Introduction: A vision for change
At some point, we all wonder, Can I really make a difference? Imposter syndrome creeps in, and we remind ourselves that we are just one person. But history has proven that where there’s a will, there’s a way—especially when an entire community, both locally and globally, comes together with a shared purpose.
The Ecosystem Restoration Foundation (ERF) team has the honour of participating in a visionary project with big ambitions: restoring the Los Planes Watershed in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Our role is just one piece of a much larger restoration effort, but along with a budding Community of Practice (CoP) in La Paz, we’re committed to making a lasting impact.
The roots of our involvement
For a bit of backstory, we were introduced to a local landowner and employee of ERC Rancho Cacachilas in 2023, Agustín, who was interested in restoring his land and had already started experimenting with natural micro-damson his property. This inspired some extracurricular work from our team to dig deeper into the problem of arid landscapes, drought, and desertification, which have become some of the most destructive forces driving ecosystem degradation within the ERC community and beyond.
For nearly a year, we worked behind the computer screen, collaborating remotely with Agustín in Mexico. We spent hours discussing the challenge designing preliminary exploratory restoration plans, conducting extensive research, and building GIS map representations of his land. What started as a grassroots effort to support Agustín’s vision for restoring Rancho los Alamitos (his family’s ranch), soon caught the attention of Innovaciones Alumbra (iAlumbra), an organisation taking on the Los Planes Watershed Health Initiative – a massive and inspiring undertaking aimed at regenerating water systems and restoring ecological balance in Baja California Sur.
With this incredible turn of events, we were invited to contribute, making it possible for our team to finally travel to the region to meet in person and walk the land that, until this point, had only existed for us in maps and discussions.
Recent drone footage taken by drone flight specialist Carlos Lim from Rancho Cacachilas of the total area of Rancho los Alamitos, the 107 hectares we are collaboratively restoring. The lighter color land within the natural earth polygon is real time imagery taken in November 2024. The darker colors around the polygon are from a GIS base layer, and not indicative of real time vegetation.
Why this project matters
The challenges facing Baja California Sur are not isolated: they reflect a broader ecological crisis that has been escalating for decades. Mexico, like many other countries, is experiencing severe drought, land degradation, and a disrupted water cycle. Over the past twenty years, watersheds across the country have been drying up, and groundwater reserves have been rapidly depleting. In Baja California Sur alone, 30,000 cattle deaths have already been reported in 2025 due to the worsening drought conditions.
At the same time, habitat loss continues to accelerate and has become a major threat to biodiversity. By the early 2000s, 55 percent of Mexico’s original vegetation had already been lost, and only 22 percent had regenerated as secondary growth. That means approximately 33 percent of the country’s landscapes have been permanently converted into agricultural fields, grazing lands, or urban sprawl.
Data taken from UNCCD and World Bank. Map creator: Melissa Croteau
Yet, despite these pressing environmental concerns, many ranchers, farmers, and pastoralists continue to rely on unsustainable land-use practices, not out of negligence, but out of necessity. Overgrazing, land clearing, and monoculture have been entrenched for generations, shaped by economic pressures and a lack of access to sustainable alternatives. Change requires more than awareness, it requires viable solutions. That is why ERF was brought into the initiative, offering monitoring, evaluation, and environmental expertise, while connecting the work in La Paz to a global network of ecosystem restoration practitioners and communities.
The role of iAlumbra
At the heart of this initiative is iAlumbra, a collective of organisations committed to demonstrating and catalysing models for economic growth that restore the environment, honour community, and advance health and prosperity. Their work is centred on improving surface water infiltration and groundwater recharge, enhancing soil health through regenerative practices, and supporting rural livelihoods by developing economically viable land management models.
iAlumbra is also in partnership with Rancho Cacachilas, and Ecosystem Restoration Community based in Mexico, where they are developing economically viable models that create opportunities for rural families and investing in next generation learning through the creation of the Institute for Applied Drylands Water Studies. This ensures that future land stewards have the knowledge and tools to continue this critical work.
Through their support, the work being done at Rancho Los Alamitos has the potential to become a replicable model for landscape-scale restoration efforts across arid regions in Mexico and beyond.
Rancho Los Alamitos: A pilot site for water retention landscapes
Rancho Los Alamitos, located in the small community of San Blas, La Paz, Baja California Sur, is a 107-hectare huerto de traspatio, a traditional backyard food garden and ranch, that has been in Agustín’s family for four generations. This ranchero way of life has been sustained by the women in his family, who have overseen the land’s stewardship for decades, maintaining deep-rooted agricultural traditions that blend subsistence farming, livestock management, and cultural heritage.
The landowner’s home (Agustín’s grandmother) to the left and outdoor kitchen to the right, with a water tank that is fed by a well on the property. There is no running water on site. Water to use the toilets and to wash are taken with a bucket from this tank.
