Alma Grande NBS

I founded Alma Grande from a very personal connection to the land. The place where we work today was once my family’s ranch in northern Veracruz, surrounded by mangroves, wetlands, tropical forests, and coastal lagoons. Since I was a child, I felt a deep connection to nature and the wildlife living there. I grew up exploring rivers, forests, and flooded areas, often swimming in waters that I later discovered were home to crocodiles. I remember one moment clearly: after spending an entire day swimming in a reservoir, I returned the next morning and saw crocodiles exactly where I had been. I was never attacked, never harmed, and for me that moment felt like a message — a realization that I was meant to respect, protect, and coexist with these ecosystems rather than fear them.

As I grew older, I began to understand how fragile these landscapes truly were. Mangroves were disappearing, biodiversity was being lost, and many people saw these ecosystems as obstacles instead of treasures. That realization became the foundation for Alma Grande. I wanted to create something that could reconnect people with the natural value of their own land while proving that conservation and opportunity could grow together.

Building trust was not easy. In places like Tuxpan, outside ideas are often viewed with skepticism, and community acceptance must be earned over time through actions, consistency, and respect. Little by little, through restoration work, environmental education, and genuine collaboration, local communities began opening their doors to us. Instead of competing with other local reserves and environmental initiatives, we focused on building alliances, supporting each other, and creating a stronger regional network for conservation. That mindset changed everything. We became stronger together.

Today, Alma Grande is more than a restoration project. It is a space where young people, students, researchers, and local communities can discover their potential, develop real-world skills, and feel proud of the ecosystems and biodiversity that exist in their own backyard. We are creating a new generation of environmental leaders who see nature not as a limitation, but as identity, opportunity, and future.