UNEP Champion of the Earth 2013, Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo
1,646 views · Published 19 September 2013 · 2:53 · Indexed 6 November 2026
Channel: UN Environment Programme · 2013 · Science & Technology
Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo, a grassroots environmental campaigner credited with securing the future of one of Mexico's most critical ecosystems, and supporting the livelihoods of disadvantaged rural communities. Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo, better known as 'Pati', 60, is Director of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve -- Mexico's most ecologically diverse protected area and described as a "green jewel" in the heart of the country. The reserve is heralded as a model of public-private ecosystem management, where eco-tourism, waste management, and conservation projects provide income for hundreds of local residents, as well as securing the future of a rich habitat once threatened by deforestation and unregulated development.
