Online at Reuters.com, last summer, I saw a report from Mexico City. It is reported that the Mexicans have planted more than 8 million trees as part of a push to correct it’s reputation for environmental indifference. It has become well known that Mexico has been poor in their environmental management, even to the extent of rampant mismanagement and continuously ignoring the rampant illegal logging of trees.
The government uncharacteristically supplied the saplings and large groups of volunteers trekked up and down Mexico wielding shovels and wheelbarrows. They actually planted a 8.3 million trees, according to the environmental ministry.
Illegal logging in Mexico destroys some 64,000 acres (26,000 hectares) of Mexican forest each year, according to government reports, putting Mexico near the top of a U.N. list of nations losing primary forest fastest. Worldwide, environmental activists say the figure is much higher.
The environmental group Greenpeace called the effort a publicity stunt, saying a better way to keep forests healthy would be to cut back on logging, which is often controlled by the country’s powerful organized crime gangs. Greenpeace was quoted as saying that “this program is a fraud. Only 10 percent of what is planted survives, which means they are throwing the federal budget for reforestation straight into the garbage.”
However, Mexican President, Felipe Calderon regularly speaks out against global warming and he has launched a number of green initiatives to curb rampant pollution in the city. The government provides fuel subsidies and there is a lack of public transport, which means the roads are permanently choked with cars. This is quite different from the ideology of Vincente Fox, who was a big Bush supporter, friend and ally.
Mexican Environment Minister Juan Rafael Elvira said the point of the tree planting was to raise environmental consciousness in Mexico, which ecologists also criticize for allowing the oil industry to contaminate many rural states. “We don’t just want a green country. We want to plant trees to nurture environmental conscience,” he said.
Whether or not Greenpeace is right in their criticism, I tend to think that this is good for Mexico. The idea that is sends signals and gives credence to the environmental problem the world faces is avery good for a country who has spent far too much time in the dark. If you would like to send encouragement for this effort and voice your approval, you can go to the website Here and use the online contact information to write a letter or send an email.
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