This Oct. 15-17, Moctezuma, Sonora, once again became a gathering place to celebrate the natural and cultural richness of the Sky Islands. Hundreds of people came together and took part in environmental education activities, a drawing contest, outdoor events, and community-building. Attendees included students, organizations, artists, and people committed to the community and our natural environment.
The festival began with environmental education in Moctezuma schools, aimed at sparking curiosity in the next generation. There were presentations on wildlife cameras with the team from the Program for the Protection and Restoration of Ecosystems and Priority Species (PROREST), and talks with members of the wildfire brigade with Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP). Botany workshops for high school students were also held, led by Cuenca Los Ojos. And in La Mesa and El Llano, nearby communities, La Tierra del Jaguar led activities on wildlife monitoring and exploring the invisible world through the microscope.
Children were also taken to visit the Casa de la Cultura in Moctezuma, where art and photography from the Sky Islands were on display, presented by our wildlife specialist, Miguel Enríquez, and Cuenca Los Ojos. The exhibition was a space to appreciate the diversity of landscapes and wildlife, drawings by participants in past contests, and artistic expressions inspired by our region.
There was also space for community dialogue. Aurelio Ramos gave a talk: “Regenerative Ranch Management: The Sustainable Tool for Increasing Beef Production per Hectare.” Attending the event were students, community members, and ranchers we work with in our Regenerative Ranches program.
The festival continued with cultural and artistic activities that brought together participants of all ages. Students from the dance program at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California led baile folklórico workshops that strengthened bonds among attendees and created a fun, welcoming atmosphere.
Another notable event was a screening of the documentary “Borderlands Jaguar,” presented by the Northern Jaguar Project. Attendees had the chance to learn more about the story and conservation challenges of one of the most emblematic wildcats in our region.
Outdoor activities on the last day of the festival began early, starting with a yoga session led by Sherlyn Canela, in which folks had the chance to exercise and connect with their bodies and the natural environment. A little later, people gathered in the town plaza and split into two groups for walks along the Moctezuma River: one went birding with Mujeres entre Aves; the other looked for wildlife tracks with Cuenca Los Ojos.
Sky Island Alliance and CONANP staff also guided a visit to the Cruz del Diablo overlook, where attendees had the chance to see part of the Bavispe Flora and Fauna Protection Area and the river valley.
In the afternoon, the town plaza was the gathering place for the Sky Islands Festival celebration, where the drawing contest awards were presented, there were spaces to connect, learn, and share knowledge, and an artistic program centered on Mexican folklore and biodiversity conservation was staged.
We are so happy about how this festival has grown each year and helped strengthen relationships among people who share a common goal: building a future in which communities and nature can thrive together. We are deeply grateful to all the people and organizations that make this festival possible: schools, students, teachers, artists, and community members. Thank you also to the town of Moctezuma for welcoming us and opening its spaces for this wonderful gathering.
Thank you for joining us for this fifth edition. We look forward to seeing you at the next festival!