Mexico City Advances in Restoring the Bosque de Agua

During the first month of the Bosques por Siempre (Forests Forever) program, Mexico City’s Ministry of Environment (SEDEMA) planted 1,604,847 native trees, shrubs, and flowers across conservation areas in Mexico City and the states of Michoacan, Tlaxcala, and the State of Mexico. The initiative aims to restore the Bosque de Agua and maintain its critical water-regulation functions.

Launched this year, the program focuses on planting native species where they are most needed, maintaining previous reforestations, monitoring plant survival, and replacing specimens that do not thrive. All activities follow integrated watershed management practices in coordination with local communities and state governments. Within 41 days, the program has achieved 16% of its annual target.

Of the overall goal of 10 million plants for 2025, 5.2 million will be planted within Mexico City’s conservation lands and Protected Natural Areas. The remaining 4.8 million plants will be placed in surrounding state forests. Currently, 531,650 have been planted, including 106,650 in the State of Mexico; 400,000 in Michoacan; and 25,000 in Tlaxcala. Future phases include planting in Morelos, Hidalgo, Purepecha communities of Michoacan, Puebla, La Malinche area and Cuautitlan Izcalli.

SEDEMA’s forestry nursery, operated by the General Directorate of the Commission for Natural Resources and Rural Development (DGCorenadr), produces up to 10 million native plants annually. The nursery includes six specialized areas, such as a reverse osmosis wastewater treatment plant, microbiology and seed quality laboratories, a germplasm facility, and dedicated plant production zones.

Restoration goes beyond planting trees and shrubs. It aims to restore ecosystem functionality by conserving soil and water and supporting interactions among flora, fauna, fungi, and bacteria. The program strengthens ecological connectivity, enhances aquifer recharge, regulates local climate, captures carbon, preserves biodiversity, and protects wildlife habitats.

The initiative uses a watershed management approach, targeting basins including the Balsas, Lerma–Santiago, and Panuco, which supply 30% of Mexico City’s water. The conservation lands and their connection to the Bosque de Agua facilitate infiltration into underground aquifers, providing up to 70% of the city’s water supply.