RCE Borderlands Mexico-USA - 2018

CURRENT PROJECT 12. “Plan México Zero Hunger” Demonstration Site and Learning Centre in Santa Isabel, Chihuahua México
Basic Information
Title of project : 
CURRENT PROJECT 12. “Plan México Zero Hunger” Demonstration Site and Learning Centre in Santa Isabel, Chihuahua México
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Borderlands México-USA
Contributing organization(s) : 
1) Plan México Hambre Cero

2) Agricultura y Evolución A.C.

3) Living Lab/Centro de Diálogo y Transformación Inc.
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Arq. Luis Miguel Mayagoitia
Organizational Affiliation: 
Plan México Hambre Cero
Format of project: 
ESD activities for children, farmers, community members and government entities; research; publication
Language of project: 
Spanish
Date of submission:
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Ley de Desarrollo Rural Sustentable
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Americas
Country: 
Mexico
Location(s): 
Santa Isabel, Chihuahua México
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Santa Isabel Demonstration Site
for Biointensive Organic Agriculture & Sustainable Architecture
Centro de Capacitación para Generar Comunidades Sustentables
Santa Isabel, Chihuahua
33270 México
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Santa Isabel, Chihuahua México was founded in 1668 by Franciscan religious with the name of Santa Isabel de Tarahumares. The community was located on the border between the Franciscan missions in the plateau region and the Jesuits communities which were located in the mountains. Dedicated mostly to agriculture, Santa Isabel was one of the most prosperous communities in the region during the colonial period.
When independence was achieved from Spain, Santa Isabel became the Municipal Seat of the same name on July 19, 1823, and continues to hold this position today. Santa Isabel is a place of interest to Catholics since former Parish priest Pedro de Jesús Maldonado was canonized in 2000, which has made him the only recognized saint from the state of Chihuahua.
Today the town is still dedicated to agricultural activities. It is known for its spas, which are frequented by visitors from the nearby cities of Chihuahua and Cuauhtémoc. It is also famous for the local manufacture of the Germania Ice Popsicles, which people from around the state come to eat when visiting the community.
Santa Isabel is located in the center of Chihuahua State. It sits in a wide agricultural valley at an altitude of 1,620 meters on the level of the sea, next to the Santa Isabel River. Its distance from the state capital in Chihuahua City is 50 kilometers to the Southwest. It is also 50 kilometers east of Cuauhtémoc, so it is considered the middle point of Federal Highway 16 that connects both cities. The Chihuahua to the Pacific Railroad also goes through Santa Isabel, running from Chihuahua City to the town of San Andrés and then to Cuauhtémoc, through the Rocky Mountains, ending at the coast in the State of Sinaloa.

According to the Population and Housing Count conducted in 2005 by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, Santa Isabel has a population of 1,412 inhabitants, of whom 699 are men and 713 are women (WP. Accessed 11-12-18).
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
° Water
° Soils
° Food
° Housing
° Human Security
° Clean and renewable energy
° Employment opportunities for youth and adults
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
December, 2008
Rationale: 
The Santa Isabel Demonstration Site & Learning Centre provide hands on experiences and scientific knowledge in the following areas:

° Sustainable Architecture
° Native Seed and seed banks
° Biointensive Organic Agriculture
° Sustainable water usage for agricultural production and home uses
° Renewal energy
° Soil restoration
° Composting
° Worm farming
° Renewable energy
Objectives: 
Through this Project we aim to:
1. Produce world class seed for organic produce and medicinal plants
2. Create a seed bank
3. Conduct research about diverse varieties of edible plants apt for all regions of the State of Chihuahua
4. Completely restore the soils at the demonstration site
5. Help regional farmers to restore and sustainably use their own soils
6. Create an agricultural science lab to address local conditions and challenges related to sustainable organic agriculture
7. Propagate our sustainable development model in diverse communities throughout the country
8. Train and certify experts in sustainable development
9. Train and certify experts in bio-architecture and sustainable architecture
10. Train local communities to boost their autonomy based on sustainable development and sustainable agriculture
11. Propagate sustainable non-toxic methods of food production, i.e. hydroponics, aquaponics, drip irrigation, bio-fertilizers, etc.
12. Design and construct intelligent and truly sustainable human dwellings
13. Create off-grid decentralized communities capable of producing their energy sources, their water and all basic services, created with recycled and region-specific materials
14. Conduct research, produce and disseminate knowledge about the water cycle in order to maximize water efficiency in food production and for home uses in human habitations
15. Create, implement and institutionalize sustainable development designed to meet the basic needs of the human person and the human community
16. Produce technologies designed to optimize the autonomy of human communities and settlements
17. Produce biofuels and clean energies
18. Design and offer workshops for children, youth and adults in topical areas such as clean and renewable energy, biotechnology, bioarchitecture, biointensive organic agriculture, arts and trades, i.e. carpentry, eco-brick production, welding, etc.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
° People come on site to explore the agricultural and the home production activities at the site. They learn about seed, about water, about soil restoration & sustainable usage.

° We also offer courses, workshops and Mobile Living Lab experiences on site

° We are often called to share our work in neighboring communities by local authorities and/or by community members themselves

Size of academic audience: 
Until now, somewhere between 3,000 to 4,000 people. If we become a federal learning centre, the numbers will increase markedly.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
The Santa Isabel Site works very closely with the demonstration site located in Bachíniva, Chihuahua.
Funding: 
Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua provides funding for this project

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon 1. Learning Centre. 5-5-18.jpg (96.69 KB) Santa Isabel Learning Centre Living Lab/Centro de Diálogo y Transformación Inc.
Image icon Panorámico Sta. Isabel. 16-9-18.jpeg (154.74 KB) Panoramic view of the Santa Isabel Site Living Lab/Centro de Diálogo y Transformación Inc.
Image icon 30. Native Seeds. 5-5-18.jpg (158 KB) Native seed Living Lab/Centro de Diálogo y Transformación Inc.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Direct
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Direct
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Direct
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Direct
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Indirect
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Indirect
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Indirect
Arts 
Indirect
Curriculum Development 
Indirect
Ecotourism 
Direct
Forests/Trees 
Indirect
Plants & Animals 
Direct
Waste 
Indirect
Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Empowering and mobilizing youth 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
Direct
Update: 
No