SchoolsEstela RomeroDecember 08, 2021

LIVING IN VERY HIGH AND STEEP MOUNTAINS

SchoolsEstela RomeroDecember 08, 2021

THE VISIT

“Ignacio López Rayón”, Elementary

“Rancho Escondido” Village

“El Rosario” Sanctuary

Coordinates: 19.5867104 -100.2745181

Not having flat land on which to expand as our population grows has required our towns to grow uphill.

As the Symbolic Migration reached this school located at the mountains of “El Rosario” Sanctuary, the topic of trees, besides making a living possible, means security.

After reflecting with students on how the forest is a vital component for monarchs’ habitat, Estela took all pupils of grades 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4rd and 5th outside to the school yard with their binoculars and magnifying glasses to explore around.

“Here our forests are just like a giant sponge absorbing and retaining rain water. Life would not be possible without trees!”

“Look around! Our mountain ranges are like giant walls protecting us from destroying winds, hurricanes, tornados, hail, and ice storms! Our Oyamel forests are like a blanket keeping monarchs and all other animals, as well as, plants and humans warm and secure!

Estela pointed to them.

“They are also like a giant sponge containing water, plants, animals… our life would not be possible without trees!”

…children shouted repeating most of what they had learned at the lesson taught by Estela minutes before.

Estela continued telling them..

“Could you believe that it took thousands of years for them to be as they are now? Scientists say that they started to form after the last ice age in our planet! Our Oyamel forests could be at least hundreds of years old! We have the last and largest Oyamel fir forests on our planet!”

“However, we should be careful. Those big clearings in our mountains used for crops are very steep, loose land. We would better plant tree walls around them to keep such clearings secure from landslides. Can you notice how trees mean everything for assuring our lives in all aspects? If trees would disappear, life as we know it now in our planet now, would also disappear!

“Could it be that such clearings could have been forest spots, and that monarchs could have been overwintering there too?”

…a girl from 6th grade left this question to the class, which visibly kept all others them speechless!

***Our towns and villages developed up mountainsides in very steep land. A terraced agricultural system is not practiced in our local culture. Global warming could add risk to such conditions. Hopefully, making our new generations aware of such risks shall be part of planning life differently for their own future.