by Rick LoBello, Board of Directors Chair
Over the past few years, the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition has expanded its outreach into Mexico. Many are unaware of how most of the Chihuahuan Desert is in Mexico with only about 10% located in West Texas, Southern New Mexico and a small corner of Arizona.
Yamel and I met at the 2023 Chihuahuan Desert Conference hosted by the El Paso Zoo when she presented a paper entitled “Strengthening governance and business development in ejidos of the Mexican semi-desert ecosystem to promote the production chain of FSC® certified non-timber products.”
After a short hiatus Yamel has rejoined our Board of Directors. Board terms are for the calendar year, and we have a number of openings for anyone wanting to help us achieve our vision to create a future where all people understand, value, and protect the Chihuahuan Desert.
Yamel is a Mexican environmentalist and specialist in social and productive development, with over 10 years of experience leading initiatives in sustainable forest management, community development, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem services in forests, jungles, and semi-desert areas. She currently serves as Director of FSC® Value Chains at Reforestamos México, where she works closely with rural communities, women’s groups, and youth to strengthen forest governance and develop inclusive, well-organized, and sustainable value chains focused on both timber and non-timber forest products. Yamel has played a key role in the creation and consolidation of community forest enterprises across various Mexican states, and she is a passionate advocate for integrated landscape development models that generate livelihoods for communities and ejidos by combining economic development, cultural identity, and environmental conservation.