Mexico is a vibrant cradle for an extraordinary variety of life, and a vital cornerstone for the well-being of our planet. From The Gulf of California, the only sea that belongs to a single nation, to the expansive Maya Forest, the second largest lung of the Americas, our ecosystems provide immeasurable benefits that ripple across the globe.
As stewards of the world’s fifth most biodiverse country, we hold a global responsibility to protect these habitats that harbor 12% of Earth’s species, including the second-largest coral barrier. The forests that drape 30% of Mexico’s landscape are a testament to the country’s role as a global custodian of biodiversity.
For over three and a half decades, TNC Mexico has been at the forefront of efforts to conserve these precious ecosystems, ensuring they continue to enrich our world for generations to come.
The Gulf of California’s fisheries, which include shrimp, squid, tuna and sardines, account for 70% of Mexico’s fishing. The spectacular natural beauty of the region attracts tourists a year. Although critical to the national economy, fisheries, unsustainable water management and coastal development also threaten the very ecosystems that produce fish, attract tourism, and protect the coast from storms.
The continental shore of GoC and the Delta of the Colorado river is characterized by long sandy beaches, large costal lagoons and large supplies of freshwater that reach the coastline directly or through the lagoons, although The Colorado River used to supply freshwater, silt, and nutrients to a complex of wetlands. Clearly, the reduction in the river’s flow has totally transformed the region.
TNC has worked since 2010 to secured sufficient and reliable water for the wetlands of the Colorado river Delta. TNC form part of the coalition of NGOs that reaches a new binational agreement between Mexico and the U.S. called Minute 323, signed in 2017 which creates a framework for water management and environmental restoration in the Delta. TNC works closely with NGOs and Gov agencies to secure investment on treatment infrastructure in exchange for water for nature, As well as partnering with Farmers from the Colorado river on crop switching and silvopasture that will save and allocate for nature.
Restoring Water Flows in the Colorado River Delta
6 Episode series about Colorado River Delta
The Mesoamerican forest Corridor is the terrestrial region with the most biodiversity in North America, its extensive mountain ranges, variety of climates, ecosystems, make this site of great importance for conservation.
Significance for Mexico’s water resilience: 30% of the country's water resources are found in this site. The rivers of this region generate up to 40% of hydroelectric energy of Mexico.
TNC has worked to support the strengthening of the most important protected natural areas in the area and now focuses its work on converting conventional agricultural systems (the main cause of deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions) into sustainable systems; already successfully tested in the region.
Sustainable (or regenerative) productive systems with a focus on watershed management and soil restoration, benefit in reduction of surface runoff, reduction of soil erosion, increase in soil humidity, increase in rainwater infiltration and increase in efficiency in the amount of water used in agriculture and ranching
Pá su mecha qué calor
TNC Mexico podcast about sustainable agriculture and silvopastoral livestock to produce more, earn more and at the same time mitigate the effects of drought and climate change.
The Maya rainforest is the largest water reserve in Mesoamerica. It provides shelter to countless endangered species. Also is home to Maya communities with a long legacy. The Maya rainforest covers 3 countries: Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.
However, the pressures affecting this region are more significant than ever before. Traditional small-scale production is giving way to extensive farming and ranching systems and inadequate wastewater management poses risks to human and ecosystem health. These unsustainable practices are transforming the landscape, threatening biodiversity and disturbing groundwater quality.
TNC Mexico is promoting tools and capacity building so that people's productive activities have a lesser impact in terms of water. For instance, regenerative agriculture, efficient irrigation systems, water quality monitoring to understand the impact of human activities on water reserves, making value chains more efficient to enhance small-scale producers' businesses and make them more environmentally friendly. Also design and lead governance activities that can provide necessary knowledge to community groups to make better decisions regarding their lands and natural resources.
In a trailblazing initiative, TNC Mexico established the world’s first insurance policy for coral reefs, a strategic measure to protect these crucial marine ecosystems from hurricane damage. This policy has been pivotal in the conservation and restoration of a 60 km stretch of coral reef along the Cancun and Puerto Morelos coast. This success has inspired its adoption in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and most recently, Hawai’i, marking a significant stride in marine ecosystem protection.
