Sheinbaum Announces National Reforestation Day with 6.6 Million Trees, Plans Annual Event

Mexico is set to launch a National Reforestation Day this Sunday, an initiative President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced aims to become an annual event. This effort seeks to institutionalize a permanent commitment to environmental restoration through widespread citizen participation.

The strategy involves collaboration between state governments, municipalities, federal agencies, and thousands of volunteers. The Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader), the Secretariat of Welfare, and the National Forestry Commission (Conafor) will coordinate the event, with support from state governors and the head of government of Mexico City.

Columba López Gutiérrez, head of Sader, detailed that the reforestation drive will cover 32,000 hectares across all 32 states, encompassing 621 municipalities and 1,632 agrarian communities. On Sunday alone, more than 6.6 million trees and plants are scheduled for planting by an estimated 235,097 participants. The initiative will also employ drones for seeding, using specially prepared seed pods designed to protect them from wildlife and ensure successful germination.

President Sheinbaum emphasized the goal of making reforestation an ongoing societal effort, not just a one-off event tied to specific years. "The objective is that this day happens every year, not just in 2026, but that from now on we set one day a year where all of us reforest," she stated.

In addition to government bodies, the initiative has garnered support from the Secretariat of National Defense, the National Forestry Commission (Conafor), the Mexican Institute of Youth (Imjuve), national servants, universities, civil organizations, and research centers. This broad coalition underscores the national scope and ambition of Mexico's renewed focus on environmental restoration.