LA PASTORA

"La Pastora"

The municipality of Guadalupe, is located on Nuevo Leon surrounded by the municipalities of San Nicolas de los Garza and Apodaca at the north; at the south by the municipality of Juarez, and in the the west by Monterrey and it is fully integrated into the metropolitan area part of the great urban city of Nuevo Leon.



This town sits on an aquifer, which provides an excellent place for the trees to get their water using their roots at a big depth, and it also provides great lush of vegetation, where we are able to see in many houses around, their yards with walnuts, avocados and a another mesquites and some other fruit-trees that gives pomegranates, persimmons, oranges, lemons, (and others) and among all of this characteristics, there’s the most important: is the place that sets the needed conditions for a forest to grow and remained for a long long period of time developing flora and fauna native of the state of Nuevo Leon and this is the case of La Pastora Forest.

In 1598, settlers arrived in to the city of Monterrey (as it was known at that time “Nuestra señora de Monterrey”) and founded the estate in the metropolitan city with the name "La Pastora". Over the years, La Pastora was officially opened in July of 1985 making the old hacienda a zoo. Little by little since that moment, it took different animal species and flora and together they formed and give life to this place that is one of the most complete zoo in northern Mexico.

With the time and after renovations and other factors, the park "La Pastora" has four main areas which are: the typical town, the zoo, the lake and the forest zone. The zoo shows native animals and flora species that include an exotic wildlife, providing visitors to appreciate these animals that have a different habitat of the area. The animal park management has been concerned about the species that they have and they’ve been trying to present a similar scenario to that of their habitat, with vegetation and soil according to the mode of life of each animal. In addition to every place you can find scientific information and life of each species, as well as its family tree, evolution and development of life.

It also a marine aquarium, and the main attraction is that the area has over three hundred species of fauna. This Zoo is seen to be one of the most complete where you can find from a simple bird habitat, such as ostrich, peacock blue, owl, etc in the same way as species of reptiles such as lizards, crocodiles Mexican boa, scorpion , etc., and mammals such as spider monkeys, puma, ocelot, Bengal tiger, buffalo, hippopotamus, giraffes, and so on.

In March 2009, Greenpeace Monterrey Local Group declared “La Pastora Ecological Park” as a Protected Area, protecting its scenic beauty, its scientific, educational, recreational, historical value, and the existence of flora and fauna native from the development of tourism, or other similar reasons of general interest.

A forest constitute one of the most important aspects of the Earth Biosphere. They can be found in all the regions capable of supporting the growth of trees, Russia is country with the most extense area of forests (3.952.025 thousand of hectares) while in Mexico, the zone of forests reach up to 64.5 millions of hectares representing the 33% national territory.

As we already explained, the moderate forests are the ecosystem of major coverage in Mexico and here at “la Pastora” we can idenfity the following flora and fauna characteristic of this place:

Fauna: The diversity of animals in the moderate forests is enormous. Beginning for the big mammals, stands out the black bear that can be found in this are and that is distributed in the forests and semiarid zones of the north; the golden eagle, our national symbol and it has the richest birds (341 species). As mammals we can find the Mexican Wolf (only it exists in captivity), coyotes, squirrels, gray fox, badger, deer white tail, racoon, bats, moles, puercoespín, guajolote wild and as reptiles: small lizards, snake mousetrap, ranera and as insects the beetle and butterfly chirrionera.


Flora: we can find poplars, Royal Poinciana, laurel, common Privet, Peruvian Pepper (anacahuita), Old Fustic and others, are few examples of the extense fauna that we can see in the forest La Pastora, some of this plants only can be seen in this forest.


However, despite all these features that we previoulsy explained, it’s been established that the Government of Nuevo Leon is going to destroy it and instead of it, it will create a stadium for the local team Rayados, and that have caused arguments for and against that we will later discuss.

