Last month, Cananea, Sonora, hosted the 1st Festival for the Grasslands as part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, declared by the United Nations, which aims to recognize the importance of grasslands, biodiversity conservation, and the livelihoods of rural communities. Through this festival we sought to connect with the community and build awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of the grassland ecosystems, birds, and watersheds that are so vital to this region.
A key part of our work depends on the openness and engagement of ranchers and ejido members, who own the majority of land in Sonora. For this reason, we prioritized giving talks and moderating a panel at the Cananea Ranchers Association on topics related to regenerative ranching and the sustainable use of land and natural resources. We wrapped up these activities with some delicious tamales. And the following day, Toño Esquer of Profauna led a hands-on, in-person workshop on rotational grazing with electric fencing at the Ejido Zaragoza.
The community festival, held in Cananea’s public plaza, drew participants from a wide range of organizations, educational institutions, and community members. There were talks, informational booths, games and environmental education activities for children, food and craft vendors, folk dance performances, and local musical groups and singers who filled the occasion with color and joy. Early the next morning, a hike to Sierra La Elenita brought together community members and some of our staff to enjoy nature and take in the area’s beautiful landscapes.
We are grateful to the individuals, organizations, and governmental and educational entities that collaborated with us and made this first festival possible: Toño Esquer of Profauna, Germán Barrera of the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas, Ana Lucía Tapia of Mujeres Ganaderas de México, Eduardo Ríos of Rancho Agua de Enmedio, SIA board member Elena Dosamantes, Elisa Fimbres and Sara Taddei of the Cananea Municipal Ecology Department and Nursery, the Cananea Municipal Government, Cuenca Los Ojos, the biology students of the Universidad de la Sierra, the students of the Centro de Bachillerato Tecnológico, the forestry brigade, the Casa de la Cultura, and the group of women entrepreneurs from Cananea, Sonora.