This year Salvemos al Río Laja has been working on various restoration and conservation projects.
Puerto de Nieto community and *Ejido, Loma Dimas Lands
*Ejidos are community-run areas of land that are recognized by the Mexican government.
Located in the municipality of San Miguel de Allende in Gunajuato and made up of the communities of Guanajuatito y Santas Marías with a total 40 hectares.
The Loma Dimas Lands have a rich diversity of plants and animales.
This year the following restoration and conservation actions were done:
Reforestation with native plants.
Establishment and maintenance of preexisting terraces - these help retain soils and reduce the velocity of runoff water.
Rock wall maintenance and arrangement - these help to retain soils by avoiding errosion
Removal of Spanish moss - this plant grows on several native trees and competes for light, espeicially on huizaches (sweet acacias), mezquite, and azebuches (feral olive trees).
Dam construction in streams - these create wetland zones, allow for water infiltration, and stop erosion processes.
Maintenance of individual terraces - these capture runoff water for individual plants to help with their growth and development.
Ejido Agustín Gonzalez, Predio Las Tinajas
The Ejido Agustín Gonzales is an are of 40.70 hectares within Las Tinajas. It is located at the headwaters of the municipality of San Miguel de Allende.
This year a project was undertaken to recover wetlands and restore habitats for migratory birds in the Upper Laja River sub basin.
The following conservation and restoration actions were done:
Rock walls - these help retain soils and reduce the velocity of runoff water on areas that have been eroded.
Reforestation - 5,216 trees, shrubs, and agaves were planted, among others. These will help in the regeneration of soil, infiltration of water, and presence of organisms.
Individual terraces - these capture runoff water to help individual plants with their growth and development
Rock dams - these allow for infiltration and retention of water and soil and provides water for wildlife, espeically birds, and for the cattle of community members.
Training and dissemination tours - to raise awareness of conservation and restoration actions for interested visitors, student groups, and environmental researchers.
Ditches - these capture rainwater to create a network of runoff capture that covers a large part ofe land and retains soils for future reforestation.
Gully containment - to retain soil, prevent water runoff, and prevent the formation of new gullies.
These actions for the restoration and conservation of soil and water for habitats and ecosystems benefit the ecosystem services for the inhabitants of rural communities and of the city of San Miguel de Allende.
