Pictured here is Luisa Montes, Managing Director of RainTrust Foundation Mexico,

The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico Mr. Juan Elvira met with David Plattner to be briefed on the organization’s goals, methodology and purposes. The Minister asked RainTrust Mexico to support the certified gum tree industry in the southern part of Mexicowhere more than 100 cooperatives have been very badly hit by hurricane Dean and much help is needed.

The Minister also indicated that Mexico needs to enter into the stage of biofuels which will help boost local economies in dire need of jobs. Jatropha plantations are some of the projects that RainTrust will help to finance. RainTrust Mexicofoundation also met with WWF Mexico program in order to agree to work together in their Mexican Forests and Conservation programs.

RainTrust agreed also to work with the FSC Mexican focal point to work with local communities in order to get a wider market for their certified timber and timber products.

David Plattner also met with the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity where he was briefed in the unique characteristics and circumstances of Mexican biodiversity, the abundance of species and ecosystems make Mexico one of the 4 most biodiversity countries in the world which together hold more than 70% of the worlds biodiversity. Besides being host of more than 12% of the world’s species of plants and animals Mexico has many endemic species, which means that if one of these species is extinct from Mexico it will be forever lost in the planet. The geographical situation of Mexico makes this country also the original source of very important products that we could not imagine our lives without, Just to mention a few of the more than 300 products originated in Mexico; corn, vanilla chocolate and tomato. Not to mention tropical fruits.

RainTust Mexico met also with the National Forestry Commission CONAFOR, responsible for preserving the more than 60M hectares of forested areas still standing in Mexico. CONAFOR and Raintrust Mexico pledged to work together towards an agreement for the conservation of more than 15M hectares of forested areas.

The Commission of Natural Protected Areas CONANP welcomed the creation of RainTrust Mexico and made a pledge to work together in the conservation of the natural protected areas of Mexico which currently account for more than 12% of national territory.