Renowned wetlands of Alvarado, Veracruz/S.Charchalac

In 2007 EcoLogic established a partnership with ProNatura Veracruz on Mexico’s Gulf Coast to address the restoration and conservation needs of the Papaloapan River and the Veracruz Wetlands, which have been officially recognized as having international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Through detailed consultation, we seek to identify community needs and determine, with their active participation, the best strategies for maintaining critical natural resources.

The area’s coastal zones are important breeding grounds for many species of fish, crustaceans, and shorebirds, while the upland areas provide globally-acknowledged crucial habitat corridors for migratory birds. Our long-term goal for this region is to replicate EcoLogic’s community-based watershed stewardship model and payment for ecosystem services program. Our immediate areas of focus are:

Forests

• The Selva Zoque is a 593,000-acre expanse of upland forest that is threatened by agricultural expansion, forest fires, and unregulated logging. This area protects the Coatzacoalcos River watershed.

Water

• The Alvarado Wetlands encompass 692,000 acres of mangroves and estuarine lagoons that provide nesting and stopover habitat for migratory birds. This lowland area is part of the Río Papaloapan watershed and suffers from pollution due to poor management of upland areas.

To address the conservation challenges in the region, EcoLogic will:

• Continue community assessments to gauge community needs, interests, and contribution capacities
• Promote sustainable agriculture alternatives to reduce threat of encroachment on protected areas
• Consult with private sector associations to engage industrial actors in river remediation and watershed management

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