Dear {FIRST_NAME},

We are pleased to share with you our Fall 2005 Newsletter. Thank you for being an important member of our team, and for helping us create a greener planet for generations to come.

Cheri Sugal
Executive Director
Friends of Calakmul

Conservation International Awards Friends of Calakmul $350,000 On August 18th, 2005 Friends of Calakmul received a significant grant to expand the area that we are protecting around the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. The $350,000 grant will provide enough funding to FOC for the transactional costs associated with bringing additional lands under easements, continued monitoring of these properties, as well as the recurrent payments to communities that enter into easement agreements. In total, FOC plans to bring 150,000 acres of new land under protection. The Global Conservation Fund (GCF) at Conservation International that awarded the grant, is the first major fund designed to quickly mobilize financial resources to finance the creation, expansion and long-term management of protected areas in the world's biodiversity hotspots, high biodiversity wilderness areas and important marine regions (notably coral reef hotspots). With generous initial capitalization from a $100-million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the GCF has already succeeded in helping protect nearly 23.5 million hectares of the world's most biologically important regions. In awarding the grant to FOC, the GCF recognized that "Friends of Calakmul has established a solid track record in using conservation easements as a tool for private lands conservation (particularly lands owned by ejidos) in the buffer zone of Calakmul" and was enthusiastic about the opportunity to bring three additional ejido properties under easement. The next step will be for FOC to raise sufficient funds to capitalize a trust fund so that payments to the landowners can be made in perpetuity. Your continued support is critical to bringing our organization to the next level. If you would like to make a contribution please visit our web site: www.calakmul.org

Friends of Calakmul Featured in Upcoming Wildlife Conservation Expo This fall, Friends of Calakmul will be one of the featured organizations in the premier wildlife conservation event of the year - The Wildlife Conservation Expo, which will take place October 8th - 9th at the Foothill College, Los Altos, California. DR. JANE GOODALL, DBE – pioneer in chimpanzee research, champion of conservation and one of today’s most inspiring speakers - headlines an exciting schedule of conservation speakers and events. The Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) is hosting the event. WCN is dedicated to supporting independent conservation entrepeneurs who have active field programs working with local people to save endangered wildlife and habitats. Friends of Calakmul was one of 30 organizations invited to participate in the expo due to Dr. Gerardo Ceballos long-term workin the area helping to save the jaguar. The expo is an opportunity for the public to learn more about Friends of Calakmul as well as over 30 additional wildlife conservation organizations, and hear expert speakers from around the world. For updates and registration information, please visit Wildlife Conservation Network's (WCN) web site below. www.WildNet.org

Friends of Calakmul Chief Scientist Wins National Science Merit Award in Mexico Friends of Calakmul's Chief Scientist and Founder, Dr. Gerardo Ceballos, researcher at the Institute of Ecology, obtained the Ecological Merit Award 2005 in Mexico. The award is the highest and most prestigious environmental award in Mexico and is granted to individuals that make or have taken action for nature's conservation and for the sustainable management of natural resources. During the celebration of the World Environment Day in Monterrey, Mexico, on June 5th 2005, Mexican President Vicente Fox presented Ceballos with the award. Ceballos was recognized as having a solid influence on environmental conservation in Mexico in last the two decades. In addition to his work with Friends of Calakmul, Ceballos helped create natural protected areas and the creation of Mexican endangered species act. He and his team carried out the first successful eradication of rodents introduced on an island (Rasa) in Mexico, the first reintroduction of one species extirpated in Mexico (black-footed ferret) and the first private biosphere reserve of the country. His work has been influential on society and has been fundamental to protect ecosystens such as the dry forests of the Pacific, the grasslands of the northwest and the tropical forests of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is estimated that more than 70 thousand species live in these reserves. Ceballos was interested in Biology and conservation from childhood, when he read the book The Last of the Skimo Curlew, that spoke of one of the most abundant birds of the planet and how they become extinct. He then decided to do something about the species in danger of extinction. Now, upon receiving the Ecological Merit Award 2005, he is thankful to society and the government "for recognition of my work, the work of my colleagues, and the enormous effort of the National University of Mexico to support research." He expressed, "It is a recognition of the serious work that has been done in this institution." Ceballos is member of Mexican Academy of Sciences and a member of the National System of Researchers. He has directed more than 30 projects of multidisciplinary research, and has publisehd 200 scientific papers and 18 books.

Students Ages 8-9 Help Save the Jaguar "Think one year ahead, plant a flower. Think 10 years ahead, plant a tree. Think 100 years ahead, educate people" (Emma Graveson, Age 9, referring to a quote she read). Emma and Kyle, two students at Meadowridge School, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, were concerned about the depletion of animal habitat. First selling lemonade and then poetry, the students searched for a way to raise funds to help Friends of Calakmul protect jaguar habitat. Since they were both volunteers with their school's recycling program, Emma and Kyle realized the potential of donating profits from recycled bottles. They quickly inspired a crew of 8 and 9 year-old students to use their free time collecting recyclables. Nickel by nickel, the students raised $270--enough funds to set aside 15 acres of new jaguar habitat for protection. Explaining why they were motivated to donate their recreational time to this cause, the students explained: "We wanted to save all the animals" (David, 8) "We wanted to filter the air and stop people from cutting down trees......If we don't do it now, all the soil will be washed away and it will be too late' (Kyle, 8) "I am studying endangered animals and there are lots of them. I wanted to save the world's rainforests because half of all plant and animal species of the world live in the rainforest. If we destroy all the rainforests, we will lost all those plants and animals" (Nicholas Larson, 9) Friends of Calakmul would like to thank Emma, Kyle, Arissa, Brooke, Bayley, David, Nicholas, Katlyn, Nathan, Aiden and all the other students who participated in this program for helping Friends of Calakmul and for being models of global environmental stewardship.