We couldn’t be more excited to be entering a new level of collaboration with our friends at the Universidad de la Sierra in Moctezuma, Sonora. This past month we met with university leadership to revisit our memorandum of understanding, as both organizations are ever committed to the stewardship of our unique Sky Island region. We also share a vision that emphasizes the role of youth.
SIA has formally collaborated with UniSierra since 2019 — mentoring students in their thesis projects, providing paid internships to conduct important research in the region while preparing young biologists for a career, and giving students hands-on experience in environmental restoration practices at local ranches. In this time we’ve seen many students grow and flourish, and several of these young biologists have even joined our Sky Island Alliance team.
As we look to the future and prepare for its many challenges, one thing that inspires us is the dedication from this ever-growing body of young biologists. These students continue to open new doors in the growth of a larger, more holistic environmental conservation culture in Sonora — one that communities on both sides of the border can learn from.
Stay tuned for what 2023 brings as we open the doors to our new SIA field office at UniSierra. Estamos muy orgullosos!
