2026 Reports

Citizen Science and Climate Action in the Santa Catarina River, Monterrey, Mexico: The Campaign for a Riparian Biological Corridor

Sierra Martínez, Andrés Emiliano

This case study analyzes the campaign to designate the Santa Catarina River (SCR), in the Metropolitan area of Monterrey (MMA), Mexico, as a Protected Natural Area (PNA) under the specific category of riparian biological corridor. The PNA designation would represent a nature-based solution to mitigate the urban heat island effect, manage flood risk, and reduce water stress, while also protecting the biodiversity already inhabiting this river. In this text, the concrete outcomes of this campaign are explored, including the positioning of the river’s ecological value in the public debate and the construction of knowledge through citizen science, even while a formal PNA designation remains incomplete as of early 2026.

Keywords: urban river restoration; nature-based solutions; green infrastructure; citizen science; Monterrey