With the rainy season underway, Puerto Vallarta’s municipal government has launched a large-scale reforestation campaign aimed at planting 5,200 native trees between June 15 and 30. The initiative, announced by Director of Environmental Sustainability Bartolo Cruz Romero, addresses both the environmental impact of the Vía Corta highway project and extensive tree loss caused by Hurricane Lidia in 2023.
“These aren’t small saplings—we’re planting trees over two meters tall to give them a stronger start,” said Cruz Romero, a trained biologist. The selected species include parota, capomo, primavera, rosa morada, cedar, and mahogany, all native to the region and chosen for their adaptability and ecological benefits.
The project is part of a broader environmental compensation plan tied to the construction of the Guadalajara–Puerto Vallarta highway, which required the removal of 257 mature trees along its route. “This reforestation is about more than compliance—it’s about restoring balance and honoring our responsibility to the environment and the community,” Cruz Romero said.
Adding urgency to the campaign, Hurricane Lidia damaged or destroyed more than 350 trees in Puerto Vallarta’s urban and peri-urban zones last October. The new trees are expected to help recover lost ecosystem services such as shade, carbon capture, soil stability, and air purification.
The reforestation effort also builds on Puerto Vallarta’s recent recognition as a 2024 Tree City of the World, an international certification for cities that demonstrate excellence in urban forestry management. To earn the title, the city met global standards including a formal tree care ordinance, a dedicated urban forestry team, a detailed tree inventory, and sufficient annual funding.
“We’ve achieved the certification—now we must make it real,” Cruz Romero said. “That means planting trees, yes, but also fostering a culture that values and protects them.”
The campaign will involve local residents, schools, and community groups, who will help plant trees in public parks, greenways, and other priority areas. The species mix is intended to provide both environmental and aesthetic benefits: fast-growing parotas and capomos for shade, colorful primaveras and rosa morada for visual appeal, and durable cedars and mahogany for long-term forest resilience.
To ensure the trees thrive, the city will install drip irrigation systems where possible and organize volunteer watering teams during dry periods. “Planting is just the beginning,” Cruz Romero emphasized. “The next two years are critical to ensuring these trees take root and grow strong.”
Environmental advocates have welcomed the campaign. “The timing is perfect—planting with the rains gives the trees the best chance to establish,” said María López of VerdeVallarta, a conservation nonprofit. “It’s a smart, science-based approach that other coastal cities should follow.”
Beyond the environmental impact, city officials see long-term social benefits. Urban trees help reduce heat, improve air quality, and enhance quality of life for residents. “Healthy urban forests are vital infrastructure,” said Cruz Romero. “They’re not just green spaces—they’re essential to building a more livable and resilient Puerto Vallarta.”