Saving the axolotl and the forests

Movimiento De Jovenes Por El Agua

Think Human Fund

Mission & History

MOJA (Movimiento de Jóvenes por el Agua) is a nonprofit environmental organization established in 2012 in Mexico. Its mission is to promote environmental conservation by actively involving corporate and civic volunteers in restoring ecosystems such as forests and wetlands. The organization aims to foster a culture of care and shared stewardship over Mexico’s environmental heritage, working through reforestation and habitat rehabilitation efforts. MOJA’s history involves strengthening its model by combining environmental education, community engagement, and corporate volunteering. It partners with entities like UNESCO to promote sustainable practices and conservation awareness.

Country Information

Located in one of the world’s largest cities, Mexico City, MOJA operates within two critical ecosystems that sustain the metropolis. These ecosystems, along with species like the axolotl and volcano rabbit, are endangered due to city growth. However, the strength of the communities lies in their efforts to defend and preserve these lands for future generations.

The Need

The rapid growth of urban areas in Mexico is threatening vital ecosystems and endemic species. Consequently, there is a critical need for conservation efforts to defend these original lands from encroachment by city development, highlighting the importance of recovering ecosystems such as those inhabited by the Mexican axolotl.

The Project We Fund in 2026

The “Saving the Axolotl and the Forests” project aims to plant trees to restore highland forests and establish a sanctuary for the axolotl in the wetlands near Mexico City. This initiative involves community collaboration and volunteer participation in reforestation and conservation activities. Through these efforts, MOJA works toward ecosystem recovery, focusing on educating communities and involving them in hands-on conservation activities. The project builds on prior conservation actions and includes significant collaborations with volunteers.

The Result

The project anticipates direct benefits for 50 individuals and indirect benefits for around 300 more due to ecosystem service recovery. It also contributes to rehabilitating forests and wetlands, with sustainability models such as the axolotl sanctuary potentially replicable in other areas. By effectively engaging diverse participants and leveraging established partnerships, MOJA’s efforts are expected to not only restore vital habitats but also enhance community resilience against environmental changes.

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The Project We Fund in 2025

Through their volunteer programs, they are making a significant impact on the primary forests and wetlands of Mexico City—crucial ecosystems that provide essential water resources, ecosystem services, and biodiversity for central Mexico. Their initiatives include reforestation programs and habitat rehabilitation activities conducted in partnership with local communities to restore these vital areas, situated adjacent to the metropolitan region.

The estimated cost for reforesting each tree is approximately €6. This investment covers both the pre- and post-planting maintenance of the forests, which is carried out by community members actively involved in the project. They will employ a collaborative reforestation method utilizing experienced volunteers who have previously contributed to successful conservation efforts in other communities. This allows them to effectively engage local beneficiaries, particularly those dedicated to preserving their forest resources.

In addition, their lake rehabilitation efforts will involve working alongside volunteers and community members to prepare the water body, creating a safe environment for the sustainable population of axolotls and other native wetland species. By fostering community involvement and utilizing collective expertise, they aim to ensure the long-term health and resilience of these critical ecosystems.

The Result

Movimiento De Jovenes Por El Agua conducts regular evaluations and monitor the technical aspects of our activities to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability. This includes tracking the survival rates of newly planted vegetation, assessing changes in water quality over time, and evaluating the overall health of axolotl specimens on a monthly basis.

In conjunction with these assessments, they actively seek feedback from the community regarding their perceptions of the impact of these activities. By combining technical monitoring with community insights, they can comprehensively understand the outcomes of their initiatives and make informed adjustments as necessary to enhance their effectiveness.

2025 Midterm Report

Movimiento de Jóvenes Por El Agua made significant strides in environmental conservation and community development. This year, they successfully expanded the axolotl habitat by constructing a new shelter and built two new facilities for axolotls and analytical equipment. They rehabilitated a warehouse to safely store community tools near forests, initiated a 3-hectare lake project, and installed filtration systems in natural ponds. Over 1.5 hectares of forest were prepared for planting, and 1,200 pine trees were cared for in Xalatlaco. These efforts supported 10 direct beneficiaries, positively impacting their skills, job opportunities, and quality of life.

2025 Annual Report

The project titled “Protecting our forests and wetlands” is based in Mexico and benefits 35 direct beneficiaries from local rural communities. The project’s impact includes ecosystem rehabilitation, creating job opportunities within the community, and enhancing local environmental education.

Testimonies

“I’ve been working on these lands for more than 30 years, but I’ve experienced them since I was a kid. I have always enjoyed being here in spite of the bad things that had happened in the last decades. But I will always keep working to recover our forest whenever I can and I would like that some day, even though I will not be here anymore, this place becomes again that majestic forest it was once.” -Benjamin Meliton, 91-

“I appreciate so much how these environmental projects bring many things together at society level: cohesiveness, job opportunities, awareness, change of perspectives in young and old people. I think that the organization sometimes underestimates that impact but it is as important as saving the axolotl and their ecosystems.” –Karla Moreno, 28-