A traditional plant nursery for household and garden plants on the ranch.
However, like much of the region, the land is now facing severe environmental stress. The area receives less than 200mm of rainfall per year and has not seen significant rain in over two years. Rancho Los Alamitos sits within the southern foothills of the Sierra de El Novillo mountain range, a landscape characterised by steep slopes, dry valleys, and seasonal floodplains. The surrounding vegetation consists of San Lucan Xeric Scrub and Tropical Dry Forests, but much of the original flora has been lost due to erosion, overgrazing, and climate change.
Recognising these challenges, Agustín began implementing water retention strategies modelled on his work at Rancho Cacachilas. His efforts align with the ranchero ethos of land stewardship, which values respect for the environment, resilience in the face of harsh conditions, and the use of time-tested agricultural practices. What began as a personal mission to restore his own land has now grown into a collaborative effort, supported by ERF, iAlumbra, and a network of local organisations, neighbouring ranchers, and a University to create a replicable model for dryland restoration that honours both ecological science and traditional knowledge.
Our work on the ground
From the moment we arrived in Baja California Sur, the stark contrast between the beauty of the coastline and the harsh reality of the interior landscape was incredible. Driving through La Paz, we were surrounded by breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) with vivid turquoise and royal blue waters stretching endlessly under a sky painted in hues of magenta, orange, and gold at sunset. The coastline was alive with a stunning array of pelicans and other seabirds, a breathtaking display of the region’s rich biodiversity. But as we moved inland, the scene shifted dramatically. The landscape was spackled with towering cacti and the skeletal remains of drought-stricken shrubs and trees. The earth stretched out before us, dry, cracked, and bare, a silent testimony to years of water scarcity. Unlike the vibrant coastline, this was a land struggling to survive.
A mangrove lined coast at night in el Centario, not far from where the ERF team stayed.
Degraded land at Rancho los Alamitos.
When we eventually arrived at Rancho Los Alamitos, we were met with an even more sobering reality. The ranch, which had been in Agustín’s family for generations, was facing severe drought, soil erosion, and loss of vegetation. With no running water, no telephone line and no internet, daily life here is shaped by the land and its rhythms, demanding resilience, adaptability, and deep knowledge of the environment. Restoring Rancho los Alamitos was not just about restoring a watershed, it was about supporting a way of life that has long been rooted in the care and stewardship of this land
Despite these hardships, we were welcomed with warmth and generosity. Agustín’s abuela (grandmother), his mother, aunt, and cousins greeted us with true Mexican hospitality, offering food, conversation, gratitude, and a place to get to work. Two neighbouring farmers, Alvaro and Jesús Misael, also joined us during the initial visit, both interested in the water retention concepts we were exploring. It became clear that this was not just about one ranch, this was a shared struggle among those who lived and worked in this landscape.
The last picture taken together as a group at Rancho los Alamitos at the end of our journey. From left to right: Abuela, Mick, Andrew, Melissa, and A.J.
During our visits to the ranch, we mapped out its challenges and opportunities, walking the land together and piecing together the puzzle of what interventions were already in place and what more could be done. We took note of the fenced-in plots where a new syntropic garden prototype was taking shape, the micro-dams (all 55 of them) that Agustín and his partner, Marisol, had already installed, and the ways in which water moved across the land during the rare heavy rain events that occur just a few times a year. We also took coordinates of potential sites for additional interventions, documenting problem areas of erosion and water loss. But it wasn’t just about planning, it was about learning from the land itself.
Agustín leading the discussion on the syntropic agriculture design he would like to install.
A few of the 55 rock-dams already on site. These mini dams help slow the flow over water over the land during the rare and heavy rain events, allowing more time for the water to percolate and replenish the water table. Over time, vegetation will begin to flourish in these areas as they will have more access to longer lasting groundwater.
Of course, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) was a huge part of our first trip. Understanding the conditions of the land is critical for ensuring that restoration efforts are effective, adaptable, and measurable. By performing soil tests, taking baseline data, and documenting key environmental conditions, we helped lay the groundwork for a long-term recovery strategy. This information will not only allow teams on the ground and abroad to track progress but also serve as proof that ecosystem restoration works.
Mick and AJ testing water percolation in the base of a seasonal arroyo (stream).
Just as important, these techniques are being shared with Agustín and other future participants who will be working the land. The goal is not for ERF to be the gatekeepers of this knowledge, but rather to pass the baton to the current and future land stewards who will continue this work.
Beyond the technical aspects of the restoration, this trip also allowed us to explore new, practical solutions for land management, livestock feed, and agricultural resilience.
While in Mexico, two of our colleagues, Andrew and AJ – our permaculture and restoration gurus, returned from a trip to Vía Orgánica, the flagship Ecosystem Restoration Community in Mexico, bringing back agave silage as a potential solution for feeding livestock in drylands. Unlike traditional cattle feed, which often requires significant water input and is expensive in arid regions, agave silage is nutrient-rich, highly hydrating, and incredibly cost-effective. Given the severity of the drought and the recently reported 30,000 cattle in Baja California Sur, finding sustainable livestock feed options is more urgent than ever.
