Dr. Miguel Ángel Cruz Nieto
(September 2, 1962-September 8, 2023)
“Mike” has left us… one of the great leaders and a true archetype of conservation in Mexico. Originally from Castaños, Coahuila, he was born into a large family of hard-working and good people characterized by the culture of effort, respect, mutual support, and affection. Miguel Angel distinguished himself from a very young age for his great attachment to the land and his love for nature.
He left his town to continue his preparation as a Forest Agronomist Engineer at the Antonio Narro Autonomous Agrarian University (1984), where to date, he left his mark on the lives and hearts of many people. In his own heart, the largest space was reserved for his girlfriend, with whom he formed a beautiful family that was eventually joined by his three daughters and grandchildren. Always the most important thing for him: talk about the family and ask about your own even in moments of tribulations and challenges.
Later, he completed a master’s degree in Environmental Sciences at the Tecnológico de Monterrey (1998) and a doctorate at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León (2006), always contributing and making difficult things easy. His committed and very fruitful professional career began at Ducks Unlimited in Mexico, followed by Pronatura Noreste and Pronatura Noroeste. In the past 6 years, he worked at the Wildlife Organization (OVIS). Miguel always supported, had advice, and a kind word for those who wanted to learn, advance, and achieve their dreams. He was always leading and innovating, and above all transforming and inspiring as a leader, colleague or collaborator.
As a person and conservationist, he had extraordinary intelligence and intuition, with a great sense of humor, capable of identifying and taking advantage of opportunities and if there were none, building them. Today, when “yes you can” is a cliché, we know that Mike coined this phrase among his acquaintances, and it was always a palpable demonstration of it. With an inclusive and pragmatic approach, he had a surprising ability to communicate with people of all backgrounds and levels, as well as the ability to bring out the best in each of them and, if necessary, fill in the gaps while others did the same. Always with empathy and humility, with great humanism and vision of the future.
He strengthened all the institutions and programs in which he participated by being formidable at fund/resource procurement. Shrewd, compliant, and effective; sometimes, donors themselves consulted him about how to run their support programs. Some of its achievements in conservation, with birds and their habitat as the most frequent axis, were: the use of the concept of flag/umbrella species in the design of strategies, the first exchange of timber rights for conservation payments in 1997, multiple conservation easements and ADVC’s (Areas Voluntarily Destined for Conservation) for more than one million hectares, one of the longest-running projects for the study and conservation of the Thick-billed Parrot for 28 years and still active today, contributions to the establishment of several areas private, state and federal protected areas, among many more. For his conservation work, he received more than 10 formal recognitions, in addition to the love and affection he earned from the people.
His indefatigable spirit is only matched by his joy for life and his devotion to family, are a testimony and an example to follow. He was a good man and a man of good who sowed seeds of love for his neighbors and Mother Earth, which will continue to flourish and transcend along with his legacy and teachings. Those of us who knew him will be eternally grateful and blessed by his life, and we commit to being part of the great legacy that he leaves us. Rest in Peace, Mike.
by Ernesto C. Enkerlin Hoeflich