Since 2003, Alter Terra has been a nonprofit coastal and marine ecosystem conservation organization utilizing natural systems design to address environmental challenges in countries around the globe. Alter Terra is a registered Civil Association in Mexico, and in the U.S. Alter Terra is a project of Earth Island Institute.Our Founding Director, Oscar Romo became an Ashoka Fellow in 2014.Our mission is to lead in the restoration, protection, conservation and sustainable development of coastal zones through the design and implementation of innovative and effective educational outreach, scientific research, and infrastructure projects that promote healthy terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.Our vision is to become a reliable and trusted scientific resource and environmental planning partner to public, private and government agencies in the development of sustainable, locally-specific solutions that conserve and protect natural resources world-wide.Our primary purpose is to promote and operate international charitable projects that include:science-based environmental conservation and infrastructure projectsconservation of natural resources through sustainable development and planningenvironmental preservation and conservation research, training and educationprevention and reduction of water, air and soil pollutioneconomic advancement through community capacity building and sustainable urban design practiceswatershed-based, regional and bi-national planning and development projects and initiativespromote natural systems design and ecosystem-based solutions for impoverished communities and degraded ecosystemswww.alterterra.org