Mexico City Expands Urban Green Spaces

Mexico City’s Ministry of the Environment (SEDEMA) has created 790.28 linear m of living walls as part of its urban revegetation efforts since 2019. These green walls, implemented across various districts, contribute to air purification and water filtration while supporting biodiversity and pollinator species.

According to SEDEMA, from 2021 to date, 26 living walls have been installed across the city. A total of 1,893 plants were used to create the gardens, which in some cases were paired with pollinator gardens featuring species such as lantana and lavender. These living walls provide food and shelter for pollinators, helping to increase local biodiversity.

In addition to these walls, the city has planted over 51 million trees, shrubs, and ground cover plants since 2019, surpassing the initial target of 10 million set under the Reto Verde (Green Challenge) initiative. The revegetation campaign has increased urban green space per capita, from 14.5m2 in 2017 to 19.4 m2 in 2020, with more green spaces expected to be tallied in the coming years.

Efforts have also contributed to an increase in local biodiversity, with the number of bird species rising from 355 to 397. Protected natural areas in the city are now home to over 1,700 species, including coyotes, American lynxes, and gray foxes, which have become more visible in recent years. Mexico City's environmental efforts have earned national and international recognition, with 27 awards acknowledging the city's commitment to improving the urban environment.