The organization is a white weapon to confront power. Although most of the ecological disasters we experience are partly the result of an overwhelming consumer culture, they also happen because of the great power held by corporations (which feed that culture). In Mexico, many environmental disasters are the consequence of the negligence of the authorities, of the companies and also of collective blindness.
The foregoing can only be reversed with education, in the case of culture, and with organization on the topic of a society capable of facing the factual interests that threaten the environment; but, at least in this country, civil society is tiny. As an example, in this nation there are some 35,000 civil society organizations while in other countries like Colombia, with less than half the inhabitants, there are up to 135,000.
Of those 35,000 civil organizations in Mexico, only a thousand are environmental, according to figures from SEMARNAT’s National Institute of Ecology. Although it may seem like a considerable following, in reality these cells have very few members, which makes them less strong. Even so, these organizations survive in a system that does not favor them and they have done so courageously, taking aim, constantly denouncing ecocides in Mexico and taking conservation action.
We present a list of organizations that, consistent with their principles, are there to shed light on the ecological issue and act to protect the environment:
Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA): formed by a group of lawyers that conducts research on the environment, documents attacks against ecologists, and makes pronouncements, directed mostly at the government, for the improvement and correct application of environmental regulations. It also applies concrete actions in threatened ecosystems and monitors sites with ecological alert.
Pronatura México: has already been promoting changes in legislation to protect the environment for 30 years. He has obtained, among other achievements, the reforestation of more than 30 million native trees in tropical forests, the total and permanent ban decree for species and subspecies of sea turtles, etc. It also has conservation activities throughout the year, in which it receives volunteers. It also makes pronouncements to the government on threats to the environment.
Natural Spaces and Sustainable Development: in addition to denouncing, this organization is focused on restoring spaces that have already been damaged by human action. It has recovered thousands of hectares of forests, jungles and wetlands in various parts of the country. Sobre desarrollo sostenible has several projects in communities, which, if you are interested, you can certainly join.
Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature: It has programs and projects for the conservation of protected areas, forests, basins, seas, and coasts. It also finances some sustainable programs and makes calls to pay for third-party projects related to the environment.
Beta Diversity: this organization, although it is independent, seeks its funds by linking up with social responsibility actions by companies. What is collected is invested in programs, designed by the organization, to recover ecosystems of (paradoxically) Protected Natural Areas. It also applies sustainability programs.
Naturalia: It has very specific conservation programs such as the rescue of the Mexican wolf, the conservation of the northern jaguar in Sonora, reforestation and sustainable development of Protected Natural Areas around the Valley of Mexico and surrounding municipalities, etc. It is a very active organization in terms of pronouncements on public policy laws or government omissions.
Mexican Organization for the Conservation of the Environment: carries out activities to improve public policies, the generation and dissemination of information, the empowerment and participation of society, and the promotion of education as a basic and fundamental tool for balanced development and durable in Mexico. It is based on two essential axes: education and the promotion of public policies.
WWF-Mexico: also known as the World Wide Fund for Nature, it is considered the world’s leading conservation organization. Born in Switzerland in 1961, this association has been working in Mexico since 1990 and has carried out actions for preservation in areas such as the Chihuahuan desert, the Gulf of California and the monarch butterfly sanctuary. She has also been a strong denouncer of the measures that, from public policies, damage the environment.
International Conservation: This international organization with actions in Mexico works directly with communities through advice and organization, for the conservation of nature. Today it has projects focused on Chiapas, particularly in the Sierra Madre and the Usumacinta River. It has a job bank in the communities, especially consulting.
Greenpeace Mexico: This international association is perhaps the most popular in the world. In addition to creative activism, he is a strong critic of anti-ecological government policies. In addition to this, it monitors omissions to the environment in this country, such as daily oil spills.
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