Sustainable Development

Ecotourism is one of the best alternatives to foster sustainable development in rural communities. Sendero Mexico is the pioneer in ecotourism in the State of Sinaloa, Mexico. Starting in 1999, Sendero Mexico has participated in the development of a high profile eco-tourism projects in the Sierra Madre Occidental in coordination with the Mexican federal government, Non Government Organizations (NGO’s) that include Pronatura Noroeste and Unidos Para la Conservacion: the Tufted Jay Preserve. Now Sendero Mexico has been invited by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) to develop new ecotourism routes in the Meseta de Cacaxtla natural protected area as a model of sustainable development for the rural communities within the 126,000 acres of the reserve.

The tourist-based economic sustainable development in which Sendero Mexico involved is of vital importance to these communities in order to generate occupational alternatives to the logging based economies and the adverse conditions of the land that allows only for poor subsistence farming.

Sendero Mexico seeks to contribute in the economic sustainable development of the inhabitants, participate with NGO’s and government agencies in the preservation of their natural environments and to promote the natural and cultural treasures of Mexico.

• In collaboration with the communities, NGO’s and federal agencies, Sendero Mexico strives to:
• Increase and diversify the income of the rural communities by creating direct jobs primarily for catering to tourists needs.
• Help improve quality of life for these populations.
• Training and induction of the inhabitants in ecotourism practices as a means of professional development.
• To rescue traditions and other valuable cultural elements.
• Preserve the flora and fauna of each region.

At present, Sendero Mexico is helping support three sustainable development projects in the state of Sinaloa: Ejido El Palmito, La Chicayota and El Pozole. Sendero Mexico has celebrated agreements of collaboration with the leaders of these communities. Your participation in our Tufted Jay Preserve Tour and Petroglyph Beach / Turtle Conservation Tours helps contribute to the cause of sustainable development in the communities.

The agreements Sendero Mexico has celebrated with the communities contributes to the conservation and promotion of large extensions of both high elevation pine and oak habitats in the Tufted Jay Preserve as well as tropical deciduous thorn forest and thorn scrub of the Meseta de Cacaxtla and within these an enormous wealth of flora and fauna including a great diversity of birds, jaguar, white tailed deer, armadillo, reptiles, amphibians.

The Communities

El Palmito

This 12,000-acre conservation easement that Sendero Mexico helped create along the famous Mazatlan Durango Highway to protect the highly endemic Tufted Jay has begun to benefit the economic, social and cultural development of the Ejido El Palmito community. The ecotourism project which now includes five comfortable cabins is contributing to the social and economic development of the community’s economy, helping them change course from logging to tourism based activities. Sendero Mexico takes groups of bird watchers to the Preserve and also provides the reservations services to the community for the use of the cabins.

La Chicayota

La Chicayota is a small community within the Meseta de Cacaxtla natural protected area where the famous Las Labradas petroglyph beach is located. The inhabitants of this small town have traditionally relied of hard subsistence farming and the extraction of “palo blanco” used in the tomato agriculture industry to guide the tomato plant. Now with the aid of the CONANP, the community has been equipped with a restaurant and visitor center to complement the museum which highlights the importance of the most important petroglyph collection in a natural setting which happens to be on their spectacular beach. Sendero Mexico is adding the important ingredient of working together to bring the benefits of ecotourists to their village within an agreement of collaboration and goodwill.

El Pozole

Within the Meseta de Cacaxtla natural protected area there is now a marine turtle conservation project that is benefiting the community and village of El Pozole. The CONANP has funded this project and invited Sendero Mexico to coordinate a three way agreement to generate a supply of ecotourists for the community together with the federal agency in charge of all of Mexicos natural proteced areas. El Pozole is also surrounded by deciduous thorn forest and thorn scrub as well as a coastal lagoon from where the inhabitants have traditionally fished for shrimp and other species. The villagers now participate in the turtle conservation initiative and run their restaurant and visitor center. Our tours are helping this community develop a sustainable economic model and generating opportunities for the professional growth.