Aguascalientes City Council Acquires La Pona Land to Promote Protected Status

After years of environmentalist advocacy, the Aguascalientes city council has approved the purchase of the La Pona land from developers, aiming to preserve it as an urban forest and have it declared a protected natural area. The acquisition, also known as "La Mezquitera," passed with a vote of twelve council members from the PAN and PRI parties, while their Morena counterparts opposed it.

La Pona is recognized as a vital area for aquifer recharge and serves as the city's primary green lung. Municipal President Leonardo Montañez Castro emphasized its importance, stating, "La Pona is an urban forest of almost 40 hectares, not only is it the area with the largest water reserve in the municipality, even in the state, but it is also a zone to prevent floods."

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La Pona is an urban forest of almost 40 hectares, not only is it the area with the largest water reserve in the municipality, even in the state, but it is also a zone to prevent floods.

For many years, civil society groups fought to prevent the park, located in the eastern part of the capital, from being developed into housing subdivisions and commercial zones. The municipal government finalized the purchase for 101 million pesos, a reduction from the initial asking price of 105 million pesos from the three owning companies. The city also paid 4 million pesos in outstanding property taxes.

The city council plans to formalize the transaction within weeks, with the goal of making La Pona a state-level asset. Montañez Castro announced plans for its restoration with the support of environmentalists and a management plan for its care. He also stated that efforts would be made to secure its declaration as a federally protected natural area. "We have taken the first step," he said, envisioning the area not just as a recreational space but as a source of life and health for families, promoting physical and emotional well-being.

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We have taken the first step.