SMA PROGRAMS: Biocultural CONSERVATION:
Choreachi (Pino Gordo) Community Planning Workshop

In July, 2003, the Rarámuri community of Pino Gordo and a multidisciplinary SMA/FA team conducted a community workshop to disseminate information gathered by field investigators in the area. Among the aims of this workshop were the development of a Natural Resources Management Plan for Pino Gordo’s proposed Natural Protected Area, discussion of the PACMYC projects, definition of commitments between the FA/SMA team and community promoters, and planning for a Forum/Workshop for Community Planning which was held in September, 2003.

The overarching goal of this work, as in all of our work, was training the indigenous community in participatory processes in order to develop their own projects for social and environmental improvements. This workshop was carried out in collaboration with the community’s traditional authorities. Over 140 community members attended each workshop.

The community agreed with the zoning plan proposed by the promoters, traditional authorities, and SMA/FA conservation team for the proposed Natural Protected Area and designated a pilot area to serve as a model, developed a procedure for evaluating the housing situation, and continued collecting information for the legal procedures before the Agrarian Court.