SEMARNAT, Grupo Bimbo Launch Black Bear Conservation Effort

Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and Grupo Bimbo signed a collaboration agreement to implement conservation, monitoring and environmental education actions linked to the Mexican black bear as part of the commemoration of World Wildlife Day. The agreement establishes joint efforts under the project From Conflict to Coexistence: Safeguarding Wildlife Corridors in Mexico for Sustainable Development, aimed at strengthening conservation actions for the Mexican black bear in its natural habitat.

The initiative marks the beginning of a new phase of the Huellas Program (Footprints Program), an initiative led by the Bimbo Interactive Museum (MiBIMBO) that brings together scientific research, environmental education and multisector collaboration involving public institutions and other partners to support the preservation of the black bear and other emblematic species in Mexico.

Conservation efforts will focus primarily on the states of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Sonora, where Mexican black bear populations face increasing pressures from human expansion and the effects of climate change.

The Huellas Program includes several actions, including the rescue, recovery and translocation of animals at risk; restoration of ecosystems to recover biodiversity balance; conservation and expansion of natural habitats; education and awareness programs in communities where human activity intersects with black bear habitats; and support for scientific research, outreach and monitoring of the species and its behavior.

Alicia Bárcena, Minister, SEMARNAT, said the project represents an important conservation effort. “I thank Grupo Bimbo because they are committed to the cause of protecting the black bear. It is a project of great importance because it is an endangered species. What we must do together is change the perception that exists about the black bear. I thank them very much because I know they are committed to the cause; we need more companies like Bimbo and their environmental awareness,” she said.

Karina Fogel, Director, MiBIMBO, said the agreement represents a key step in expanding collaboration between scientific institutions, public agencies and the private sector. “The signing of this agreement with SEMARNAT represents a fundamental step within a broader initiative that brings together science, education and collaboration between different sectors to protect the black bear and promote a culture of coexistence. This is an effort that is only possible thanks to the joint work of allies committed to conservation. From the museum we want every visitor to understand that the protection of our biodiversity is also built through awareness and participation,” she said.

The museum will play a central role in the Huellas Program through exhibitions, workshops and educational activities designed to promote knowledge and protection of the Mexican black bear and encourage a culture of respect and coexistence with wildlife. As part of the initiative’s sustainability model, a portion of ticket revenues from MiBIMBO will be allocated to the Huellas Program, allowing each visit to contribute to the preservation of the species.

Grupo Bimbo said the initiative also reflects a symbolic connection rooted in the company’s identity, which has historically featured a little bear character associated with its brand. Through the partnership with SEMARNAT, the company aims to translate that connection into a structured conservation initiative focused on protecting one of Mexico’s most emblematic and vulnerable species.

The Mexican black bear is the largest terrestrial carnivore in Mexico and plays an important ecological role as an umbrella species in northern ecosystems. By dispersing seeds, regulating prey populations and maintaining forest dynamics, the species contributes to the health and balance of temperate forests and mountain habitats. Its presence is often considered an indicator of ecosystem integrity, making its conservation relevant not only for biodiversity protection but also for maintaining ecosystem services in the regions where it occurs.

In Mexico, the black bear is listed as Endangered under the country’s official standard NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, reflecting the pressures it faces from habitat fragmentation, human expansion and climate change. Historically distributed across much of northern and central Mexico, the species is now largely confined to mountainous areas of the Sierra Madre Oriental and parts of the northwestern states. Conservation programs led by government agencies, academic institutions and civil society organizations have helped stabilize some populations in recent years, particularly in states such as Nuevo Leon and Coahuila, although human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss remain key challenges for the species’ long-term recovery.