(1) protection of 6352 HA 15689 AC in SAN fernando and soto LA marina through private conservation agreements with LOS compadres and SAN jose DE LOS leones private properties (nawca). (2)…

This $1,182,160 federal project grant awarded by the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.623) supports a range of conservation, restoration, and environmental education activities in Mexico. Key products and services delivered through this 2-year grant (award date: May 22, 2024, completion date: May 22, 2026) include:

(1) Securing private conservation agreements to protect over 15,689 acres of land in the San Fernando and Soto La Marina regions. (2) Enhancing approximately 9,503 acres of wetland habitat through sediment removal, invasive species control, and hydrological flow restoration. (3) Developing critical infrastructure and studies to support coastal ecosystem conservation, such as a topographic survey, ecotoxicology assessment, and environmental impact analyses. (4) Building local capacity for biological monitoring and environmental education campaigns in communities around the Laguna Madre region. (5) Establishing a management plan and sustainable use program for the 9,880-acre Los Compadres area.

The non-profit organization Pronatura Noreste AC is carrying out these varied conservation, restoration, and community engagement activities as the primary grant recipient.

(1) protection of 6352 HA 15689 AC in SAN fernando and soto LA marina through private conservation agreements with LOS compadres and SAN jose DE LOS leones private properties (nawca). (2) enhancement a) enhancement of (197.6 HA 487.9 AC) in LA blanca lagoon wetland in LOS compadres by cleaning (2.1 KM 1.3 miles) of a drainage channel and wetland sediments removal in (47.6 HA 117.5 AC) (nawca). B) enhancement of (109.2 HA 269.9 AC) in SAN JOS DE LOS leones ranch (soto LA marina municipality) by removal of sediments on wetlands (nawca). C) enhancement of (3,541 HA 8,746 acres) of barril lagoon system through the recovery of the hydrological flow in the intersection of the principal and LAS vacas drains by the rehabilitation of sewers (nawca). E) a campaign for the control of exotic and invasive species of plecos (hypostomus SPP and pteroglicthys SPP) in the principal and LAS vacas drainage channels through manual capture (nawca). F) three environmental impact assessment exemption for the authorization of restoration and enhancement activities and infrastructure for water flow rehabilitation (nawca). (3) infrastructure development. A) development of a topographic study for the rehabilitation of the principal and LAS vacas drains sewers to calculate the correct level to recover waterflow. B) development of an ecotoxicological study to evaluate anthropogenic pollution in water quality, sediment, and aquatic organisms of ecological-fishery importance in selected areas of the north coast of tamaulipas (nawca). C) monitoring of migratory waterfowl. Monitoring will be held at EL barril lagoon, LOS compadres, and SAN JOS DE LOS leones (nawca). D) development of studies and analysis of the environmental impact and risk necessary to ensure that coastal engineering works in the port of matamoros are carried out in strict adherence to sustainable development and guarantee the conservation of the biological and ecological processes of laguna madre (match). (4) environmental training and education a) creation and capacity building of a biological monitoring group in the community of LA capilla in the municipality of matamoros, endorsed by profepa and conanp (nawca). B) capacity building of the biological monitoring group rayadores SLM in soto LA marina (nawca). C) elaboration of an updated bird guide of waterfowl, shorebirds, and other migratory aquatic birds for the laguna madre region (nawca). D) environmental education campaigns to conscientize about the invasive exotic fish pleco in communities in the northern zone of the appflmdrb. (5) sustainable use a) management plan and UMA will be developed for LOS compadres (4,000 HA 9880 AC).