THE ORDER OF THE CALIFORNIAS CONDOR
On Wednesday, march 12, Patricio inaugurated The Order of the California’s Condor at his home, presenting a bronze sculpture of the bird that he made specifically for this purpose, and gave the first three sculptures in recognition of the lifetime work to Juan Vargas and Catalina Porras, To Vance Martin and to Anne Valer Clark, for their commitment to wild lands and species.
Warriors of Conservation: The Order of the California Condor Honors Its First Heroes
In a world where conservation efforts often go unnoticed, the Order of the Californias Condor emerges as a symbol of genuine peer recognition. This year’s edition marks the beginning of a tradition aimed at inspiring new generations to join the fight for ecosystems and biodiversity.
At an intimate dinner held on March 12, 2025, at the home of conservationist and artist Patricio Robles Gil, the Order of the Californias Condor was awarded for the first time. This recognition was created to highlight the commitment and achievements of those who have dedicated their lives to preserving nature. Represented by a bronze sculpture of a condor made by Robles Gil, the award was given to four iconic environmental figures: Juan Vargas, Catalina Porras, Valer Clark, and Vance Martin.
Patricio Robles Gil alongside three of the recipients of the first edition of the Order of the Californias Condor: Juan Vargas, Valer Clark, and Vance Martin, on a night that marked the beginning of a new conservation tradition.
Photo: Iván Carrillo
The California condor is one of North America’s most iconic species. Its extinction in the wild in the 1980s marked a critical point in the conservation struggle. Thanks to an ambitious binational program, the bird has returned to its natural habitat, becoming a symbol of resilience and ecological recovery.
Its inspiring story is why it was chosen as the namesake for this order—an honor that celebrates those who have devoted their lives to protecting biodiversity.
With a wingspan of up to three meters (nearly ten feet), the California condor is the largest land bird in North America. Its reintroduction to Mexico, after decades of local extinction, is a milestone in species conservation. In the photo, specialists handle a bird in the field—an essential step for monitoring and adaptation.
Photo: Patricio Robles Gil
Juan Vargas & Catalina Porras
The first honorees were Juan Vargas (present) and Catalina Porras (unable to attend), field coordinator and project coordinator, respectively, for the California condor reintroduction program in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, Baja California. Their work has been essential in rebuilding a viable condor population in Mexico. Both have spent more than two decades in wildlife conservation and have become pillars of the condor’s return.
“It’s a great responsibility to keep the program going and secure the population we’ve established, ensuring the condor’s future in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir,” Vargas said. “This award gives us even more strength to protect not just the condor, but many other species and ecosystems across the country.”
Patricio Robles Gil presents the Order of the Condor of the Californias to Juan Vargas in recognition of his tireless work on condor reintroduction in Mexico. Thanks to his leadership, this emblematic species once again soars over the country.
Photo: Iván Carrillo
Valer Clark
Valer Clark, the second honoree, is a renowned conservationist and director of Cuenca Los Ojos, an organization dedicated to restoring ecosystems in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. For decades she has revived degraded lands and rescued water sources, allowing key habitats to regenerate.
“The people gathered in this room, inspired by this order, can be the turning point for a new generation,” she said. “We must bring young people into what’s possible. And yes, it is possible to bring these creatures back. This recognition proves that what seems impossible can be achieved.”
Patricio Robles Gil shows Valer Clark a headdress made of condor feathers—a gift from Amazonian leader Tashka—symbolizing the bond between cultures and a shared fight for wildlife conservation.
Photo: Iván Carrillo
Vance Martin
Vance Martin, the third honoree, is former president of the WILD Foundation and current president emeritus of Wilderness Foundation Global. Over more than four decades he has played a pivotal role in protecting wilderness areas worldwide. Under his leadership, the WILD Foundation promoted ecological corridors and protected areas across several continents.
“This is an unexpected and deeply moving honor, granted by a great man,” Martin commented. “To be among the founding awardees, in such an extraordinary setting and surrounded by conservation luminaries—knowing that a lifetime’s work is acknowledged by your peers, not by the media or a single organization but by those who share your struggle—is profoundly meaningful.”
Patricio Robles Gil presents the Order of the Condor of the Californias to Vance Martin, honoring decades of conservation advocacy. Long‑time friends and allies, both have dedicated their lives to defending wilderness and strengthening a global community of environmental guardians.
Photo: Patricio Robles Gil
“It is time to promote and spotlight as many actors as possible who are committed to ensuring the survival of wildlife on our planet,” declared Robles Gil as he presented the order. “The brotherhood that may emerge from this initiative will help us confront threats, raise awareness, and—above all—inspire future generations of conservation warriors.”
The dinner was attended by leading figures from the environmental and business worlds, including Tramell Crow, a Dallas‑based entrepreneur and founder of EarthX, one of the world’s largest sustainability and environmental conferences. Through EarthX, Crow has advanced environmental education and global climate action, bringing together government leaders, scientists, and businesspeople to develop sustainable solutions.
Also present was Ramón Pérez Gil, a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), who has worked internationally to protect critical species and habitats. With extensive experience in planning and managing protected areas, Pérez Gil has contributed to global initiatives aimed at sustainability and biodiversity preservation. His work with the IUCN has been pivotal in shaping conservation strategies for ecosystems across Latin America.
The recipients of the Order of the Condor of the Californias received from Patricio Robles Gil’s own hands a sculpture he created that depicts the North American bird. Photo: Patricio Robles Gil.
For Robles Gil, the creation of this order is neither institutional nor merely ceremonial. “The idea of establishing the Order of the Condor of the Californias has been a long process that began in the 1990s, when Unidos para la Conservación A.C. honored companies committed to ecosystem‑ and species‑conservation campaigns,” he recalled. “Globally, there are many awards recognizing conservation efforts, yet they leave out numerous other actors who are not necessarily researchers—such as communicators, administrators, or those working in the legal field.”
A California condor soars majestically across the sky, a symbol of the success of its reintroduction after teetering on the brink of extinction. Its return is a historic milestone achieved through the joint efforts of institutions and conservationists.
Photo: Patricio Robles Gil.
The California condor, whose return to Mexican skies embodies resilience, inspires this initiative that seeks, in its creator’s words, “to forge a brotherhood of environmental warriors.” With the presentation of this inaugural edition, the Order of the Condor of the Californias takes flight, hopeful that more voices and hands will join in defending wildlife.
I´M BACK BAJA CALIFORNIA CONDOR
Inspired by the exemplary work of Juan Vargas and Catalina Porras with the California Condor in the northern Baja California peninsula, Patricio joins them to document their success story in bringing this scavenger back to the Sierra San Pedro Mártir National Park, since its extinction in México the seventies, also produce this website to encourage possible donors to commit to adopting one of the fifty condor that fly freely in this mountain range.
This video presents images of the Sierra San Pedro Martyr National Park, its wildlife, and the condor fieldwork team, led by Juan Vargas and Catalina Porras. It was the main visual background when Patricio Robles Gil interview them at The Foro Mar De Cortes conference in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, in November, 2023.
