ABOUT US
Nature
Nature Conservancy in Mexico - Endangered Species and Habitat Preservation
Biencom Real Estate founder Chris Gruenwald is a professionally trained Biologist, specializing in the discovery and conservation of Neotropical Reptiles and Amphibians. For over 20 years, Chris has been spear-heading biology and conservation research of Mexican reptiles and amphibians.
Biodiversa, A.C. is a not for profit established in Chapala, Mexico with an established goal of establishing micro-reservas around Mexico, specifically in areas of Montane Cloud Forest and other highly endangered ecosystems. The idea of micro-reservas lies in buying crucial habitat with private funding and establishing microreserves of habitat for their conservation. Applying modern analytical technology to some good old fashioned field work, very specific habitats can be set aside for protection, maximizing the amount of species protected in each small tract of land.
Herp.mx, A.C. is a not for profit established in Colima, Mexico with an established goal of promoting the study and conservation of Mexican reptile and amphibian species. The Herp.mx team itself has been responsible for the discovery and description of more than 24 new species of animals, including fifteen new frogs, six new species of snakes, one lizard and one turtle. With every purchase from Biencom Real Estate, Biencom makes a donation to Herp.mx A.C.
Currently Herp.mx is looking for money and a equipment donations to build a genome analysis laboratory in Chapala, Mexico. If you would like more information on how to donate, contact your Biencom agent today!
Some projects which Chris Gruenwald, and Biencom Real Estate are directly involved in:
The Puerto Vallarta Mud Turtle, Kinosternon vogti, is the most endangered species of reptile in North America, and it is threatened with going extinct right before our very eyes in Puerto Vallarta. This species of turtle is basically new to science, as the first specimens turned up in the early 2010s and the species was not formally described until 2018. Unfortunately for the mud turtle, this species is endemic to the Puerto Vallarta, and just happens to have lived in the springs and swamps on the northern edge of Puerto Vallarta which has been experiencing rapid growth and urbanization. Furthermore, this is some of the most expensive land in Mexico, so buying up micro-preserves is basically impossible for the conservation agencies with limited funding.
The Manantlán Long-tailed Rattlesnake, Crotalus lannomi, is one of the rarest snakes in North America, and is threatened with going extinct due to heavy mining activity in the Sierra de Manantlán region of Colima, Mexico. This species of snake was thought to be extinct, until rediscovered by a team of researches led by Biencom Real Estate founder Christoph Gruenwald in 2008. Currentlly, we are working with the Herp.mx A.C. team to learn as much as possible about the reproductive biology of this species, and set up a captive breeding facility with the hopes of maintaning a breeding population ex-situ. We also are working with Biodiversa A.C. with hopes of setting up a micro reserva for Crotalus lannomi in Colima. If you would like to know how you can help this snake… reach out to Chris Gruenwald from Biencom Real Estate.
