The Santa Fe Chamber of Deputies approved an ambitious program that aims to plant one million trees in the next decade.
The initiative involves local governments, NGOs, universities, and private companies in a joint strategy to improve the provincial environment.
The project, promoted by socialist deputy Rubén Galassi, was approved by 41 of the 43 legislators present.
What “Santa Fe: one million trees” consists of
In particular, the measure adds a new chapter to the Tree Law in force since 2018, when trees were declared as ecological infrastructure.
“Santa Fe: One million trees” aims to increase the quantity and quality of provincial trees.
The project thus recognizes trees as a key contribution to the conservation of biodiversity.
The program includes planting in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.
Among the main objectives is the mitigation of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and reducing temperature in urban areas.
It also seeks to reduce the impact of water stress affecting the province.
The initiative includes awareness and environmental education actions for citizens about the importance of trees and afforestation.
The program will enhance the provincial network of forest nurseries to supply municipalities and communes.
The project incorporates a five-year monitoring plan that will measure:
- the amount of CO₂ captured per tree;
- the reduction of urban temperature;
- the survival rate of the planted specimens.
“Climate change is not a hypothesis, it is a reality we live with daily,” highlighted Galassi in the chamber.
Collaborative work and inspiring examples
The deputy emphasized that the proposal requires collaborative work between:
- The provincial government;
- the municipalities;
- the INTA;
- the private sector;
- civil organizations and universities.
Among the initiatives is the program “one graduate, one tree”.
Galassi exemplified the project’s scope: if only 10% of the province’s 3,000 educational buildings produce 100 seedlings annually, between 30,000 and 50,000 trees would be obtained for distribution in communities.
“Planting trees improves the habitat and is a climate response to global warming by lowering temperature, capturing CO₂, and infiltrating water,” stated the legislator.
He also highlighted benefits such as providing shade, cutting winds, reducing noise, and protecting livestock.
To support the proposal, the deputy cited successful precedents in Argentina and the world.
One of these is Mexico City, which launched the Green Challenge Plan in 2019 to plant more than 10 million trees.
Meanwhile, Bogotá, in Colombia, exceeded its initial goal and planted 670,000 trees between 2020 and 2023.
In Argentina, Santa Fe also highlights the case of Hermes Binner, who as mayor of Rosario planted 150,000 trees in five years.
In the provincial capital, a similar policy was implemented by José Corral, while Córdoba also developed a comprehensive urban afforestation plan.
Investment and the right to the city
Regarding costs, Galassi compared the planting of 100,000 trees with the repaving of 4 to 5 kilometers of road.
“Welcome the roads because they are fundamental works, but we must also invest in improving our environment,” he considered.
The legislator highlighted the incorporation of the right to the city in the new Santa Fe Constitution.
“Planting one million trees in ten years is making access to green equitable, bringing trees where there are none today,” he concluded.