Arguments in Favor and Analysis

The construction of the new stadium in La Pastora has raised a large amount of arguments in both, supporting and against arguments for the built of an stadium in that location. Although arguments in favor of the stadium have shown themselves appealing for many people, there are a lot of arguments that make us doubt about the selected location for the stadium.

It’s been said and confirm that at least 2,300 new jobs will be produced by the construction of the stadium. After its construction, 1,000 more employments will be created for the maintenance, and functioning of the stadium and the creation of these new jobs will help the economies of families of Guadalupe and neighboring municipalities, by constrast we say that it do not matter where the stadium is constructed employments will be made anyway but it is a good argument in favor.

The construction of the stadium can also increase the tourism and will help the economy of the state and of the municipality of Guadalupe and will certainly improve the tourism of our city. A problem that will raise later with the construction in this stadium in La Pastora is that the streets around it (Paseo de las Americas, Exposición, Eloy Cavazos, Tolteca, among others) haven’t got the capacity to allow the expected flow of cars, as shown in Figure 1.1.

Another aspect to analyze is the area for the parking lot in the stadium where it’s been planned to plant hundreds of trees. Along with the construction of the stadium there is going to be developed a park that will become a place where families can spend time together so it is good to support familiar bonding, but at the same time this has already been an argument for the construction of the Parque Fundidora, the Paseo Santa Lucía, and the Mirador del Obispado.

This great park, apart from becoming an icon of the state of Nuevo León in international scale, is expected to inspire an ecology culture in the population. But, in words of biologist Antonio Hernández, “there is nothing less ecologic than destroying a natural forest”.

And what has the government said about the construction of the stadium in the only natural park in Guadalupe? The government has supported the project of the stadium giving to the company FEMSA-Heineken 25 hectare of La Pastora (which has a total area of 140 hectare, Figure 1.2). “We are only enabling the usage of the land. The responsible of the construction of the stadium are the promoters (FEMSA-Heineken) and the construction company (Maiz Mier), we have little saying in the matter” was expressed last year by the Governor of Nuevo Leon, Rodrigo Medina de la Cruz.

Although the government claims the stadium is not their responsibility, many brows have been raised by the acknowledgement of the constructer company Maiz Mier. This company is already known for the construction of the Torre Administrativa, the Paseo Santa Lucia, and other public and private constructions. In these past constructions, there have been rumors about hidden arrangements between this company and Medina’s predecessor, Natividad Parás.


**. Figures 1.13 and 1.14 shows how the “La Pastora zone forest” the comparison between how the zone looks like and how it will look with the construction of the stadium.

Arguments against the destruction of “La Pastora”

As we have seen, La Pastora is the last natural forest of Monterrey, the habitat of different species of plants, animals and insects and we must make conscious that with the destruction of this forest, the population of this species will decrease instantly and all of the ecosystems of the forest in Nuevo Leon will crash eventually.

This forest represents an important part of the chain of living cycle of Monterrey, this means, most of the plants that grow everyday in the city and other parts of Nuevo Leon, are connected to the forest.

So, for what do the forests help us in the city? That is almost to say, what does the environmental services give us? We must think about it because first, they are producers of the oxygen that we breathe, the give the seeds needed in order to make other plants to grow, they caught the dampness of the environment. So, is like a chain, this seeds are transported by the numerous birds that live in this habitat, the major treat in the destruction of the forest will be that the number of birds species will decrease, then the population of new plants also, then the animas that eat from those plants will need another source of food and all of this may cause to this animals visit frequently the city, now with the lack of tolerance to the animals in Monterrey, the people will eradicate them to a dangerous numbers.

Another main reason with the destruction of this habitat is that they are the important regulators of the quality of the air of the city and they diminish the global warming, the lack of trees in the city, may cause the lack of purification of the air from the city, without it the pollution in the air will increase making a big treat to the people in the city, the population in the hospitals and clinics due to pulmonary diseases will increase making the state lose money.
Some other valuable service that we receive from “La Pastora forest is the recreation that it offers. Due to its agreeable climate and his scenic beauty, million of “regios” enjoy to go to the forests on weekends to play sports, explore and liberate the tensions of the urban life.

