La Tierra del Jaguar

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Tucson, AZ
La Tierra del Jaguar

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MISSION – La Tierra del Jaguar saves jaguars by teaching skills and empowering people to partner with nature and heal the land.

VISION – The northern jaguar is critically endangered. This is not due to acts of nature; it is due to humans and our actions, most notably current agricultural systems. A diffusion of knowledge about large-scale landscape restoration, regenerative agriculture, permaculture principles, crop diversity, and rotational grazing is needed to achieve a cultural shift so that the jaguar is respected and not just seen as a competitor for resources. We believe we can create a future where jaguars, people, and nature live in abundance, working together for the good of all. We envision a demonstration site that inspires and teaches people to implement regenerative changes in their communities, throughout the land of the jaguar. Having a physical space where people can see these processes in action is essential. By witnessing how regenerative systems work and evolve, local communities can gain a more complete understanding of the interconnected, long-term benefits for the jaguar. STRATEGIES –
• Regenerative agriculture techniques strengthen species diversity, improve water quality, and reduce human-jaguar conflict.
• Landscape restoration increases the security and connectivity of jaguar habitat that has been degraded over centuries of extractive land use.
• Economic opportunities stimulate sustainable development and the regenerative economy as alternatives to ranching and mining.
• Natural building helps people design and construct energy-efficient homes with a low-carbon footprint. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES –

2021-2022
• Construct classroom, workshop, outdoor kitchen, and composting outhouse.
• Initiate earthworks, irrigation systems, water harvesting, and fencing to grow demonstration site.
• Launch workshops, youth programs, and outreach with a diverse curriculum focused on regenerative principles, benefits to biodiversity, and jaguar conservation.
• Plant terraces with agaves to produce Bacanora and benefit bats.
• Document wildlife and vegetation through motion-triggered camera monitoring, photo points, and survey plots.
• Strengthen relationships with state officials, local governments, and ejidos to support landowners, wildlife, and the regional economy.
• Secure funding for staff and team members based in the community.
• Build base of supporters and donors for long-term sustainability.

2022-
• Increase community awareness and connection to nature, thereby increasing biodiversity and jaguar populations in the region.
• Manage and improve demonstration site to become an international showcase of regenerative techniques.
• Host workshops – on topics such as jaguar, habitat, and water conservation – at the demonstration site, throughout the region, and online.
• Teach collectives that exemplify the regenerative economy for a complete systems approach (i.e. farmers, packagers, and marketers of a salsa or Bacanora work together, share profits, and own their businesses with a percentage of sales going back to the community).
• Expand youth programs with field school, Eco-clubs, and other activities that nurture the next generation of conservationists and regenerative heroes.
• Establish a scholarship program for youth to follow careers in conservation and the regenerative economy.
• Bolster local employment opportunities with paid work crews specializing in landscape restoration, natural building, education, solar installation, and ranch/farm practices.
• Monitor biodiversity, landscape restoration, and regional economic opportunities to quantify the impact of the demonstration site, classes, workshops, and community outreach.
• Leverage relationships with state officials, local governments, ejidos, and landowners to develop riparian corridors, parks, and protected spaces.
• Promote Eco-tourism that unites conservation, communities, and sustainable travel.
• Create, or assist in the creation of:
- A recycling center that utilizes waste materials to produce useful items, similar to systems being implemented by the City of Tucson,
- Bioremediation systems to address discharge of effluent into waterways, and
- A wildlife rehabilitation facility to care for injured wildlife in the region.

10/07/2026

Lamentamos profundamente el fallecimiento de nuestro amigo y exmiembro del equipo, Ignacio "Nacho" Cordero Amaya.

Nacho fue el primer empleado de La Tierra. Él construyó nuestros cercos y los hermosos muros de trincheras que dan la bienvenida a los visitantes a la propiedad y sirven de base para nuestra aula y el baño de compostaje.

