As the name indicates, wetlands are ecosystems based on shallow water’s permanent or intermittent presence (not exceeding six meters). They are found all over the planet and represent a transition between terrestrial and aquatic environments. There are several types of wetlands, such as mangrove forests, streams, estuaries, swamps, lagoons, marshes, muddy areas, and even on beaches between tides. There are also artificial wetlands, such as water ponds, wastewater treatment areas, and canals.
There are important wetlands in Northwest Mexico, which we at Pronatura Noroeste protect to conserve their conditions. For this reason, we seek to encourage the surrounding communities to develop an interest in and love for these sites of great biological and environmental wealth. We promoted various training and community activities to commemorate World Wetlands Day (February 2nd). Participants had the opportunity to express their love and willingness to care for and protect the flora and fauna that inhabit the wetlands of Northwest Mexico. Among the activities that we coordinated were embroidery workshops, drawing, and breathing techniques, community festivals, and guided tours. Below we share some details.
The instructor Elena Silva from Pijiji Tejidos led the embroidery workshop, which had the participation of 24 girls and boys and nine adults from communities including the Gulf of Santa Clara, Bahía Tobari in the communities of Aceitunitas and Paredoncito, in Sonora; La Palma and Tepic, in Nayarit; Laguna San Ignacio, in Baja California Sur; Ensenada, in Baja California, and Mexico City. Some people also connected virtually from Argentina. Participants came together and learned enthusiastically, sharing their wetland embroidery while chatting and having a good time.
The drawing workshop was attended by young people from the communities of Aceitunitas and Paredoncito, Laguna San Ignacio, Ensenada, and San Luís Río Colorado, Sonora, as well as from Mexico City and Guanajuato. The workshop was taught by the Professor of Visual Arts, Karla González Lim, from the ArteMOMx Academy of Visual Arts. One interesting thing about the workshop is the participants used coffee as paint to let imagination and creativity fly while drawing a wetland.
Another of the workshops was called “Breathing Techniques” and was taught by Mariana Guevara from Maya Yoga. The workshop’s purpose was to reflect on the role that clean air plays for life on our planet, as well as the importance of breathing. The participants practiced conscientiously filling their lungs with air and paying attention to the value of this act to life and health.
In addition, in the community of Bahía Tobari, Dr. Roberto Carmona, Director of the Bird Laboratory of the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur (UABCS) and Pronatura Noroeste Scientific Adviser, in coordination with the Flora and Fauna Protected Area of Islas del Golfo de Sonora, gave a workshop for nine environmental promoters to learn about the importance of our region for shorebirds.
Another activity around this environmental celebration was the Wetlands Day Community Festival in the community of Macario Gaxiola, with the support of the Navolato City Council, Sinaloa. The participants accompanied us on a tour of the Cedritos Drain, where they learned about the environmental problems of this channel and observed the birds that inhabit it. This community activity, done with care taken for the safety of the participants, was a success in highlighting the fundamental role of wetlands in the world.
Likewise, we organized the World Wetlands Day Visual Arts Contest to promote greater knowledge, appreciation, care, and understanding of the priority wetlands of this region. This contest was very well received by the community and had a theme in accordance with what the Ramsar Convention established for 2022: “Action in favor of wetlands for people and nature.”
We invite you to meet the winners of this contest!