In La Pastora there’s reported 107 species of important fauna which include species of special protection, threatened and endangered species like the yellow-headed parrot*. In addition, the forest is home to the last living river in the city, the river “La Silla”, which is surrounded by oaks and junipers integrating a living ecosystem and that is born in the hill of La Silla and surrounds it at the northwest.


Finally and to conclude, we have shown the importance of the forest “La Pastora” in our city of Monterrey, however, the government already gave the permission for starting the construction of the stadium has been made and it will need an investment of 2,000 million pesos (mdp), and will have a capacity for more than 50,000 spectators although there were many arguments for and against, in October there will begin the destruction of 18 hectares, which will include the rescue of the flora and fauna and the plantation of 2,000 trees in the zone where there will be a parking for 3,000 cars. Once initiated the work, they are estimated 30 months for his conclusion.

Bibliography:

http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/nuevoleon/municipios/19026a.htm
http://www.paraconocer.com/la-pastora/
http://www.obrasweb.mx/construccion/2011/09/23/el-nuevo-estadio-de-monterrey-se-mancha-de-verde
http://www.eambiental.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=19&id=105&Itemid=202
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosque
http://www.eambiental.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=19&id=105&Itemid=202

ECONEWS: Green Bites- Earth by numbers

How many species ? 
A new study published in PLoS Biology estimates the total number of species on Earth at 8.7 million, with 6.5 million on land and 2.2 million in the ocean. In spite of 250 years of classification and 1.2 million species catalogued, the results suggest that 86% of the land species and 91% in the ocean await description. In 1979, when a beetle expert at the Smithsonian went into the jungles of Panama, rolled some sheeting and sprayed several trees with pesticide, he discovered the bodies of over 1,100 new beetles under a single tree.
How much species loss ?
We are causing the extinction of species at between 100 and 1,000 times the natural background rate. The current estimate is that we could cause the extinction of 9%-18% of all species by 2050, representing up to 1.5 million species.
How many people?
The seven billionth person may be born on October 31st, so expect a lot of media coverage. It took five million years to reach one billion; 123 years to reach two billion; 47 years to reach four billion; 25 years to reach six billion; and 12 years to hit 7 billion. We are increasing by 77 million a year, but the birth rate is falling as women become educated and there is more widespread contraception. With so many young people, the growth will continue until around 2050 when it will hopefully stabilize at 9-10 billion and begin to fall. If every couple had just one child, it would fall to two billion in 100 years.
How many cars, trucks and buses?
The 4-wheeled population passed one billion last year. It took 85 years to hit a quarter billion; 16 years to reach half a billion, and 24 years to double to one billion. Some predict that it could reach 2.5 billion by 2050. If every country adopted sustainable mobility policies and designs that prioritized walking, cycling, transit, rail, car-sharing and ridesharing, it could fall to half a billion, with one vehicle for every six or seven households.
How much CO₂?
The current level is 392 parts per million, compared to 285 ppm before the industrial age. Lacking global action, we are on a seemingly relentless track to 450 ppm, and then more. Half the surplus CO₂ is entering the oceans, making them more acidic. The other half is entering the atmosphere, where the average molecule released by a car or truck today will trap heat for 100 years.

"The forest La Pastora"; a great habitat for numerous kinds of species is in great danger,

“Parque Ecológico La Pastora”

The municipality of Guadalupe, is located on the north by the municipalities of San Nicolas de los Garza and Apodaca; on the south by the municipality of Juarez, on the west by Monterrey and in the by Apodaca is a municipality and which is fully integrated into the metropolitan area part of the great urban sprawl of the capital of Nuevo Leon.

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This town sits on an aquifer, which provides a place where the trees get their water with their roots at depth, and so as you can see lush vegetation, houses in their yards have walnuts, avocados and a another mesquite and some fruits such as pomegranates, persimmons, oranges, lemons, etc.. and in this town where the Parque Ecologico La Pastora.

