by Victoria Claudia Cervantes Montes
The Sierra de Juárez collective is leading a project that grows stronger and more inspiring every day.
In the southeastern area of the Sierra de Juárez lies a space that, after years of abandonment, has turned into a dumping ground. Yet, there are still signs that native flora and fauna are trying to reclaim it.
Since June of this year, the collective has been conducting an ecological restoration project aimed at bringing life back to this site. Their efforts include reintroducing native vegetation, building water-harvesting structures, and designing a space that, beyond restoring the ecosystem, can also serve as an educational and ecological recreational area for nearby communities. This initiative seeks not only to rehabilitate the land but also to return a piece of life to the Sierra de Juárez.
Several groups and allies have joined the effort, including Beesofthe656, Bioexperimenta, science communicators Cristina Amezola and Isaac Miramontes, and El Tlacuache Norteño. All of them are colleagues and active members of the Voces de la Ciencia Juarense coalition, in which CDEC also participates.
So far, three cleanup campaigns have been conducted, removing all kinds of waste—from broken glass to abandoned tires. A science outreach event was also organized to involve the local community, and work is currently underway to develop lists of flora and fauna to identify species that could potentially thrive again in the area.
If you would like to learn more about this project or participate in upcoming activities, follow Sierra de Juárez or any of the collaborating groups on Facebook.
