Emilio and the Cloud Forest Guardians: Volumes 1 and 2 (Edition 2)
Emilio and the Cloud Forest Guardians” is a two-volume illustrated children’s story series available in English and Spanish, created as an environmental education resource within a community science project in Coatepec, Veracruz, Mexico. The series introduces children to the relationship between the Montane Cloud Forest, rivers, water quality, and community participation through the adventures of Emilio, a young character inspired by a real participant in local environmental monitoring activities.
Volume 1 introduces children to forest and water conservation and to the role of the “Guardians of the Cloud Forest,” local landowners who protect the cloud forest and its ecosystem services. Volume 2, “Getting to know the rivers!”), expands the story to community-based water monitoring. Through Emilio’s experience, children learn that observing a river, asking questions about its condition, recognizing possible sources of pollution, and participating in monitoring and conservation activities are ways of becoming “River Guardians.”
The stories are based on experiences from the FIDECOAGUA community science initiative carried out in collaboration with AGU Thriving Earth Exchange and Global Water Watch México. Volunteer monitors, local communities, forest guardians, students, and environmental organizations contributed to the experiences that inspired the stories.
The materials are primarily intended for elementary-school children, families, educators, environmental organizations, and community groups. They can be used during classroom activities, environmental education workshops, story-reading sessions, community science events, and water-monitoring outreach activities. Their purpose is to make community science approachable for children and to encourage them to observe, understand, connect with, and care for the rivers and ecosystems closest to their communities.
The books are an output of Thriving Earth Exchange project: Assessing Environmental Benefits of the Mountain Cloud Forest in Coatepec / Evaluación de los beneficios ambientales del bosque mesófilo de montaña en Coatepec
English Versions
Emilio and the cloud forest guardians (Volume 1)
Emilio and the cloud forest guardians (Volume 2)
Spanish Versions
Emilio y los guardianes del bosque de niebla (Volume 1)
Emilio y los guardianes del bosque de niebla (Volume 2)
Contribution and Positionality Statement
Ana Karen Novoa and the FIDECOAGUA team coordinated the development of the educational materials and their connection with the community-based environmental monitoring activities carried out in Coatepec, Veracruz.
AGU Thriving Earth Exchange supported the community science partnership and helped strengthen the connection between scientific knowledge, community experience, and environmental education, making it possible to work with Catalina Viyoga and Enrique Alarcón.
Global Water Watch México provided technical guidance and capacity building related to community-based water monitoring.
The stories were inspired by the experiences of volunteer “Water Guardians,” forest landowners known locally as “Guardians of the Forest,” and Emilio, a young participant whose involvement illustrates that people of all ages can contribute to observing and protecting their rivers.
The materials were created from a community-centered perspective, translating real monitoring experiences into accessible stories intended to encourage children and families to develop a closer relationship with their local rivers and participate in their protection.
Submitter: Ana Karen Novoa Rodríguez
Submission Contributors: Catalina Vigoya and Enrique Alarcón Gutierrez, Global Water Watch México and AGU Thriving Earth Exchange