In a significant environmental initiative, approximately 500 women from ten ejidos in the Sierra Madre del Sur have transformed a 30-hectare area previously used for poppy cultivation into a thriving forest of pine trees. This reforestation project, aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change, conserving wildlife, and recharging aquifers, took place over two days and marks a substantial shift from the region’s troubled past.
A Community-Driven Initiative
The community reforestation campaign, aptly named “Women Protecting the Tecuani Mountain Range,” is part of a broader initiative promoted by the Mesoamerican Territorial Fund (FTM). With a generous donation of $30,000, the FTM aims to restore the region’s forests using plants cultivated by local residents. The women, hailing from the towns of Fresnos, El Balcón, Cuatro Cruces, El Moreno, Coronillas, La Trinidad, Cordon Grande, Bajos del Balsamar, San Antonio de las Texas, and Tierras Blancas, demonstrated a powerful commitment to environmental stewardship.
On the Ground Efforts
The reforestation work commenced in the community of El Balcón, located in the municipality of Ajuchitlán del Progreso. Amidst rain and fog, residents, including women accompanied by their husbands, gathered to clean and prepare the hillside of Puerto de los Pineda for planting. “Today we are going to plant about 4,800 trees,” said Guadalupe, a local resident, as she highlighted the community’s dedication.
Guadalupe, a widow and participant in the Sembrando Vida program, emphasized the importance of the initiative. “I am from here; the Sembrando Vida program has allowed us to have a garden and a place to live. We ask the president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, to help us increase our salaries because we do not have enough,” she said. The program has empowered women like Guadalupe to organize and lead environmental efforts in their communities.
Overcoming Challenges
Nancedalia Ramírez Domínguez, from the Cordón Grande ejido in Técpan de Galeana, shared the challenges faced by women in these communities. “It has been a very difficult process; discrimination and patriarchy have existed for a long time, so the participation of women has been gradual,” she explained. Ramírez Domínguez has been instrumental in raising awareness about the importance of women as managers of natural resources and educators in agricultural communities.
Despite the deep-rooted issues of patriarchy and machismo, Ramírez Domínguez noted progress. “Men are realizing that women’s participation is important,” she stressed. The initiative aims to foster communal and collective efforts, demonstrating that men and women can work together effectively.
Educating Future Generations
Evelyn N., a sixth-grade student, accompanied her mother in the reforestation efforts. “I want to study veterinary medicine. I like the mountains because there are many trees, plants, and animals like deer, rabbits, pigs, and birds,” she shared, her cheeks red from the cold. This highlights the project’s role in inspiring the younger generation to value and protect their natural environment.
Ivón Colchero, coordinator of the University Campus for Sustainable Development at the Autonomous University of Guerrero, emphasized the institution’s support for these efforts. “Our students, teachers, and researchers carry out their internships in the high mountain area; they do fieldwork and research, and connect with the communities through projects,” she said.
A Broader Impact
The project, Women Protecting the Tecuani Mountain Range, was launched with the support of various organizations, including the Women’s Collective of the Sierra Region of the State of Guerrero, the Union of General Hermenegildo Galeana Forest Ejidos, the Mexican Network of Peasant Forest Organizations (Red Mocaf), and the Cordón Grande ejido.
Gustavo Sánchez Valle, president of the Mocaf Network, described the project as a pilot initiative. “We are sure that if everyone here agrees, we will be able to manage more resources from the FTM for this type of activities,” he said. The initiative is part of a regional platform involving six countries and ten organizations, including the Mexican Network of Peasant Forest Organizations.
Future Prospects
Sánchez Valle highlighted the need for community-driven financing mechanisms to ensure that resources for combating climate change reach the affected territories. “If there are no financing mechanisms created by the indigenous communities and peoples themselves, the resources end up in different intermediation bodies,” he warned.
In Mexico, three initiatives are currently underway, including the one in the Sierra Madre del Sur. These initiatives aim to promote reforestation and afforestation, with a focus on good governance and social resilience against violence and organized crime.
Fidencio Sánchez Atanasio, president of the Hermenegildo Galeana Union, reiterated the community’s commitment to environmental protection. “We belong to a forestry ejido, where 30 years ago we began forest protection and management activities. This motivates us to continue protecting natural resources, especially now with the issue of climate change,” he said.
However, the community faces significant challenges, particularly regarding infrastructure. “The main demand is the construction of roads,” Atanasio noted. He expressed hope that president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, given her background as a researcher, would address these concerns.