Comenzó esta labor desde niño, aprendiendo junto a su abuelo, su padre y sus tíos. Construía enteramente a ojo, sin cinta métrica ni nivel, confiando en el conocimiento transmitido de generación en generación y que llevaba en sus propias manos. Si se le pregunta a cualquiera que lo haya conocido, la respuesta es la misma: era un hombre muy trabajador.

Nacho era profundamente querido y respetado en la comunidad de Santo Tomás, y su familia y amigos lo extrañarán enormemente. Sus muros de piedra permanecen como un testimonio duradero de su maestría artesanal y su dedicación.

Nacho y su trabajo representan la belleza y la resiliencia de las personas y culturas de la Sierra.

Descansa en paz, querido Nacho.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and former team member, Ignacio "Nacho" Cordero Amaya.

Nacho was La Tierra's first employee. He built our fences and the beautiful trinchera walls that welcome visitors to the property and form the foundation of our classroom and compost bathroom.

He began this work as a boy, learning alongside his grandfather, father, and uncles. He built entirely by eye, with no tape measure and no level, relying on knowledge passed down through generations and carried in his own hands. Ask anyone who knew him and the answer is the same: muy trabajador, a very hard worker.

Nacho was deeply loved and respected in the community of Santo Tomás, and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends. His trinchera walls remain as a lasting tribute to his craftsmanship and dedication.

Nacho and his work represent the beauty and resilience of the people and cultures of the Sierras.

Rest in peace dear Nacho

10/06/2026

The storm has passed, now we rebuild 🌱

A week ago, Hurricane Polo passed through La Tierra del Jaguar, leaving significant damage in its wake.

Our team is assessing the damage, salvaging what we can, and beginning the long process of repairing and rebuilding.

But La Tierra del Jaguar is more than a demostration site. It is a place where people learn, where restoration takes root, and where new generations can discover the incredible landscapes they call home.

🙌We need your help to get back to that work.

Your support will help us repair what was damaged, recover what we can, and continue the work of restoring this landscape and strengthening the communities connected to it.

We’ll be sharing the journey to recovery here. What we find, what we save, what we rebuild, and what comes next. Stay tuned for updates and ways you could continue supporting us.

Thank you so much to all of you who have already pitched in in some way or form. We're increadibly grateful for this amazing community.

🌻🔗Help us rebuild a stronger LTJ! Donation link in bio~

10/02/2026

On September 29, 2026, heavy rains from Hurricane Polo flooded our demonstration site. Most of the water came from the mountain community of Tarachi, where wildfires this spring destroyed large areas of vegetation and likely increased runoff. The flooding was unprecedented.

Our team is safe, but we are reeling from watching years of work washed away.

Even so, this setback is a poignant reminder of why your support and this work matters. Last month, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warned that the world is on track to reach and exceed the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C warming goal within the next few years. Droughts are becoming more severe, hurricanes are growing stronger, and communities are in danger. Floods, longer droughts, and hotter summers are tangible changes in our world, and proof that we must act.

We are deeply grateful to our team and community, who showed up immediately to help us begin recovery. We will continue to teach regenerative skills and empower rural communities to partner with nature. We will continue to restore ecosystems, improve watershed health, and create sustainable livelihoods across the shared landscapes of the Sierra Madre Occidental.

Together, we will ensure that people, jaguars, and all wildlife can thrive.

09/28/2026

Mexican West Coast Boa Constrictor🐍❤

This morning we found a pleasant surprise in the tool shed at the La Tierra del Jaguar demonstration site: a Mexican West Coast boa constrictor (Boa sigma) or corúa. Though the species is common in the region, this is our first sighting on the site!

Boas are large, nonvenomous snakes that help regulate populations of rodents and other small mammals.

The boa holds cultural significance in our community as protectors of natural water springs or aguajes, it is believed that killing one will cause the water to dry up.

The species is listed as threatened under Mexico's NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 and is legally protected.

