Parque Benito Juarez Reforestation Project

By Tom Murlowski

​Many people cite the Jardin and Parroquia as the cultural center of San Miguel de Allende, but in my opinion, Parque Benito Juarez is the heart of SMA. Recently, several members of the Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday along with members of Rotaract and the SMART Rotary Club here met with representatives from the SMA municipal government for a reforestation effort. The project's goal was to plant 35 4.5-meter fresno (ash) trees and cull some of the park's dead tree material in the process.

"We wanted to replant trees of the same species so that once they're grown and a good size, we can start again to maintain the same environment," explained Ernesto Berra, the municipality’s director of environment and sustainability.

About 60 people came, formed teams, and began their work in the park. Our team consisted of Joyce Grenis, Tom Pynenberg and me, and we were led and advised by two people from the municipal office of ecologia.

Holes had been pre-dug, so we gently placed the saplings into them and packed the soil around them. One of the ecologia employees showed us how to form the soil to create a small dam to maximize the water usage during rains. It took us about three hours to plant six trees.

At one point, when I asked an ecologia employee what kind of trees we planted, he walked over to a giant tree with a massive trunk that he embraced and said, “Fresno.” The tiny saplings we helped plant will one day be towering trees, providing atmosphere, oxygen and shade to future generations visiting Parque Benito Juarez.

'Create Lasting Impact' indeed.