Caring for the land, the people, and the ocean.

Team

Sierra A Mar brings together a team of visionaries, experts, and representatives who have been instrumental in conservation and humanitarian initiatives in Mexico and around the globe. Over the past three years, the team has been advancing projects on the ground in a loosely organized collective of experts and natural resources staff, supported by the developers of Xala. In 2023 the decision was made to expand the efforts by establishing a regional alliance. (Team bios are in chronological order of when they joined Sierra A Mar, not in order of importance.)

On site

Stefanie Brendl

Co-founder, Executive Director

Stefanie has been leading conservation campaigns and projects in all corners of this planet. In the last 20 years, Stefanie has had considerable success in the shark conservation arena as founder and executive director of a shark conservation organization called Shark Allies and lead advocate of legislative campaigns in the Pacific Islands, USA, and Europe. She has also been part of many nature documentary productions. Here in the CostAlegre, Stefanie has been one of the key instigators of the Sierra A Mar project and is overseeing all elements of the organization building and strategy planning. As the project leader, she works closely with the staff and community experts who are dedicating their time to implement work on the ground.

Alejandro Betancourth

Natural Resources Expert, Project Managment

Alejandro is a native of Colombia, with many years of working on conservation projects in Mexico. He is a sociologist, with a master of science in natural resources and rural development, and has experience in the implementation of ecological restoration projects in mangroves. He is also an expert in multisectoral participatory planning processes for the strengthening of interinstitutional governance of natural resources, disaster risk reduction, and the design of integrated landscape management strategies with a focus on climate change adaptation.

Alejandro is focusing on community consultation in the Campo Acosta, Jose Maria Morelos, and Punta Perula regions for the establishment of lagoon restoration projects and social programs, and is coordinating collaborative programs with municipal and sub-national government agencies of the state of Jalisco

Armando Calderon

Natural Resources Expert, Project Management

Armando was born and raised in Mexico, and has participated in several conservation, restoration and fisheries resource management projects in marine protected areas in Nayarit, such as Islas Marias and Isla Isabel. He is a biologist with a master's degree in marine sciences and has experience in issues related to fisheries, coral reef monitoring and restoration processes in marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Armando focuses on consulting with coastal fishing cooperatives to understand their needs and design strategies to improve fishing practices, establish fishing refuges and protected areas. He is conducting comprehensive studies of the reefs and biodiversity of the coast and also leads our reforestation efforts and the Tampiciran project.

Jurgen Kaiser Breton

Director of Communications and Public Relations

Jurgen is a native Colombian, residing in Careyes for the past 6 years. He is a Communications Specialist, Senior Project Manager & Curious Human with a history of crafting and executing original & successful strategies across various domains including corporate communications, nature advocacy, political campaigns, crisis management, reputational enhancement, and public relations with a particular focus on LATAM and the US Hispanic market. His skill set spans specialized research, technical writing & intelligence reports plus a thorough understanding of Agile, Lean, & Design Thinking methodologies. Naturally curious, Jurgen is deeply committed to continual learning and personal development. He excels in endurance sports and is passionate about bringing nature experiences into people’s lives. We are very fortunate to have such a well-rounded professional as part of our team.

Legacy Works Group

Martin Goebbel, James Honey, and Pablo Castro of LegacyWorks Group have been assisting in the incubation of Sierra A Mar and advising the organization in building programs that focus on community-based ridge-to-reef conservation.

LWG enables people and organizations to embrace, activate, and innovate the practices of conservation, sustainability, and regeneration along the Gulf of California and Mexico’s Pacific Coast. They focus on building long-term, trust-based relationships that engage and grow purposeful partnerships that create tangible change for nature, culture, and community. They have decades of experience in creating protected areas and community-organized conservation projects in the US and Mexico.

Advisors and Fiscal Sponsor

Ari Nieto Vélez

Advisor, Development and Vision Turquesa

Ari Nieto Velez, an architect by profession, has played a crucial role in the development of real estate projects in Costalegre. A resident of the area since 1996, his focus extends beyond architecture, as he has also been involved in the conception and management of social projects in the region. In 2010, after Hurricane Jova, he participated in the construction of the perimeter embankment for the communities of Emiliano Zapata and Francisco Villa, a vital project to prevent flooding caused by the Cuixmala River. In 2016, following Hurricane Patricia, he contributed to the creation of the town of Chamela, participating in the development of the town's entire infrastructure, including the construction of 52 houses that were donated to local fishermen and residents. Ari is taking the lead in the development of the Vision Turquesa plan, an idea that has been taking shape in his mind for many years, and that embodies his commitment to the conscientious development of Costalegre.

Experts & Advisors

Román Alejandro Canul Turriza

Roman has a PhD in Civil Engineering, Hydraulics - Coastal Engineering from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. He has been helping us with surveying several of the lagoons along the coast to design appropriate restoration plans. His modeling based on historical and present data helps us determine the predicted outcomes of any intervention. This is critical research because the estuary lagoons are complex systems that are influenced by water flow from rivers, rainfall, and runoff and from the seasonal connectivity to the sea. Human impact and resource use also play an important role. The sophisticated modeling systems he has devised give us the most advanced method to design restoration and management options.

Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza

FMCN is one of the most effective environmental funds in Latin America. It is a civil society organization that collaborates with different sectors to preserve the natural heritage of Mexico. They work hand in hand with all sectors to ensure a sustainable future in which we can all continue to enjoy the natural capital that surrounds and sustains us.

Fondo Noroeste Y Occidente

Fonnor is a civil association that channels resources, aligns efforts, and strengthens capacities for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the northwest and west of Mexico.

Many more advisors have been contributing informally over the past years. The governance structure is quickly expanding, but we are proceeding with great care to curate an alliance that moves with intention, based on the best knowledge and wisdom available.

Legal Framework

Sierra A Mar is legally established as a project under LegacyWorks Group, a US-based non-profit that serves as a fiscal sponsor until a stand-alone 501(c)3 entity is formed. Legacy Philanthropy Works is a nonprofit 501c3 public benefit corporation in the USA, formed in 2014 for charitable purposes. In Mexico, LWG is a legally recognized Asociación Civil, soon to be a Donataria Autorizada.

Donations are tax-deductible and can be made here: legacyworksgroup.com/donate

Sierra A Mar will partner with many organizations and agencies but will be completely autonomous in its allocation of funds and budgeting.

Events, workshops, and activities will be organized in collaboration with many local entities. However, these activities do not represent formalized partnerships. Sierra A Mar is not an extension or creation of other foundations or programs that have been in existence in this region and will operate based on the mandate set by board members, supporters, and advisors.