SEMARNAT and Elisia Education Hub join efforts to promote sustainability, biodiversity protection, and environmental education across Mexico. 

On October 28, 2025, Elisia Education Hub proudly hosted the Encuentro UMA y PIMVS in collaboration with the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT), as part of Mexico’s Semana Nacional de la Conservación 2025. The event took place at Elisia Education Hub bringing together environmental leaders, researchers, and institutions committed to the protection and sustainable management of wildlife. 

The Semana Nacional de la Conservación is an annual national initiative organized by SEMARNAT to promote awareness, participation, and collective action for the protection of Mexico’s biodiversity. Through workshops, conferences, and field activities, the week aims to strengthen environmental education and highlight the importance of sustainable practices that preserve ecosystems and species across the country. 

The program began with the official opening led by M. en C. Lucitania Servín Vázquez, Titular de la Oficina de Representación of the SEMARNAT in Querétaro, followed by an exhibition tour of Unidades de Manejo para la Conservación de Vida Silvestre (UMA) and Predios e Instalaciones que Manejan Vida Silvestre (PIMVS). 

Throughout the day, participants attended keynote lectures and discussions addressing the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Among the speakers were: 

• M.V.Z., M.C. Fernando Gual Sill, Director General de Vida Silvestre at SEMARNAT, who presented “Retos y Beneficios de las UMAs y PIMVS.” 

• Mtra. Fátima Guadalupe Lira Hernández, representing the Despacho de los Asuntos Competencia de la Reserva de la Biósfera Sierra Gorda, who shared insights on “La Conservación de la Vida Silvestre en el Área Natural Protegida Reserva de la Biósfera Sierra Gorda” 

• Dr. Carlos Alberto López González, from the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, who explored “Oportunidades y Amenazas en el Manejo de la Vida Silvestre” 

The event concluded with a multidisciplinary conservation panel on “Conservación y Aprovechamiento Sustentable de la Flora Silvestre” featuring: 

• Eng. Emiliano Sánchez Martínez, Director of the Cadereyta Regional Botanical Garden “Eng. Manuel González de Cosío”
• M. in GIC Ulises Padilla García, Head of the Ecological Regulation Department of the Environmental Planning Directorate, Secretariat of Sustainable Development of the Executive Branch of the State of Querétaro
• Dr. Luis Hernández Sandoval, Research Professor, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Querétaro
  Biol. Claudia Soledad Nicolás Garibay, Head of the Wildlife Department, SEMARNAT Representative Office in Querétaro
• Moderator:
  Biol. Juan Manuel Olvera Pedraza, Head of the Natural Resource Use and Restoration Unit, SEMARNAT Representative Office in Querétaro.

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and scientific advancement, Arkansas State University Querétaro, located within Elisia Education Hub, offers the Biological Science program — a major designed to explore life at every scale, from molecular processes to entire ecosystems. Through this program, students gain the tools to understand biodiversity, engage in environmental research, and contribute to global conservation efforts, aligning with SEMARNAT’s mission to protect Mexico’s natural heritage. 

For Elisia Education Hub, hosting this event showcases its commitment to environmental awareness, academic collaboration, and community engagement. It represents a bridge between education, research, and sustainability — fostering dialogue that inspires responsible action for the planet. 

“At Elisia Education Hub, we believe education and sustainability go hand in hand. Events like this reinforce our mission to cultivate leaders who protect and shape a sustainable future,” stated the institution’s leadership. 

The Semana Nacional de la Conservación event reaffirmed Elisia Education Hub role as a space where academia, science, and environmental stewardship converge to create lasting impact — locally, nationally, and globally.