How the UNESCO + Acequias Project came to be
 

We began four years ago with students interested in the Acequia systems and who wanted a way to bring management skills to the project. The program was formed in 2011 and led by Carrie Goldberger and Yvonne Fung, the first two program managers.  They started a relationship with local scholars at UNM and within NM, including Dr. Enrique Lamadrid, Dr. Jose Rivera, and Estevan Arellano, all of whom have contributed to building relationships with partners that were geared toward realizing the dream of a UNESCO designation for the Acequias.  Each of these scholars have argued that the Acequias and Acequia culture are an important contribution to the global conversation regarding out most precious natural resource.

As water increasingly becomes a part of global and regional conflict, the acequias become an important example of managing global resources through diversity. Today, with the help of the New Mexico Acequia Association and the people who make a living from the acequia system, we are developing a way for people to contribute to a living archive of work that we hope will lead to a successful world heritage are designation.  Our last PM, Sara Beltran-Caro helped establish a framework and strategy to complete the project.