About SMA:
Sierra Madre Alliance Goals

In order to realize our vision of biocultural conservation of the Sierra Tarahumara, SMA pursues three overarching goals:

Biocultural Conservation

SMA’s Biocultural Conservation Program is working to establish a network of Tarahumara-proposed and managed protected areas and biocultural restoration zones. As the following report details, these two goals are often interconnected in the Sierra Tarahumara, where the battle for their basic human and indigenous rights and ability to survive depends on success in conserving and restoring their natural resources.

Indigenous Rights

SMA’s Indigenous Rights Program helps the Tarahumara majority control their communal forest resources through defense of indigenous rights to their lands, natural resources, customs and traditional knowledge.  In addition to our own work in this area, we support Tierra Nativa A.C. in defending these rights combined with community organization, institutional development, and in the defense of human rights of environmental defenders.

Community Development

SMA’s Community Development Program aims to build the autonomous community organization needed to improve the quality of lives, environment, and community in the Sierra Tarahumara. SMa achieves these goals through education, facilitating community diagnostics and planning, developing appropriate economic alternatives, and restoring traditional ways of living.