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Programs and Projects

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Community Based Ecological Techniques in the Valley of Mexico

Lead Agency

  • Fondo Pro Cuenca Valle de Bravo A.C. (Non-profit Fundfor the Bravo Basin Valley)
Private non-profit organization that promotes actions to resvitalize and conserve the region through the financial support of projects that preserve forests and streams, while permitting the well being of the region’s inhabitants

Country/Region

Mexico

Objectives

Starting in 2009, the plan aims to meet the needs of 600 families a year during a time period of 10 years to cover a total of six thousand families in 200 communities that do not currently have access to basic utility services, by decreasing water pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases, as well as improving the quality of life of the families in the basin environment

The specific objectives are:
  • Through our work teams offer specialized attention to the women of the zone on the management of sustainable technologies that would improve their life conditions (Ecotechnics)
  • Train the inhabitants of the zone for the generation of ecotechnic activities
  • Offer educational programs focused on the environment to generate a culture of sustainability in the inhabitants of the region

Description of the Project to be Donated

Ecotechnics is a minimum rural infrastructure especially designed to decrease the environmentally degredating activities carried out in forests and natural water tributaries. In this manner deforestation and the pollution of water resources are avoided. With the use of a simple technology, Ecotechnics provide the inhabitants of remote zones access to basic utility services that elevate their quality of life in conjunction with their respect for the environment.

This Project is comprised of 5 concrete actions:
  • Training and setting up backyard vegetable gardens for the production of organic vegetables for domestic consumption
  • Installation of energy saving Lorena stoves that burn firewood. Lorena stoves made from mud and sand decrease the domestic consumption of wood by 80% and also have a chimney to direct smoke out of the home
  • Installation of water sinks to wash clothes, thus avoiding clothes washing directly in streams and saving the enormous energy effort currently expended in carrying water
  • Installation of cisterns to store rain water
  • Installation of ecological dry sanitation models

This Project was initiated in 2004, and as of the mid-point of 2008 it has benefited 876 families from 42 communities through the construction of 3,254 ecotechnic activities:
  • 845 vegetable gardens
  • 770 fireboxes that are wood energy savers
  • 770 water sinks
  • 745 sanitation models
  • 174 harvestings of rain water

Beneficiaries

The Municipalities of Valle de Bravo, Amanalco and Donato Guerra in the State of Mexico
  • Valle de Bravo. Municipality in the State of Mexico Population: 52,902 inhabitants
    Altitude: 2,200 meters over sea level
    Economic Activities: Tourism, Agriculture, and Ranching
  • Amanalco. Located in the region of Valle de Bravo
    Population: 20,343 inhabitants
    Altitude: 2,320 meters over sea level
    Economic Activity: Agriculture
  • Donato Guerra. Located in the region of Valle de Bravo
    Population: 28.006 inhabitants
    Altitude: 2,200 meters over sea level
    Economic Activities: Mining and Tourism