In the mountainous terrain of western Mexico, a vast network of tributaries to the Concheño, Agua Caliente and Mayo Rivers creates a lush oasis of over 2.5 million acres in the otherwise dry Sonoran Desert region. Jaguar, Mexican Wolf and America Black Bear still roam these mountains and valleys. This vast watershed of mixed forests and thorn scrub supports rare species—including many endemics—and migratory routes for birds, pollinators and bats.

Logging, poaching and cattle ranching threaten these imperiled species. Climate change exacerbates the risks of wildfires, and large-scale mineral mining concessions threaten the high-quality aquifers that communities and wildlife depend on.

Rainforest Trust and our partner, Nature and Culture International, will work to achieve formal designation of the 2,138,854-acre Cuenca del Río Mayo Natural Resources Protected Area. Once protected and combined with nearby federally protected areas, Cuenca del Río Mayo will fortify a wildlife corridor of over 4.2 million acres in the Sierra Madre Occidental for wide-roaming carnivores, endangered migratory birds and hundreds of other species.

Header photo:  Mexican Wolf, by Cynthia Kidwell

Protect Endemic Species and Ensure Large Carnivores Have Room to Roam

At the top of the food chain, the Jaguar is essential to the ecological integrity of the watershed, which lies at the northernmost reach of the wild cat’s present range. The proximity of Cuenca del Río Mayo to lands with existing federal protection, where populations of reintroduced Mexican Wolves are growing, make this region a top conservation priority for protecting the wolves’ historic range.

Over 45% of the watershed is old-growth or undisturbed forest supporting endemic species like the Endangered Thick-billed Parrot and Lilac-crowned Amazon, which are losing habitat and breeding sites and being poached for the illegal pet trade. In total, 147 species of rare animals and plants, including the Critically Endangered Mojave Desert Tortoise, rely on this terrain for their survival.

Communities Collaborate for Conservation

Specific boundaries of the proposed Protected Area will be drawn in consultation with local and Indigenous communities representing over 24,000 inhabitants. Communities will not be displaced, and residents will retain access to natural resources for traditional, sustainable use. New livelihood opportunities will come with training and equipment to monitor species and habitat health.

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Rainforest Trust conducts extensive project development and partner due diligence so that once a project is offered for public support, we have confidence it can be successful. We also work very closely with our project partners during implementation, offering assistance and monitoring progress. The nature of conservation work, however, means that projects may not progress exactly as intended and may be unable to fulfill all intended objectives. In order to respond dynamically to the needs of our partners and the realities of various landscapes and governments, Rainforest Trust must reserve the right to modify projects. We commit to honoring the intent of our donors by ensuring their funds will benefit the landscape and species identified in the project overview, and we commit to passionately pursuing the specific project objectives outlined to the maximum extent possible. Examples of variable project features include the specific partner identified, the size of the landscape protected, the protection type used, and the development of sustainability mechanisms.