"Business Week" in La Paz

The stars seemed to align for us as we networked in La Paz. We met with several different government organizations offering various assistance programs for economic development in rural regions. We also had a great meeting with Niparaja (a local conservation organization and one of our key project partners) and discussed at length how we can compliment the work they are doing in the sierra. They have spent over six months gathering input of remote mountain communities and bringing isolated representatives together for workshops regarding a proposed biosphere designation for the region. While creation of a biosphere reserve is their primary focus, they recognize that these ranchers play a vital role in protecting the environment; they are interested in supporting economic opportunities for ranchers and see building social capital as a key part of their program.

How to Get things Done

We also met with our Rotary Club contacts, Cuco and Alberto. Cuco is the current president of the Baja Rotario 4100, has a great deal of business experience and currently runs both a real estate business and has a sideline business of assisting people through bureaucratic government processes and paperwork (including expat immigration). We’ve discovered that the bureaucratic process is a huge obstacle for remote ranching families in applying for government assistance—Professor Dean, you would be happy to know we are discussing the business opportunity and political entrepreneurship in light of associated market failures. Alberto is a tax lawyer who knows the formation process for starting a business in Mexico, and has offered us his services pro-bono. Thank you again, Opportunities Without Borders, for putting us in contact with such wonderful people. At the end of our meeting, Cuco proudly presented us with a small Rotary Club banner and proceeded to pin us each with a Rotary medallion, providing an unexpected photo op.

We also had the opportunity to take a sunrise hike with our mentor, professor Fermin Reyagadas, who narrated a wonderful cultural, political and geological history of Baja as we walked up Cerro Atravisado. The governor walks this hill every morning with a contingent of about 30 followers, and is where Fermin once tracked him down to implore him to shut down a proposed gold mine in a rich ecological habitat. As in many places, especially in Mexico, things seem to “get done” by knowing the right people. We at least know where to find the governor if we need him!

Youth in Action

We were able to have dinner with and interview a few incredibly insightful and articulate young people, currently living in and attending university in the city, who grew up in the sierras and are passionate about using their education to improve the quality of life for ranching families. Their passion glowed in their eyes as they each spoke to us about why the ranching culture that they grew up in was so important to them.

It was a productive week and we’ve been busy typing up all the information that has been streaming at us from a fire hose. We walk down the street waving our arms and chanting, “We need Cliff Notes for our notes!”

Left: Talking about and typing up notes.

Right: Mexico scores the tying point against South Africa!

What’s Next

From La Paz, we drove to Coyote Bay in the Bahia de la Conception and stayed at the NOLS branch, where McKenzie had some necessary supplies stored. We enjoyed a very beautiful and relaxing planning day, designing a series of interviews, mapping exercises and a workshop that we will be doing with communities in the area of San Javier in the Sierra La Gigantas over the next couple of weeks… stay tuned!

Left: An interview with Olga, born in the Sierra La Gigantes.

Right: View from the NOLS branch in Conception Bay!