A Vision of a Regenerative Future for Costa Alegre
An evening of presentations and discussion, presented by Sierra A Mar, Careyes Foundation, and experts of the region.
Led by actor and humanitarian Richard Gere, this initiative brings together a team of visionaries, experts, and representatives who have been instrumental in conservation and humanitarian initiatives in Mexico and around the globe.
As so many precious natural places in Mexico have been destroyed by development there is a real urgency for us to prevent this trajectory from occurring on our coast. Business as usual is no longer acceptable, and the road ahead needs significant change. In Costa Alegre, we have a chance to choose a different path. One that builds a future that ensures economic prosperity and security for the people living in the region while being deeply anchored in the protection and restoration of ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources.
The research and development needed to realize this vision has taken shape over the past several years and has blossomed into a multi-faceted mission plan that inspires and challenges us all to shape this new future, by taking effective and broad action NOW.
Join us for an evening of sharing and discussion as we introduce this vision's core concepts and specific milestones.
August 17, 2024, at the Careyes Village Central Plaza.
Program:
The foundation teams will be at the plaza at 19:30 to welcome early guests.
8:00 - 8:15 Arrival, get situated inside the movie theater
8:15 - 8:20 Welcome, opening remarks, and introductory video
8:20 - 8:55 Speaker presentations (see details below)
8:55 - 9:30 Q&A outside Courtyard
The Speakers, Sierra A Mar, and Careyes Foundation team members will be available to speak to guests one-on-one. We invite all to give us their ideas and input and will be happy to plan future meetings with the team for in-depth discussions.
Presentation Speakers:
Martin Goebel: Martin brings his considerable experience of 30+ Years in Mexico helping establish and manage some of the most prominent conservation organizations in the country. He was the Director for TNC, CI, WWF Mexico, and is the Founder and President of Sustainable Northwest as well as Trustee and Co-Founder of Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza and Meso-American Reef Fund. He is the Mexico Director for Legacy Works Group, who is one of the main advisors for the incubation of Sierra A Mar, as well as many community-based regenerative projects in Baja and the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Martin will talk about the broader perspective of Ridge to Reef and regenerative planning in Mexico.
Ari Nieto: Ari Nieto Velez, an architect by profession, has played a crucial role in the development of real estate projects in Costalegre. A resident of the area since 1996, his focus extends beyond architecture, as he has also been involved in the conception and management of social projects in the region. In 2010, after Hurricane Jova, he participated in the construction of the perimeter embankment for the communities of Emiliano Zapata and Francisco Villa, a vital project to prevent flooding caused by the Cuixmala River. In 2016, following Hurricane Patricia, he contributed to the creation of the town of Chamela, participating in the development of the town's entire infrastructure, including the construction of 52 houses that were donated to local fishermen and residents. His commitment to social development and environmental sustainability reflects his dedication to improving the quality of life in the communities where he works.
Stefanie Brendl/ Sierra A Mar. Stefanie has been leading conservation campaigns and projects in all corners of this planet. In the last 20 years, Stefanie has had considerable success in the shark conservation arena as founder and executive director of a shark conservation organization and lead advocate of legislative campaigns in the Pacific Islands, USA, and Europe. She has also been part of many nature documentary productions. Here in the CostAlegre, Stefanie has been one of the key instigators of the Sierra A Mar project and is overseeing all elements of the organization building and strategy planning. She will be presenting a brief overview of the core projects to date.
Caitlin Chew/ Careyes Foundation: Caitlin has 12 years of experience working in environmental education and conservation efforts. She arrived in Mexico in 2014 and collaborated with the National Protected Areas Commission and Fondo Noroeste to create and implement environmental education programs in rural communities in Nayarit, before arriving in Careyes in early 2022. She runs the Environmental Education Program of the Careyes Foundation in 12 local communities, focusing on planting the seeds for the next generation of leaders for sustainability. Caitlin will be presenting an overview of the foundation’s work in the communities.