By: Oriana Medina, Tree-Nation Reforestation Impact Manager.
We're proud to unveil our newest reforestation project in Mexico, where we will plant 50,000 trees!
A key focus area is Tepelmeme in the Mixteca Region of Oaxaca, chosen for its critical need due to a substantial 8% loss in forest coverage, largely attributed to illegal logging, uncontrolled agricultural expansion, particularly for agave and avocado, and frequent wildfires.
Amplifying these environmental issues are harsher weather conditions—longer, hotter dry seasons and more intense rainy periods, leading to forest degradation, soil erosion, and water resource depletion. This not only threatens the environment but also adversely affects local communities like the Ejidos, low-income and vulnerable communities, who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihood.
Fig. 1. Planting activities with the local team and volunteers. Source: Donate a tree to the world
The project confronts these challenges with innovative restoration strategies, planting 8 different native species, such as Proposopis laevigata, Lysiloma acapulcense and Eysenhardtia polystachya, which are suited to the area's climate, enhancing survival and growth prospects.
Emphasizing long-term sustainability, the project local team collaborates closely with local Ejidos of the Tepelmeme community , known for its strong cultural heritage, leadership and a history of fighting deforestation.
The local community is instrumental in this battle against further forest degradation and climate change effects. Their ancestral knowledge and techniques have been known to help restore and preserve the forests of the region.
Fig. 2. Planting activities. Source: Donate a tree to the world
This group of locals are mostly led by women, who provide critical labor for planting and maintenance of the trees in the nurseries and forests. The project’s technical team offers guidance and monitors progress over a five-year period post-planting, guaranteeing a high survival rate of the trees, as well as long term sustainability of the environmental impacts the project has.
Fig. 3. Local planter. Source: Donate a tree to the world
On the other hand, with an aim to enrich the local ecological and social landscape, the project also integrates educational components, covering women empowerment, sustainable practices, and financial literacy. This will help the local communities get additional income opportunities, as well as livelihoods and a better relationship of the population with its surroundings.
These reforestation efforts are poised to create significant environmental impacts, including carbon sequestration, enhanced biodiversity, erosion control, and replenished water reserves. On the social front, we're committed to empowering under-resourced communities, advocating gender equality, and involving the youth in sustainable practices, thereby reinforcing their resilience and cultural heritage.
We invite you to learn more about the project’s efforts, the involved communities, and how you can support this crucial initiative by visiting their project page. Join us in our mission to cultivate a greener, more sustainable future for Mexico's forests and its people.
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