In 1598, settlers arrived in the city of Our Lady of Monterrey, was at the time when they founded the estate in the metropolitan city with the name "La Pastora". Over the years, was officially opened in July 1985 making the old hacienda in the zoo. Gradually took on different animal species and flora with which they formed to give life and form to this place that is one of the most complete zoo in northern Mexico.

After renovations and other factors, the park "La Pastora" has four main areas are: typical town, the zoo, the lake and a forest zone. The zoo houses animals native fauna species and exotic wildlife, providing visitors to appreciate these animals that have a different habitat of the area. The animal park management has been concerned about the species present a similar scenario to that of their habitat, which is why each has adapted exhibitors with vegetation and soil according to the mode of life of each animal. In addition to every place you can find scientific information and life of each species, as well as your family tree, evolution and development of life.

La Pastora as an ecological source.

137 acres rescued Río La Silla margins to create a development with new stadium 

Monterrey, Mexico (September 9, 2008) .- To take advantage of the banks of the Rio La Silla as a lung of the city and a recreational area, the State Government and private initiative announced yesterday the plan to create the Parque Ecológico La Pastora. 
In the town of Guadalupe, from El Realito to the Park River La Silla, will enable the new route along 7 kilometers, covering some 137 hectares. 
The project plans to provide tourism infrastructure and services to the entire area with walkways, lighting system, parking lots and shopping area. 

It also plans to build dams to the use of boats, pedestrian crossings and a botanical garden, in addition to remodel the zoo of La Pastora. 
According to official information, the new parks will integrate ecological zone La Pastora, Toltec and Rio La Silla, and will be declared as a protected area by the State, by a decree be issued. 
In announcing the ecological park did not specify what the investment required in the work. 

The development of this project will be headed by a board chaired by José Antonio Fernández, director general of Grupo Femsa, a company that will be part of the body along with other institutions in the private sector, academia, civil society and government that are not yet defined. 
Hours before it was announced the construction of new stadium Rayados de Monterrey on one side of Parque La Pastora, the green area plan was presented by Governor Natividad Gonzalez Paras, by Fernandez and the Mayor of Guadalupe, Cristina Diaz. 

Gonzalez Paras admitted that the area of ​​La Pastora has been abandoned for several years, but not talked about the responsibility of the government in this situation. 

He noted that with the declaration of protected natural area, now there will be greater attention. 

"We proceeded to issue decrees in order to make this eco-park in a protected area," he said, "to give permanence and sense of direction to give everything here is done, you build and develop." 

He explained that a committee be formed with the CNA, SEMARNAT, and Conafor Profepa, so that the new ecological park is also a place where they can teach ecology. 
Fernandez said that one of the objectives of the course will achieve its self-sustainability. 
"It's going to take steps, obviously, the early stages we are going to start these days, but he has since the creation of a master plan that involves the dreams within dreams 20 years and within two years," explained the businessman. 

"We have to start cleaning the river, the water and go little by little that the park is self-sustaining, because this park is for everyone and should be maintained and protected by all." 
The director of Parks and Wildlife of the State, Rene Hernandez, said that for this project the state will provide 70 hectares of green area, the Federation put 56 more, and the rest will yield the municipality of Guadalupe.

While not an approximate investment or definitive outline of the project, State and federal authorities and the municipality of Guadalupe announced the creation of the Ecological Park La Pastora, with which it seeks to revive and protect the green areas of the sector.

Prior to the announcement of the construction of a new football stadium in the area, which already has critics for allegedly affect the environment, Gov. Natividad Gonzalez Paras said that the new space is intended to reconciliation and good relations between man and nature.

"It is a privileged ecological zoo, a walk through the coexistence in nature, is an ecological reserve of the biosphere and the forests that is within a city."

The president also elaborated on preserving the flora and fauna, provision is enabling seven miles of the river La Silla "not to contaminate both" as an attraction of the park.

