Mexico City Launches Gardens for Life to Boost Urban Biodiversity

The Ministry of the Environment of Mexico City (SEDEMA) launches the 2025 edition of its Gardens for Life program as part of a broader strategy to expand green areas, promote biodiversity, and strengthen civic engagement in urban sustainability efforts.

The program, led by SEDEMA’s Directorate of Environmental Culture, has been in place since 2019 and has supported the installation of over 1,000 pollinator gardens featuring native plants. It has also trained over 1,200 participants in urban nature conservation.

In its new phase, the program invites families, community groups, institutions, organizations and businesses to help create sustainable green spaces across Mexico City, particularly in boroughs with limited access to green areas.

Julia Álvarez, Minister of the Environment of Mexico City, says that native gardens serve as both climate action tools and symbols of public commitment to ecological restoration. She adds that the initiative is part of SEDEMA’s mission to make green space accessible to all, particularly in underserved areas.

The program will continue to focus on native species that support pollinators. Álvarez says the gardens are designed to provide food and shelter for insects and animals such as bees, butterflies, and bats, which are essential to ecological balance and food production.

The launch event included remarks from Alejandra Ramírez, Director of Environmental Culture, SEMARNAT, who highlighted the program’s evolution and its role in education and civic science. She described the gardens as both ecological and cultural resources, connecting biodiversity with local knowledge.

There is an urgent need to protect pollinators, which are declining globally, says Roberto Castillo, General Director of Environmental Policy and Culture Coordination, SEDEMA. He adds that about 75% of food production depends on these species, making their protection critical to global food security.