Together with our partner SENDAS and the local population we are going to restore the forest-landscape in Los Tuxtlas in Mexico. We are planting 50,300 trees in cattle farmers’ ranchos and around wells. In this way we replenish water shortages in the area and reinforce biodiversity!
trees will be planted
forest restored
cattle farmers are trained
families in total benefiting from the project
various native tree species
Los Tuxtlas reserve in Mexico is teeming with life. It harbors 2,698 species of plant, 46 species of amphibian, 122 species of reptile, 140 species of mammal and 860 species of butterfly. Unfortunately 90% of trees and plants in the reserve have disappeared over the past 40 years. Large sections of forest and mangrove have been converted into meadows for the production of cattle for beef.
Deforestation, at its worst towards the end of the last century, has caused a lot of trouble. For example, less and less rain falls, causing tremendous drought. As a result, many natural wells have run dry, whereas people in the surroundings depend on them.
Photos: Caro Carvajal
Through this project we repair landscape damage. This is done together with cattle breeders who are willing to replant parts of their grounds. Together with local inhabitants, we also plant trees around wells: ethnic groups Nahuas and Popolucas.
In 2023 en 2024 we are going to plant 100,300 trees. A certain number of trees we plant in more than 400 hectares of land in ten ‘ranchos’. Those are parcels belonging to local farmers on which their cattle feed. This is advantageous to cattle farmers: the trees provide shade and leaves and twigs serve as fodder. Soil and availability of water are also strongly improved.
Additionally, we plant trees around wells, together with families in the local communities. 12,870 families depend on these wells for drinking water and to supply their crops with water. By planting trees more water is retained in the soil and in the long run the water level in the wells will rise. A number of the trees we plant will render food, such as fruit and nuts, short term advantage to the people. Win-win!
And this is only the beginning. In the next few years we are going to extend the planting of trees towards the greater area: from the degraded forest around San Martin volcano to the coastline. This will reduce erosion of the soil and washing out of chemical weed killers. And this helps coral reef and marine life to prosper! For example: seriously threatened sea turtles will get new opportunities.
We realize this project together with our partner SENDAS. This is a Mexican NGO and since 1999 dedicated to nature conservation in Los Tuxtlas. SENDAS wishes to support the local population in restoring and keeping affected ecosystems and protecting local flora and fauna. Together with SENDAS we are also restoring mangrove forests in Sontecomapan Lagoon.
SENDAS works in close co-operation with Los Tuxtlas Park Management, Sustainable Cattle Farmers Network (ReGaSO) and the university (UNAM) in order to realize education, training and monitoring. Park Management also appoints rangers for supervision. Besides, local authorities do their part and the Veracruz Environment Department facilitates the production of seedlings in their nurseries.
The project takes place in the eastern part of Los Tuxtlas biosphere reserve, Veracruz, Mexico. The planting location is situated in a ‘cuenca’, a water retention area. It reaches from the volcano summit as far as the coast, where small rivers flow out into the sea.
