To reduce pine-oak forest being destroyed by uncontrolled forest fires La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve, local farmers and producers will be trained and mentored to implement fire management practices (burning calendars, firebreaks, community plans, natural fences etc) along with sustainable productive alternatives (organic agriculture, agrosilvopastoral systems, sustainable grass production). Producers will learn about of the effects of forest fires and the environmental and production benefits that can be obtained through these alternative practices. CONANP along with other agriculture related entities will provide technical assistance and financing. The Pride Campaign will be deemed successful if 50% of annual hectares (ha) damaged by forest fires is reduced by 2012 (2500 ha instead of 5000 ha).

Pictures:

• Stakeholder meeting participants learn about Alejandro's goals (JPG)