"It is a place of recreation for our children that includes a living river that includes (sic) backside, fish, waterfowl, dams," he said noting that just over 78 hectares which includes La Pastora will be strengthened with about 140 hectares more than other parks in that municipality, in order to make a comprehensive project.

The urban ecological park as well have called it, was carried out with public funds, the State, the Federation and the municipalities, and private-companies such as FEMSA.

And although there is no official start date for major adjustments, it was explained that soon will begin cleanup work in the area, which long remained without maintenance.

To prevent the project may suffer threats such as those now present near La Pastora, not only will draw on the collaboration of volunteers for their care, but also provides total shielding of the site through its declaration as a protected natural area .

"We proceeded to issue decrees in order to make this eco-park in a protected area in order to give permanence and sense of direction to give everything here is done, you build and develop," he said Natividad Gonzalez Paras.

According to José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, Chairman of the Board of Parque La Pastora, this place will be part of an integrated urban development project in this area of ​​Guadalupe.

In this also includes the new stadium of football club Monterrey, for which the roads surrounding areas should also undergo a series of adaptations, that, in order to avoid further conflicts in the vehicle cargo area.

Integrate patronage
During the presentation of La Pastora Ecological Park also announced that the board of trustees responsible for the proper development of the project, involving the private initiative of Nuevo León, universities and employers in the locality.

The goal of this organization is to achieve sustainability of natural and recreational new space, which they hope can transcend beyond any government administration.

"We have to go little by little that the park is self-sustaining because it is a park that belongs to everyone, and should be maintained and protected by all," said the CEO of Grupo FEMSA, José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, who will serve as chairman of The Ecological Park Board Pastora.
"This is going to perform including universities, experts, environmentalists, and all the authorities (...) Forest Magic, Magic Forest representatives have also offered their support and are willing to cooperate to make it a comprehensive action "he said.

Flora and fauna.

It also has trains, restaurants, snacks, people's theater, galleries, garden art, parking, security and user services, first aid, rental of wheelchairs and strollers, all within the same park so called " The typical village "(it is named for its setting, where visitors can feel removed from the present time to dive into another bygone era) as are the rooms of geology, marine and aquarium, and the main attraction The guide for the habitat of animals that also has an aviary and snake, (the area has over three hundred species of fauna)
This Zoo is seen to be of the most complete as it can find from a simple bird habitat, such as ostrich, peacock blue, owl, etc.. In the same way that species of reptiles such as lizards, crocodiles Mexican boa, scorpion , etc., and mammals such as spider monkeys, puma, ocelot, Bengal tiger, buffalo, hippopotamus, giraffes, and so on.

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<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Fauna: Animals such as black bears, cougar, peccaries, red fox, golden eagle, White tailed deer, are in great danger of losing their habitat due to the new stadium that is planned in the forest La Pastora, fortunately none of this species are in danger of disappear from the earth but in the city of Monterrey they are.

Flora: Poplars, Royal Poinciana, laurel, Common Privet, Peruvian Pepper (anacahuita), Old Fustic and others, are few examples of the extense fauna that we can see in the forest La Pastora, some of this plants only can be seen in this forest.

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In March 2009 Greenpeace Monterrey Local Group decreed Ecological Park as Protected Area Pastora, is protected by its scenic beauty, its scientific, educational, recreational, historical value, the existence of flora and fauna he  r aptitude for the development of tourism, or other similar reasons of general interest.
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However, despite all these features that La Pastora have, it has been established that the Government of Nuevo Leon is going to destroy it and instead it will create a stadium for the team Rayados, and that’s have emerged arguments for and against.

Arguments in Favor and Analysis

The construction of the new stadium in La Pastora has raised a large amount of arguments in both, supporting and against, the built in that location. Although arguments in favor of the stadium have shown themselves appealing for many people, there are a lot of arguments that make us doubt about the selected location for the stadium.

