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Who We Are...About Salvemos el Rio LajaSalvemos al Rio Laja, A.C. (also known as Save the Laja) is a private non-profit organization dedicated to conserving and rehabilitating the Rio Laja Watershed including Santa Rosa, the major watershed forest. It was formed in 1999 by former officers of Sociedad Audubon de Mexico located in San Miguel de Allende in the river valley and of the Fundacion Ecologica de Guanajuato, in Santa Rosa, in the mountains near the city of Guanajuato. The organization, with the exception of two river restoration technicians, is entirely voluntary. It consists of five officers, nine directors and many dedicated volunteers. The organization provides scientific, technological and financial support to non-profit agencies in the watershed which have counselors or extension agents who can teach and encourage local villagers to do the labor-intensive watershed rehabilitation work. Salvemos Al Rio Laja is headquartered
in the well-known colonial city of San Miguel de Allende. It was founded
in 1998 by former officers of Sociedad Audubon de Mexico located in
San Miguel in the Rio Laja valley and the Fundacion Ecologia de Guanajuato
located in the endangered forest of Santa Rosa which covers the mountains
at the western rim of the watershed near the city of Guanajuato. Scientists and technicians were invited to donate time. Today the organization works with scientific advisors from various organizations, including the US Forest Service, Cornell University, Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary, and most notedly, Dr. Roger Tomlinson (the Father of GIS). Partnerships were formed with other non-profit groups in the watershed, including Save the Children, CASA, a health care and family planning agency, a conservation group in the forest of Santa Rosa, and others. These groups have counselors who are able to teach villagers who live along the river how to restore rather than degrade the watershed. Other groups have more recentl become involved. Many people from San Miguel and even some from the United States, Europe and Canada rallied to donate time and money to the project. TheMexican and U.S. government agencies also provided funding. FundingFunding has been provided byUS Fish and Wildlife Service (US National Fish and Wildlife Foundation) - US Forest Service (US Forest Service Southwest Regional Office)- North American Wetlands Conservation Council- State of Guanajuato, Mexico- Local Fund-RaisersPrivate donations ranging from $25- $5,000 enable us to raise additional critical funds. Private support is essential as many foundations require that we raise matching funds. OfficersPresident: Luis Franke Home Previous Top of Page Next Salvemos al Río Laja A.C. |