We gently relocated our new neighbor to a quiet spot away from human traffic, where it can thrive and we can continue to enjoy the benefits of its presence.

Boa constrictora de la costa occidental de México🐍❤

Esta mañana nos llevamos una grata sorpresa en el cobertizo de herramientas del sitio de demostración La Tierra del Jaguar: una boa constrictora de la costa occidental de México (*Boa sigma*), conocida localmente como corúa. Aunque la especie es común en la región, ¡este es nuestro primer avistamiento en el sitio!

Las corúas son serpientes grandes y no venenosas que ayudan a regular las poblaciones de roedores y otros pequeños mamíferos.

La boa tiene un gran valor cultural en nuestra comunidad, pues se le considera protectora de los manantiales naturales o «aguajes»; existe la creencia de que matar a una provoca que el agua se seque.

Esta especie está catalogada como amenazada según la norma mexicana NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 y cuenta con protección legal.

Trasladamos con cuidado a nuestra nueva vecina a un lugar tranquilo, alejado del tránsito humano, donde pueda prosperar y nosotros podamos seguir disfrutando de los beneficios de su presencia.

09/22/2026

🌱 Yesterday, La Tierra del Jaguar welcomed students from CECyTES, the local science and technology high school, for a hands-on afternoon of learning on our demonstration site!

Students got their hands dirty exploring our worm compost system, learned how to propagate plants from cuttings, and discovered why healthy soils are the foundation of a thriving ecosystem.

We are grateful for their visit and interest in learning about permaculture and regenerative systems that support people and nature.

🌱 ¡Ayer, La Tierra del Jaguar recibió a estudiantes de CECyTES para una tarde de aprendizaje práctico en nuestro sitio de demostración!

Los estudiantes se pusieron manos a la obra explorando nuestro sistema de vermicompostaje, aprendieron a propagar plantas mediante esquejes y descubrieron por qué los suelos sanos son la base de un ecosistema próspero.

Agradecemos su visita y su interés por aprender sobre permacultura y sistemas regenerativos que benefician tanto a las personas como a la naturaleza.

09/16/2026

🐆 ¡Feliz Día de la Independencia!

Hoy celebramos el Día de la Independencia de México aquí en La Tierra del Jaguar. Honramos la cultura, las tradiciones y la resiliencia que hacen que las sierras de Sonora sean tan extraordinarias.

Desde las familias ganaderas que han cuidado esta tierra durante generaciones y los jaguares que recorren las colinas, hasta el agave que resiste las condiciones más adversas: celebramos a todos ellos y a las innumerables especies que consideran estas montañas su hogar.

Brindamos por la gente, la vida silvestre y las sierras que hacen especial a Sonora. ¡Viva México! 🌵🌿

🐆 ¡Feliz Día de la Independencia!

Today we're celebrating Mexican Independence Day here at La Tierra del Jaguar . We honor the culture, traditions, and resilience that make the Sierras of Sonora so extraordinary.

From the ranching families who've stewarded this land for generations, to the jaguars who roam the hills, to the agave that withstands the harshest of conditions, we celebrate them and countless species that call these mountains home.

Here's to the people, the wildlife, and the sierras that make Sonora special. ¡Viva México! 🌵🌿

09/05/2026

Every year, the first Saturday of September brings awareness to two special birds. Today we honor two unsung heroes of our ecosystems in the Sierras of Sonora — vultures and hummingbirds.

Vultures are nature's clean-up crew. By eating carrion, they curb diseases like rabies and anthrax, keeping our landscapes healthy. Next time you see one hard at work, say thanks!

Hummingbirds are tiny, tireless flyers, darting flower to flower and pollinating the region's plant life. Did you know some plants have evolved to be pollinated specifically by hummingbirds? Their nectar can only be reached by a hummingbird's slender bill and long tongue!

Two very different birds, two very different roles, both vital to the ecosystem and community 🌿

At La Tierra del Jaguar, we're proud to protect the web of life that makes the Sierras of Sonora so unique.

