UNESCO Green Citizen Martha Ruiz Corzo, or “Pati”, is a prominent figure in her local community, known for generous spirit and commitment to protecting the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve.
After spending 16 years as a music teacher in Queretaro City, Mexico, Pati and her husband moved to Agua del Mais in Sierra Gorda to get away from the culture of overconsumption. It was there that they discovered a treasure: The Sierra Gorda Biosphere. On the UNESCO Green Citizens podcast, Pati’s story unfolds, as she describes this priceless natural treasure:
We have magically beautiful trees, endemic magnolias… This wide biodiversity creates a sacred atmosphere right next door to us humans. A home for bears, jaguars, pumas, jaguarundis and ocelots. Sierra Gorda has all of Mexico’s 6 felines, and hosts more butterfly species than the US and Canada combined.
However, Pati recalls the moment they realised the extent of the area’s destruction: massive tree cutting, uncontrolled fires, or paths being created unnecessarily. Joined by family and friends, Pati and her husband decided to take action, and before long, their group expanded to thousands of local citizens. Since its founding in 1987, local collaboration has remained the heart and soul of the Sierra Gorda Alliance, and in 2001 their hard work into becoming a shining model of circular economy and local participation was rewarded, when they became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Starting with the small but effective action of planting trees, today the actions of the Sierra Gorda Alliance have expanded, and the income they generate revitalises the area and its inhabitants. By 2023, they had planted 6 million trees, facilitated a network of 60 tourism microbusinesses, and started 70 plastic, glass, and cardboard collection centres. However, this progress did not come without its obstacles. In this episode, Pati recounts how her group have worked tirelessly to fight off any threats that harm this precious hub of nature. How did she initially get local communities on board? Through singing!
Listen to Pati’s full story on the UNESCO Green Citizens podcast!
So why are Biosphere Reserves like this one so important? In the face of the climate crisis, these diverse ecosystems provide testing grounds for sustainably using and preserving biodiversity.
UNESCO always says that the whole world should be a biosphere reserve, because areas of this nature are synonymous with sustainable development.
UNESCO Biodiversity expert Maria Rosa Cardenas stresses the precious lessons we can learn from Pati and her community about protecting our ecosystems. Sierra Gorda is a significant Biosphere reserve for UNESCO, working with 638 local communities and covering 1600 square miles. In Journey into Biodiversity, Maria shares her belief that the only way to achieve sustainable development is by achieving balance with nature – precisely the reason Biosphere Reserves exist. These areas are crucial to help us understand changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, providing local solutions to global challenges.
These podcasts were made possible thanks to the support of Radio France and the Klorane Botanical Foundation.
What is UNESCO Green Citizens?
This initiative connects local citizen solutions, UNESCO's scientific expertise, and the willingness of young people to engage in the fight against climate change. Learn more about these 150 innovative and duplicable projects, led by citizens, below.
