Protecting cloud forests
May 22, 2012
Project goal: Preserving the Sierra Madre’s rich cloud forests with the help of local communities
Project size: 2 million hectares of land
Project costs: 4 million euros, funded by German development organization, GIZ in cooperation with CONANP, the Mexican National Commission for Protected Areas
The Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range is one of Mexico’s most precious natural treasures, boasting lush cloud forests with a rich eco-system. It also serves as a vital carbon sink. The area, which is threatened by deforestation, has long been designated a protected zone. Now, authorities are redoubling their efforts to protect the region, working together with local communities and villages and encouraging them to take responsibility for their land. Reporter Michael Wetzel shows us the region’s rich diversity, from its cloud forests to wetlands to pine groves and arid zones, and documents how researchers are helping sensitize local villagers.
A film by Michael Wetzel