The environment is protected in Guanajuato

They work in the conservation and protection of Protected Natural Areas

Actions are enforced to contribute to protect nature

Guanajuato/Gto News

The Secretary of Water and Environment (SAMA) works to protect, restore, and maintain protected natural areas.

An example of this is the conservation weeks that take place in these spaces and during which different events and activities are held, including:

• Reforestation, environmental education talks, murals, storytelling and photography contests, wildlife monitoring training, environmental education, environmental regulations, soil and water conservation projects, sanitary pruning, guided tours, camping, bird watching, cleanup days, recycling workshops, and wildlife photography exhibitions

Additionally, there is a management program, a governing and planning document intended to regulate permitted uses and activities, as well as define the specific strategies, actions, and programs that must be implemented in the ANPs to achieve their protection objectives; currently 20 Natural Areas have this program.

As part of this comprehensive and ongoing effort, SAMA promotes community development through the sustainable use of natural resources by creating and strengthening projects focused on nature tourism in protected natural areas.

The Protected Areas (PANs) that offer nature tourism activities such as birdwatching, camping, hiking, kayaking, zip-lining, and cycling are:

• Cuenca de la Esperanza, Pena Alta, Las Fuentes, Las Musas, Sierra de los Agustinos, Cerro de los Amoles, Laguna de Yuriria, Bicentennial Megapark, Pinal del Zamorano, and Sierra de Lobos

There are 60 park rangers in 18 Protected Natural Areas. These rangers are community residents dedicated to the protection and conservation of the natural resources of these areas and among their duties include providing guidance to visitors, preventing forest fires, responding to environmental contingencies, and developing environmental education activities. They monitor flora and fauna and carry out protection, conservation, and restoration activities.

To continue promoting the conservation of protected natural areas, SAMA is promoting the Adoption for Conservation strategy, an initiative that encourages the participation of companies to implement restoration and conservation actions in protected natural areas on a voluntary basis, but with additional actions and at least two years of maintenance. The Secretary carries out these actions through a collaboration agreement with contributions from companies.

This involves a company adopting a land area of ​​at least 10 hectares in a specific ANP, where restoration and/or conservation works of natural resources are carried out on the adopted land. The company provides the financial resources, and the activities are carried out by the inhabitants of the ANP, providing them with temporary employment.

Some of these actions include:

• Soil and water conservation works
• Reforestation, sanitary pruning, maintenance, establishment of rustic nurseries and environmental education activities
• Equipment and generation of baselines for measuring important indicators such as carbon capture and water infiltration

The general public is encouraged to avoid littering or throwing cigarette butts when visiting or touring these natural wonders, take good care and protect these spaces since it is everyone’s responsibility.

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