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At least 2,300 new jobs will be produced by the construction of the stadium. After its construction, 1,000 more employments will be created for the maintenance, and functioning of the stadium. The creation of new jobs will help the economies of families of Guadalupe and neighboring municipalities, but no matter where the stadium is constructed employments will be made.

The construction of the stadium will also increase the tourism and will help the economy of the state and of the municipality of Guadalupe. The creation of the stadium will certainly improve the tourism of our city. A problem with the construction in this stadium in La Pastora is that the streets around it (Paseo de las Americas, Exposición, Eloy Cavazos, Tolteca, among others) haven’t got the capacity to allow the expected flow of cars, as shown in Figure 1.1.

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->In the area for the parking lot, there will be planted hundreds of trees. Along with the construction of the stadium there is going to be developed a park that will become a place where families can spend time together. It is good to support familiar bonding, but this has already been an argument for the construction of the Parque Fundidora, the Paseo Santa Lucía, and the Mirador del Obispado.

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->This great park, apart from becoming an icon of the state of Nuevo León in international scale, is expected to inspire an ecology culture in the population. But, in words of biologist Antonio Hernández, “there is nothing less ecologic than destroying a forest”

.

But what has the government said about the construction of the stadium in the only natural park in Guadalupe? The government has supported the project of the stadium giving to the company FEMSA-Heineken 25 hectare of La Pastora (which has a total area of 140 hectare, Figure 1.2). “We are only enabling the usage of the land. The responsible of the construction of the stadium are the promoters (FEMSA-Heineken) and the construction company (Maiz Mier), we have little saying in the matter” was expressed last year by the Governor of Nuevo Leon, Rodrigo Medina de la Cruz.

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Although the government claims the stadium is not their responsibility, many brows have been raised by the acknowledgement of the constructer company Maiz Mier.  This company is already known for the construction of the Torre Administrativa, the Paseo Santa Lucia, and other public and private constructions. In these past constructions, there have been rumors about hidden arrangements between this company and Medina’s predecessor, Natividad Parás.

Arguments against the destruction of “La Pastora”

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->As we have seen, La Pastora is the last natural forest of Monterrey, the habitat of different species of plants, animals and insects, with the destruction of this forest, the population of this species will decrease instantly and all of the ecosystems of the forest in Nuevo Leon will crash eventually.

Another main reason is that this forest represents an important part of the chain of living cycle of Monterrey, this means, most of the plants that grow everyday in the city and other parts of Nuevo Leon, are connected to the forest.

This forest gives the seeds in order to make other plants to grow. So, is like a chain, this seeds are transported by the numerous birds that live in this habitat, the major treat in the destruction of the forest will be that the number of birds species will decrease, then the population of new plants also, then the animas that eat from those plants will need another source of food and all of this may cause to this animals visit frequently the city, now with the lack of tolerance to the animals in Monterrey, the people will eradicate them to a dangerous numbers.

Another big problem with the destruction of this habitat is the lack of trees in the city, this forest purify the air from the city, without it the pollution in the air will increase making a big treat to the people in the city, the population in the hospitals and clinics due to pulmonary diseases will increase making the state lose money.

The work, led by the private company FEMSA, with the consent of the State governmentand the municipality of Guadalupe, consists of 24.5 hectares and is contemplated in an area adjacent to protected natural area (PNA) New Ecological Park La Pastora.

In the forest of La Pastora reported 107 species of fauna among which include species of special protection, threatened and endangered species like the yellow-headed parrot*. In addition, the forest is home to the last living river in the city, the river La Silla, whichis surrounded by oaks and junipers integrating a living ecosystem.

The program also draws semiarid scrub species as part of the priorities for the conservation of vegetation, which confirms the value of ecosystem that exists in theforest La Pastora and the importance of conservation as action on climate change.

Bibliography:

http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/nuevoleon/municipios/19026a.htm

http://www.paraconocer.com/la-pastora/

http://www.obrasweb.mx/construccion/2011/09/23/el-nuevo-estadio-de-monterrey-se-mancha-de-verde