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Environmental Education Program

The deforestation of the Sierra Madre created such serious problems that engaging the public will for reforestation is a matter of survival. The first step is to help people awaken from the attitude of indifference to the natural world to a new wonder for the complexity of the web of life in this magnificent watershed.

Sexto Sol Projects:

Sexto Sol has distributed over 6000 native tree seedlings for reforestation from our nursery at Tierra Linda School in three years. Local children who come to help in the tree nursery planted many of these seeds for these seedlings. Volunteers who helped produce tree seedlings: Mary Lacques, Jill Howdyshell, Jake McLean, and Amanda Mortl.

The Parque Ecológico open space is located next to Tierra Linda School where Sexto Sol is creating a nature park that will serve to teach the public about the natural history of the region and the process of regeneration of damaged land. The City of Motozintla purchased the property for this purpose. With our supervision, local and international volunteers (total 27) have planted 450 pines, and built trails and erosion control structures. As plants recolonize, the bird population has increased notably. See Jake’s poem at the end of this page. Special thanks to Cormac Lawler, Jake McLean, Jonathan Jensen, Scotty Kellogg, Cleo Woelfe-Erskine, Marcel Van der, SOCAMA, Eleaseo, Nulfo, BRIASA and friends.

Local children come to Tierra Linda School for “science class” or for Equipo Ecológico (Ecology Team) work such as planting pine seeds in the tree nursery or picking up trash. When high school and university classes come to the School we try to inspire them to see that they are important actors in solving environmental problems. We created a Yahoo! Group for these young people called Mundo Posible for internet-based dialog about environmental issues and solutions toward creating a more sustainable Sierra and world.

Radio Difusora La B.B. We provide assistance to a radio station broadcasting to 17 remote communities by securing taped “spots” with environmental messages such as the importance of not burning the cornfield.

See Ecotourism Section

Experience

A sharp machete
the blades of weeds and grass alike
are no match
the path is more apparent now
but the denuded landscape it divides
is struggling to regain its former splendor
the destiny of each try – a mystery
save those root bound and orphaned in plastic
the mother’s love nurtures
her river of life man diverts
televisions preach as fertile soil passes by in the streets
where does the path lead?
ah, but did you see those nurtured pines
they are growing there in the shade of weeds and espinas
and they are the future of this parque ecologico
and that path is
the path of experience
not ending, taking us on a ride much like the Ferris wheel
but far richer.

Jake McLean, 2003
Volunteer September, 2003

For more information contact:tamara@sextosol.org (English y español) - francisco@sextosol.org(español)

The Sexto Sol Center - 3514 E. Contessa, Mesa, AZ, 85213-7036 U.S.A. Phone: (480) 854-7583
Field Office - Apartado Postal 64, Motozintla, Chiapas, CP 30900, Mexico, Cell: 52-962-109-4824