Save one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world

Monte Mojino Reserve is located within the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range in northern Mexico. Since 2004, Rainforest Trust has been working to expand this reserve through strategic land acquisitions in partnership with Naturaleza y Cultura Sierra Madre. The primary habitat is tropical dry forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, only 5 percent of which is legally protected.

Rainforest Trust and our local partner have together purchased 5,664 acres of land to expand the Monte Mojino Reserve to its current size of 17,960 acres. In Mexico, properties within federally protected areas can still be privately owned and protections can be weak. These reserved lands are now safe from charcoal production, mining, cattle ranching and other extractive activities that were previously permitted.

This unique and biodiverse region contains both desert and tropical species. The Goode’s Thornscrub Tortoise (VU) was discovered on the reserve in 2016. The Endangered Lilac-crowned Amazon, a cavity nester, also calls the reserve landscape home, since its mature forest and large trees offer some of the best habitat in Mexico for cavity-nesting species.

Save rare species from land conversion and theft

Monte Mojino Reserve provides habitat to one of the rarest cycad species, Virgin’s Palm (EN), with an estimated global population of only 500-1,000 individuals, all in northwestern Mexico. It is threatened by land conversion and plant extraction for gardens and collections. The Lilac-crowned Amazon faces dual threats of habitat loss and illegal poaching for the wildlife trade. Wildfires, exacerbated by climate change, pose a great threat to resident species as well.

Join our sustainable community solution

Once purchased, the 1,299-acre property will be certified as a voluntarily protected area according to Mexican law. Residents of the community will be hired to work on projects within the reserve or to guide visiting researchers. Local residents also participate in our partner’s environmental education program for children.