Pronatura Noreste promotes an ambitious restoration project in a part of the basin of the Tijuana River, with the purpose of restoring its vitality and promoting environmental conscience amongst the youths of the region. This initiative aims to reconnect new generations to the river, learn about its value, and become protectors of this natural resource.
The Tijuana Río Conecta workshop, whose second edition took place on October 18th,
brought together 93 students from three local high schools: COBACH Plantel La Presa,
CECyTEBC Plantel La Presa and CECyTEBC Plantel Villa del Sol. At the Tijuana River
restoration site, students participated in a series of activities that allowed them to
interact with the natural environment and gain knowledge about the importance of
environmental restoration.
The workshop included six learning modules and practical activities: reforestation with
native plants, in which the students planted 50 of these, contributing to the ecological
restoration of the area and learning about the importance of the native vegetation in the support for local ecosystems; waste removal, with clean-up activities which include a recollection of plastics, cardboard, and other waste such as tires, teaching young
people the importance of keeping natural spaces free of garbage; exploration of the local floral, carried out through a talk that allowed the participants to learn about plant species that are place in the area and their crucial role in the basin’s health and water purification.
Moreover, there were birdwatching walks that allowed students to identify more than 100 birds of 26 different species, talks on the history of the Tijuana river, and another talk given by Samsung Mexico on the importance of sustainability, helping students to reflect on their own practices and the role they can play in protecting the environment. The implementation of this workshop was possible thanks to the support of local companies and foundations committed to the environmental well-being of the region, such as Calimax, Coca-Cola Mexico Foundation, Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Del Fuerte Bottling Company. These partnerships have been essential in the development of the project and the financing of restoration and education activities.
Through initiatives such as Tijuana Río Conecta, Pronatura Noroeste is getting young
people to become agents of change, developing an environmental awareness that will
be key to the preservation of this space. In addition to educating and empowering new
generations, the project seeks to revitalize the Tijuana River, returning its ecological
function and its value as a symbol of life and resilience for the community.
Be a part of the conservation effort!
Translated by: Christian Cid Acevedo & Fernanda Izabal Padilla
