PROYECTO SIERRA MAZATECA

We are dedicated to the exploration and conservation of the karst ecosystem in the Sierra Mazateca, Oaxaca, Mexico. In addition to discovering and exploring caves, our group is focused on preserving the highland cloud forests, precious water resources, and Mazatec cultural pride.  We develop conservation programs to educate the students.  We also help generate markets for the organic foods produced in the Sierra Mazateca region, such as coffee, sugar, and honey.  Future goals include the preservation and restoration of Cafetal Carlota. We look forward to adding more photos, trip reports, maps, and videos. 

Estamos dedicados a la exploración y la conservación de los ecosistemas kársticos en la Sierra Mazateca, Oaxaca, México. Además de descubrir y explorar cuevas, nuestro grupo se centra en preservar los bosques de niebla, preciosos recursos hídricos, y mazateca orgullo cultural. Desarrollamos programas de conservación para educar a los estudiantes. También nos ayudará a generar los mercados para los alimentos orgánicos producidos en la región Sierra Mazateca, tales como el café, el azúcar y la miel. Metas para el futuro incluyen la conservación y restauración de Cafetal Carlota. Esperamos con interés a la adición de más fotos, los informes de viajes, mapas y vídeos.



Proyecto Sierra Mazateca:  December 2013 - January 2014

WOW!  Another Mexican journey that went by too fast.  We visited a variety of places in the Sierra Mazateca, and leave many leads waiting for us to return.  We had a lot of help throughout our time, from local friends and officials, and a group of great cavers.  Thank you - Ron Adams, Andy Armstrong, Mike Frazier, Donna Frazier, Paul Mozal, Rolland Moore, and Coeli Velki - for participating and helping us find and map caves - per Tony, Marion, & Simon Akers. 

One of our project goals was a reforestation project in the Rio Santiago area - per a promotion held by Carlota Gardens in March of 2013.  The area has noticed its natural spring's water flow decreased over the years, and a small collective in the town is helping by planting trees up and along the spring's boundaries.  This project is ongoing and in process.

Several donations were made for education outreach for the region of Huautla de Jimenez.  The Central Indiana Grotto had donated $500 for the elementary school in Rio Santiago.  A digital projector was purchased and presented to the director of the school.  We were able to see a program the whole school was working on, the natural plant medicines in the Sierra.  The Southern Colorado Grotto also donated $600 to the elementary school of Agua de la Rosa, and those funds will help build a proper school for its 100 elementary children.   Go to 

EDUCATION

to see photos and more....
 
We continued cave exploration in the region of Huautla de Jimenez, in Agua de la Rosa and in an area south of Rio Santiago, a valley called "Rancho Arco Iris".  There we established a base and began exploring the valley's karst.  We learned a great deal the two weeks that we were there.  Go to  

CAVE EXPLORATION

  to learn more!

Our reforestation project has begun!!  From a promotion held by Carlota Gardens, about $600 was given to Rio Santiago, to begin reforestation efforts.  We met a young man in Rio Santiago in January of 2013 who was part of a collective, calling themselves “Juvenil Collectivo Rio Santiago".  Their purpose is to help their community develop responsibly, by  protecting  their  people and their environment.  Being of like mind, we discussed our goals with the leader of the group, Miguel Morales.  He had noticed that the spring, which provides clean water for the people in Rio Santiago, was flowing less than it had in previous generations and attributed it to deforestation on the hillsides above the spring.  We know that deforestation, causes rapid downflow of rainfall, rather than slower seepage into the spring-fed aquifers, and can see the effects in other large springs in the region.  We also realize that total protection of the forests may not realistic, but promotion of reforestation could be a feasible option for communities throughout the Sierra.  We were back in December, 2013, with our contribution and our willingness to begin this aspect of our project.  We discussed our options – what kind of trees, where to plant, what are the landowner concerns – and decided to begin with cedar trees.  Although they are slow-growing, they are indigenous and protected by federal law.   Over 400 trees were acquired from a town close to us, and transported to Rio Santiago.  Landowners and local officials were consulted for their approval.  Through combined efforts from the collective and from the primary school, in February, 2014, volunteers and 6^th graders were enlisted to help begin the planting.  Although this is a long-term project, and more trees will be planted in 2014, this beginning was awesome!  Not only did we get trees replanted, schoolchildren contributed their energy and were taught how important reforestation is for the future of the Sierra Mazateca and their families.  More trees are planned for planting in the coming months.  And Carlota Gardens is doing that promotion again at the Philadelphia Flower Show for 2014.  Thank you, Flower Show customers!!!  Check out the photos below to see some results......

A cloud forest, filled with vines, epiphytes, orchids.......  
Imagine climbing up through the rainforest, battling hanging vines with your machete, wishing you were wearing gloves, because there are strange nettles and spiny trees, and suddenly you are surrounded by begonias grandes, with huge leaves and flowers in pink and white.......
go to-------------ECOLOGY

With the generous help and support from cavers, friends, grants, our own energy and love, we are able to continue working toward our overall goals. Each year brings adventures, challenges, parties, and life-changing experiences for us all.

Con la generosa ayuda y el apoyo de espeleólogos, amigos, los subsidios, nuestra propia energía y amor, somos capaces de continuar trabajando para lograr nuestros objetivos generales. Cada año trae consigo aventuras, retos, partes, y modificar la vida de experiencias para todos nosotros.

The Proyecto Sierra Mazateca Corporation, now registered in the state of Indiana as a non-profit corporation, was formed as of September 4, 2012. The purposes of the Proyecto Sierra Mazateca Corporation, defined in Article 11 of the Articles of Incorporation, are to protect, explore, and study the karst ecosystem, and to promote water conservation and Mazatec culture preservation within the Sierra Mazateca, in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico.

More specifically, we have defined these areas to focus on:

• Science – document and explore caves, conduct biology, ecology, and geology studies
• Conservation –working with local and state authorities to promote conservation of the upper cloud forest regions and water conservation.
• Education – teach local schoolchildren and communities about the karst ecosystem and their future role in its protection
• Preservation – promoting indigenous Mazatec culture, Mazatec language, historical sites, and traditional farming techniques.

THANK YOU - NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION FOR YOUR GENEROUS FUNDING FOR THE 2012 - 2013 EXPEDITION. The funding helped make our expedition possible, providing us with equipment to help our education outreach and conservation efforts.

We would like to thank our sponsors for their support to help preserve this important karst ecosystem and culture of the Sierra Mazateca:

National Speleological Foundation
National Speleological Society
Highline Rope, Canada
Karst Conservancy
Southern Colorado Mountain Grotto
CIG grotto of Indiana

We also thank the countless people, friends and cavers alike, who have helped and contributed to the project with their energy, smiles, and sweat. To name a few that have contributed with extra gear, funds, or other equipment:

TO VIEW OUR MAP GALLERY - - - GO TO CAVE EXPLORATION -

PARA VER NUESTRA GALERÍA DE MAPAS - VAYA A CAVE EXPLORATION

Contact Information:
Proyecto Sierra Mazateca Corporation
711 North Broadway Street
Seymour, IN  47274
email:  info@proyectosierramazateca.org
c/o Tony & Marion Akers