At the interexchange meeting of the Water Program of Gonzalo Rio Arronte Foundation, which took place from April 3rd to 6th in Mexico City, the Pronatura Noroeste team presented results from the Colorado River Delta project and the Tijuana River Basin project.
Colorado River delta
The project seeks to improve the environmental conditions of the ecosystem for communities and biodiversity conservation. To that end, through the Raise the River¹ coalition and with the support of the Gonzalo Río Arronte Foundation, the following was achieved: Recovery of 1,200 hectares of riparian systems, planting of 47,149 native trees, and acquisition of 1,226 hectares of water rights for the restoration of the Colorado River, benefitting 200 communities in the region.
The team is currently focusing on a new collaborative proposal to restore and maintain 1,200 hectares of riparian forests and wetlands, reinforce the binational commitment, and integrate the river’s users into conservation and restoration activities in the delta.
Tijuana River basin
With the support of the Gonzalo Río Arronte Foundation, the Program for Comprehensive Water Management in the Tijuana River Basin was developed. The program aims to improve the environmental quality of the basin through adaptive management and social participation.
The initiative² was able to develop a comprehensive assessment of the basin and create alliances with three levels of government in Mexico and the United States, directly benefitting 5 million users. The team plans to insert the Management Program in Minute 320 for formalization and compliance. In addition, the team plans to form a binational working group to implement the master plan.
As part of the interexchange meeting activities, the Pronatura Noroeste team participated in the presentation of the new strategic focuses of the Gonzalo Río Arronte Foundation and a workshop with other civil society organizations.
“The new component within the strategic focuses of the Water Program centers on the participation of all of the users of the wetland and water cycle. The logic framework and indicators for future projects were also presented,” said Gabriela Caloca, Project Coordinator for Pronatura Noroeste.
¹ Raise de River: Sonoran Institute, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Redford Center y Pronatura Noroeste.
² Program for Comprehensive Water Management in the Tijuana River basin is been developed by El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, el Proyecto Transfronterizo de Educación Ambiental, Pronatura Noroeste y Agua y Bienestar Social.