Agustín getting “hands-on” with the agave silage.
Seeing how the cattle took to the foreign food (agave silage).
We also teamed up with Agustín’s team – consisting of members from Rancho Cacachilas, and Alianza para la Seguridad Alimentaria de BCS(ASA ) – to work on the conception and installation of a syntropic garden prototype, applying the principles of syntropic agroforestry to an arid environment. While this method is traditionally used in tropical regions, they are adapting it to dryland conditions with the goal of demonstrating that regenerative agriculture can thrive even in water-scarce landscapes. The approach, which emphasises layered planting, soil regeneration, and natural succession, has shown promise in restoring soil fertility and creating microclimates that increase moisture retention. If successful, this could offer a new way forward for dryland agriculture, proving that regenerative farming is not only possible in arid regions but can also enhance food security and ecological health.
Another exciting milestone during our time in La Paz was the deepening of our collaboration with Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS). When the Head of the Food Science & Technology Laboratory in the Agronomy Department – also a member of the academic body Food in Coastal and Arid Zones – learned about our work in Mexico and saw the potential for further collaboration, our Monitoring & Evaluation consultant, Mick, was invited to give a presentation at the university. He spoke to students and faculty staff about the critical role of field-based data collection in ecosystem restoration.
Mick, our Monitoring and Evaluation specialist, explaining the Ecosystem Restoration Communities’ M&E framework and our role in the Rancho los Alamitos restoration project at Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur.
This initial connection has now evolved into something even more promising: UABCS is currently exploring ways for students to actively participate in restoration work at Rancho Los Alamitos, integrating hands-on fieldwork with their academic studies. This not only enriches the students’ education but also builds a stronger network of young professionals trained in ecosystem restoration, ensuring that the next generation of land stewards is equipped with the skills needed to restore degraded landscapes.
Finally, our trip would not have been complete without visiting Rancho Cacachilas, the very place that introduced us to Agustín in the first place. Rancho Cacachilas has been pioneering water retention landscapes in Baja California Sur for years, implementing successful techniques that have already improved local hydrology and soil conditions and is being studied by the USGS. Seeing their progress firsthand was a powerful reminder of why this work matters, and it reinforced our belief that the same principles could be successfully applied at Rancho Los Alamitos and beyond.
This trip was about more than just interventions and planning, it was about witnessing the resilience of the land and the people who care for it. It was about learning from those who have worked these landscapes for generations while bringing in new tools, ideas, and partnerships to ensure that restoration efforts can be sustained long into the future.
Agustín and Marisol next to their rock-dam installations at Rancho los Alamitos.
What’s next?
The work at Rancho Los Alamitos is just beginning, and the months ahead will be pivotal in bringing the restoration vision to life. In late spring (Northern Hemisphere), two of our team members will be returning to La Paz to begin the hands-on phase of the restoration process. This includes:
- Training local workers on micro-dam installation, ensuring that knowledge of water retention techniques remains in the community.
- Expanding GIS mapping efforts to track restoration progress and provide valuable data for future interventions.
- Implementing a large portion of the planned restoration structures, including additional micro-dams, soil stabilisation techniques, and regenerative agricultural experiments.
- Strengthening the Community of Practice by connecting more local ranchers and restoration practitioners to the initiative.
- Continuing data collection for Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), allowing teams both on the ground and abroad to analyse progress, make adjustments, and ensure long-term success.
Melissa, our ERF GIS specialist, will also be making these maps of the land and its interventions public, allowing others to see the work being done, learn from the project, and contribute to its success. By sharing this along with M&E data, we aim to create a model that can be replicated in other regions facing similar challenges and thereby strengthening and growing global Communities of Practice.
A call to action
This is about more than just Rancho Los Alamitos, it’s about food security, climate resilience, and ensuring that future generations can thrive in a rapidly changing world. Baja California Sur is already on the frontlines of climate change, with desertification, groundwater depletion, and agricultural collapse threatening both the environment and the livelihoods of the people who depend on it.
But this work is showing that desertification is not inevitable, but that regeneration is possible. By implementing water retention landscapes, restoring degraded soils, and reconnecting people to sustainable land stewardship practices, we are proving that even the most damaged landscapes can recover.
To continue this work, we need more than just funding and research, we need a movement. A movement of ranchers, farmers, scientists, and community members coming together to rethink how we interact with the land. A movement of organisations and institutions willing to invest in long-term, nature-based solutions rather than short-term fixes.
If you are interested in supporting, collaborating, or learning from this work, now is the time to get involved. Follow along, connect with us and let’s build a future where restoration is the rule, not the exception.