Keyword: Mexico-U.S. borderlands

An update on conservation in the Janos-Casas Grandes Area

We live in a rapidly-changing world, and the Janos-Casas Grandes region is no exception. Many changes have occurred between the fall of 2001 and the spring of 2005.

Voices from the local communities (Voces de las comunidades locales)

We would have liked to hear more talks about production issues and alternative modes of production, such as the one given about ecotourism activities. However, the examples and experiences from Sonora and the United States were very useful and interesting. In a subsequent meeting, we would like to hear more about legal and organizational issues and not so much about research.

Sustainable ranching: A new paradigm (Ganaderia Sustentable: Un Nuevo Paradigma)

Today, rural communities need to take a new approach to decision-making and administration with regards to the causes and solutions to the processes of land deterioration. If the damages caused by drought, flood, and erosion were valued in monetary terms, opportunity costs, and value of human life, we would readily realize the benefits of investment in rural production methods.

Photo essay: Trinchera dams for erosion control and streambed restoration (Foto ensayo: Trincheras para controlar la erosion y restaurar el cauce de los arroyos)

Loose rock structures, called trincheras or rock curtains, can be constructed across streambeds to slow water flow, allowing water to seep into the ground. Soil and debris collect behind the rocks, forming a bed for vegetation.

Installation of devices in water tanks to prevent drowning of wild animals (Instalacion de Estructuras Dentro de Tanques de Agua Para Evitar El Ahogamiento de Animales Silvestres)

Domestic farm and ranch properties use a variety of water retention structures and water supply infrastructures that benefit wildlife. Some water supply systems, however, are harmful to wild birds, small mammals, and reptiles. Water supply systems include metal water tanks, cemented reservoirs, or excavated earthen retention ponds (or tanques as they are known in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States).

Ranching and conservation in the Santa Cruz River Region, Sonora: Milpillas Case Study (Ganaderia y Conservacion en la Region del Rio Santa Cruz, Sonora: El Caso del Grupo Milpillas)

The Sonoran Institute (SI) is a non-profit organization working with people toward common conservation goals.

Value-added beef products (Productos Carnicos con Valor Agregado)

I'm speaking for Will and Jan Holder, who couldn't be here. I happen to be familiar with Will and Jan's company, Ervin's Natural Beef, and its program because I've sold them cattle. Will and Jan's value-added beef program is based on their family ranch in the area known as The Blue, in the mountains of eastern Arizona.

Coexistence with predators (Coexistencia con depredadores)

We have asked Caren to join us, too, so we get at least three perspectives, because I don’t think there is one particular philosophy with predators that anybody can say works in every case. If you were to ask me what my predator program is, I would say I don’t really have one. That wasn’t always the case.

Ranching and prairie dogs (La actividad ganadera y los perros llaneros)

Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) historically occupied grasslands throughout much of the Great Plains and the American Southwest from Canada to Mexico (Hall 1981: 412-415). During the last 100 years this species has declined to a small fraction of its historic range and abundance because of eradication programs, loss of habitat and sylvatic plague (Yersinia pestis) (Miller et al. 1994).

Current situation of rangelands in Mexico

Rangelands are natural areas with certain characteristics that make them unsuitable for agriculture. They include several types of vegetation such as deserts, grasslands, shrubs, forests, and riparian areas. Cattle ranching, along with the products and services it engenders, is a prime activity that rangelands have traditionally supported.