The arid zone that became a forest of 20 million trees in Mexico

The indigenous alliance of Chocholtecas-Mixtecas communities of Oaxaca, in southern Mexicohas converted 22,000 hectares of dry and eroded soil into a forest where 20 million trees grow that subsist in one of the regions with the greatest degradation and lack of rain in the country.

On the road that connects the communities of San Cristóbal Suchixtlahuaca with San Miguel Tulancingo, the contrast is appreciated: on one side pulverized soils, rocks and small bushes, on the other a thick green forest of pines, oaks, magueys and pine nuts.

Forest engineer Idalia Fabiola Lázaro López has been part of this alliance for 14 years that defends the importance of forests.

The method of reforestation includes tree planting, combined with soil works and rainwater filtration.

“The benefits we see here are a benefit not only for those of us who live in this area or in these communities, but also for the entire planet,” explained the specialist, originally from Nochixtlán, one of the communities that make up the alliance.

CALL THE CLOUDS

Another pillar of this grouping of environmentalists is Professor Raúl Nieto Ángel de la Chapingo Autonomous Universitywho states that the works have managed to attract rain. “These leaves become soil, that is organic matter now, but this gradually becomes soil and it is a very rich soil,” explains the Mixtec engineer. .

“And this rain is a reflection of the work that has been done for a long time, more than 40 years in which this region has been restored with forest trees,” he added.

Rainfall has not greened this eroded area of oaxacabut now they can plant tomatoes in greenhouses and watercress and apple trees in the open air.

“This is an example that things can be done in our communities, this generates employment for us and that people do not emigrate from our communities because it generates income and for self-consumption,” said the president of the alliance and of the community property commissioner of San Miguel Tulancingo, Manuel Juárez.

The soil loss in the geographical region of the Mixteca of Oaxaca occurred in colonial times, when thousands of trees they served as fuel to obtain the lime used for the construction of the Dominican temples.

Its degradation has continued until now with the excess of grazing in the area.

The indigenous alliance It is made up of 24 communities that plan to reforest 225 hectares of the San Miguel Tulancingo hill with 161,000 trees.

(With information from EFE)