Mexico Expands Forest Restoration Under National Strategy

Mexico is expanding its national forest restoration strategy with new investments and reforestation projects aimed at restoring more than 151,000ha, as the federal government seeks to strengthen climate resilience, watershed protection and rural development. During a National Reforestation Day event in Oaxaca, Alicia Bárcena, Minister of Environment (SEMARNAT) said the current administration will reforest 32,764ha with 15.5 million plants during 2025 and 2026 as part of the country's broader forestry policy.

The event also marked the National Forestry Commission’s (CONAFOR) 25th anniversary, with Bárcena reaffirming the federal government's commitment to forest conservation and restoration. "In these 25 years of CONAFOR, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to stand alongside those who build forests, care for forests, prevent wildfires, restore watersheds and defend life," she said.

Speaking in Tepelmeme Villa de Morelos, Oaxaca, Bárcena said the reforestation campaign is part of the federal government's National Forest Restoration Strategy, which includes 2,328 projects covering 151,640.61ha across Mexico. She added that Oaxaca accounts for 83 restoration projects covering 6,825 ha with an investment of MX$250.5 million. 

The reforestation campaign in Tepelmeme included the planting of 3,000 trees across four ha using four native species: Pinus oaxacana, Juniperus flaccida, Agave potatorum and Cercocarpus fothergilloides. Simultaneously, 31 reforestation events were held across Mexico under the coordination of CONAFOR's state offices, involving federal, state and municipal authorities, ejidos, local communities and civil society organizations through the traditional tequio model of collective work.

Salomón Jara, Oaxaca Governor said community participation remains central to the state's forest conservation strategy, highlighting tequio as a longstanding practice supporting ecosystem restoration.

He noted that Oaxaca has steadily increased its production of seedlings for reforestation, from 8.5 million plants in 2023 to 10.6 million in 2024 and 10.8 million in 2025. The state aims to produce 17 million plants in 2026.

"Today, planting a tree is doing tequio for Oaxaca and Mexico, and planting it is a commitment to those who will inherit this land," Jara said.

Sergio Graf Montero, Director, CONAFOR, said restoration work will begin this year on an additional 24,000ha in priority regions nationwide. Of that total, 1,500ha will be restored in the Chocho-Mixteca region in Oaxaca.

Graf also highlighted the work of the Chocho-Mixteca Communities Alliance, whose 54 member communities have restored more than 25ha in collaboration with the agency over the past 25 years. During President Sheinbaum's administration, another 7,000 ha will receive restoration support. "Protecting and restoring our forests is essential to making us less vulnerable to climate change," he said.

The reforestation campaigns form part of the National Environmental Restoration Program 2026. In addition to tree planting, the government plans to implement restoration infrastructure that includes 763km of fencing around restoration areas, 307km of firebreaks, 1,090km of mechanized soil preparation, 160km of infiltration trenches, 643,000 individual terraces, rehabilitation of 4,128m3 of water storage ponds, installation of 3,378m3 of check dams and 270 biodiversity conservation initiatives.