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Sonia Ortiz's Profile

About Sonia Ortiz

This is how Sonia is a Changemaker:
I strive to generate jobs in rural areas. This is important to avoid migration of local inhabitants to big cities. The jobs I help create are related to bird and butterfly watching. Beside generating well-being for locals, birding- realted jobs encourage locals to preserve the environment.

The place for which Sonia feels a fondness or connection:
El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, located in the State of Tamaulipas, northeast Mexico. This wonderful area includes the northernmost cloud forest in the American continent. Home of close to 400 species of birds, many mammals, butterflies and orchids. I love the friendliness and warmth of the inhabitants, their traditions and excellent cuisine. "Nopales" (prickley pear leaves) and "langostinos" (cray fish) are among my favorite.

The change Sonia passionately wants to happen:
I would like Mexican government to support the development of birding and butterfly watching as an economic alternative for local inhabitants, thus fostering sustainable development in natural Protected areas around Mexico

Bio

Since 1997 I decided to dedicate my life to helping rural communities develop ways of living through nature tourism. After many attempts, trials and errors from which I learned, in 2003 my friend Patricia Luevano and I began a project for "sustainable development through birding" in El Cielo Biosphere Reserve. This project has been very succesful, we have trained locals as birding and butterfly watching guides, we have involved governemnt, educational institutions, private initiative, NOGs and local campesino groups.

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