batsignals

During the first week of November 2022, a group of collaborators from Mexico and the U.S. came together in Monterrey, Mexico, to focus on saving Mexico’s migratory nectar-feeding bats, which rely on agave. The group first met in 2019, when it mainly consisted of nonprofit organizations and researchers, and the team worked to define priority conservation goals, build strategy, and initiate key collaborations. The 2022 group represented a significant advancement of BCI’s community engagement efforts, including numerous members of ejidos—rural agrarian communities—actively working on the conservation of these bats, as well as a variety of other landowners, state and federal authorities, researchers, and conservation groups.

Organizers initially thought around 30 people would attend the 2022 meeting, and they were thrilled when the turnout far exceeded their expectations, with 67 people attending from 22 organizations and communities. Over two and a half days, participants attended workshops and working groups, sharing experiences, challenges, and their hopes for future work. They ultimately began co-creating a unified vision for the Agave Restoration Network and developing collaborative project ideas that will conserve agaves to help bats and rural livelihoods.