Mérida, Yucatán — The city’s “Adopt a Tree” program accounts for more than half the plantings completed under the municipal green infrastructure plan.
The director of the Commune’s Sustainable Development Unit, Sayda Melina Rodríguez Gómez, said that the City Council is responding to citizen requests to reforest both in the city and its satellite communities’ parks, green areas, schools and businesses.
Of the 64,682 trees already planted under the city’s reforestation goals, 38,397 were adopted under the program.
The trees most demanded by those who adopt them are fruit trees such as Sour Orange, Ciricote, Saramuyo, Mamey, Guanábana and Mango.
The city has a catalog of trees best suited to the city’s climate: Aktis, Anona, Balché, Caimito, Campanita, Capulín, Chak Sikin, Chaká, Chit, Chooch, Cocotero, Corozo and Flor de Mayo.
Others are the Guaya or Huaya, Guayaba and Guayacán, Guano, Kaan Haabin, Kanisté and Kerpis and Kitimché.
The program educates the public about the downside of urbanization when concrete surfaces replace vegetation.
Heat from pavement, sidewalks, concrete slabs, other artificial surfaces, coupled with the city’s growing car culture, could raise the city’s average temperature 1.5 percent annually, climate scientists warn.
To adopt a tree, visit Avenida 2000 between 67 and 67 B, in Fracc. Bosques de Yucalpetén, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday, or at city events such as Noche Blanca.
