Pro-Cuenca's ten-year career working to promote the welfare of valley communities and the rescue and conservation of forests and rivers earned it recognition at the Kyoto Grand Prize for Water 2009.
The Fund Pro Cuenca Valle de Bravo, A. C., emerged 10 years ago as a grassroots initiative concerned about deforestation, the increasing pollution of lakes and rivers and uncontrolled and unplanned urban growth. The region where Pro Cuenca works is a crucial resource
because it provides water for two million people in the mid-west through the Cutzamala system.
In December 2009, they managed – with support from private foundations, businesses, governments and individuals – to achieve the following:
- 498 rain water harvesting systems
- 1,022 backyard gardens
- 1,257 health units
- 1,288 firewood-saving stoves – saving more than 2,500 tons of firewood per year and thus cutting 1,340 tons of greenhouse gas emissions
- 1,162 pools and washing system clean water
For these activities, Pro Cuenca was nominated as one of the Kyoto Grand Prize finalists for Water 2009 at the World Water Forum in Istanbul.
Pro Cuenca has developed a system for monitoring the environmental conditions of the basin – particularly the quality and quantity of water in the rivers and dam – and has a similar community-run system in the upper basin. It has also developed environmental education and training programs in production management and legal and planning instruments.
Now, at the start of their second decade of the organization’s life, they are expanding their activities to include: strengthening the sustainability of natural resource extraction, selling carbon credits,
caring of migratory birds and reintroducing orchid species in danger of extinction.
Pro-Cuenca’s ten-year career working to promote the welfare of valley communities and the rescue and conservation of forests and rivers earned it recognition at the Kyoto Grand Prize for Water 2009.