Enjoy some photos of these birds, taken right here at La Tierra del Jaguar and the community.

Cada año, el primer sábado de septiembre se dedica a crear conciencia sobre dos aves especiales. Hoy honramos a dos héroes anónimos de nuestros ecosistemas en las Sierras de Sonora: las auras/zopilotes y los colibríes.

Los zopilotes y las auras son el equipo de limpieza de la naturaleza. Al comer carroña, ayudan a frenar enfermedades como la rabia y el ántrax, manteniendo saludables nuestros paisajes. La próxima vez que veas a uno trabajando, ¡dale las gracias!

Los colibríes son aves diminutas e incansables que se desplazan velozmente de flor en flor, polinizando la flora de la región. ¿Sabías que algunas plantas han evolucionado para ser polinizadas específicamente por colibríes? ¡Solo el pico fino y la larga lengua de un colibrí pueden alcanzar su néctar!

Dos aves muy distintas, dos roles muy diferentes; ambas vitales para el ecosistema y la comunidad 🌿

En La Tierra del Jaguar, nos enorgullece proteger la red de vida que hace que las Sierras de Sonora sean tan únicas.

Disfruta de algunas fotos de estas aves, tomadas en La Tierra del Jaguar y en la comunidad.

08/07/2026

healthy food systems🌽 lead to healthy communities🫶 lead to healthy ecosystems🐆

La Tierra del Jaguar horticulturist, Enereyda Montenegro, explains the “Three Queens” or the "Three Sisters" method of crop cultivation at our demonstration site, a technique used to protect indigenous seeds and traditional ecological knowledge.

Learn more about the regenerative systems we use to protect biodiversity, culture, and community.

Los sistemas alimentarios saludables🌽 conducen a comunidades saludables🫶 conducen a ecosistemas saludables🐆

Enereyda Montenegro, horticultora de La Tierra del Jaguar, explica el método de cultivo de las "Tres Reinas" o las "Tres Hermanas" en nuestro sitio de demostración; una técnica utilizada para proteger las semillas nativas y el conocimiento ecológico tradicional.

Conozca más sobre los sistemas regenerativas que empleamos para proteger la biodiversidad, la cultura y la comunidad.

07/31/2026

Hoy, en el Día de San Ignacio, honramos a nuestro querido amigo Ignacio "Nacho" Cordero Amaya con una placa de reconocimiento por su maestría artesanal; dicha placa ya se encuentra exhibida en la entrada de La Tierra del Jaguar.

Nacho es un maestro constructor de trincheras. Estos muros de piedra seca se construyen encajando y equilibrando cuidadosamente piedras de diversos tamaños entre sí, sin utilizar argamasa para unirlas.

Construidos hace cinco años, estos muros perdurarán por generaciones. Dan la bienvenida a los visitantes de nuestro sitio demostrativo, realzando la belleza y la historia de la comunidad de Santo Tomás.

Para nosotros, la conservación no se limita a la vida silvestre; se trata también de honrar a las personas y tradiciones que hacen especial a este lugar.

Gracias, Nacho, por tu contribución a este hermoso paisaje.

Today, on Día de San Ignacio, we honored our dear friend Ignacio "Nacho" Cordero Amaya with a recognition plaque for his craftsmanship, now on display at the entrance to La Tierra del Jaguar.

Nacho is a master builder of trincheras. These dry-stacked rock walls are constructed by carefully wedging and balancing stones of all sizes against one another, with no mortar to hold them together.

Built five years ago, these walls will stand for generations. They welcome visitors to our demonstration site, adding to the beauty and history of the community of Santo Tomás.

For us, conservation isn't just about wildlife. It's about honoring the people and traditions that make this place special.

Gracias, Nacho, for your contribution to this beautiful landscape.

Address

2114 W. Grant Road , PMB 151
Tucson, AZ
85745

Telephone

(520) 833-6138

Website

http://linktr.ee/latierradeljaguar

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