Mexico is facing extreme temperatures. The country is going through an intense heatwave, with temperatures ranging from 30 to 45°C, affecting from the north to the south.
According to the National Meteorological Service (SMN) of the country, the phenomenon is caused by an anticyclonic system, raising temperatures in entities such as Sinaloa, Jalisco, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Yucatán, even with showers and thunderstorms in some regions.
In Mexico City, the Secretary of Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection (SGIRPC) confirmed that the heatwave will continue for at least a few more days, with high UV radiation and clear skies.
## Reforestation as a climate strategy against extreme temperatures
In the middle of this scenario, the organization Naturaleza Sostenible, led by Alfredo Carrillo Reyna, is promoting a massive reforestation project with the support of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the Autonomous University of Chapingo.
The initiative aims to:
– Mitigate the impact of climate change in the capital.
– Offset deforestation, with a debt of 100,000 trees in the south of the city.
– Involve the community, with each tree sponsored by a citizen.
Each tree is geolocated with QR codes, allowing constant monitoring of its health and growth.
## Social and ecological impact
“Not only the sponsor takes care of the tree, but also their family and friends. A responsible community is created,” highlighted Carrillo Reyna.
To date, more than 20,000 trees have been planted, with species such as ceibas, jacarandas, lemons, and ash trees, and none have died thanks to the commitment of citizens.
This Monday, six Mexicans adopted trees in the Roma neighborhood, and in the coming weeks, Pachuca will join, where 5,000 specimens will be planted at a school.
## Transformation of urban spaces
The program also rehabilitates private lands for conservation use, turning them into active ecological areas.
According to Carrillo, many areas in the south of Mexico City were at risk of falling into environmental crime, so institutions like UNAM and Chapingo helped transform them into functional green spaces.
## Challenges and project expansion
Despite the positive impact, the environmental leader denounced the criminalization of activists. In 2025, he was arrested at the Northern Penitentiary for planting a tree, earning the nickname “sidewalk criminal.”
Nevertheless, the goal remains ambitious:
– Massively reforest Mexico City.
– Expand the initiative to green rooftops, revolutionizing the urban landscape.
“The extreme temperatures intensify each year. These trees are a grain of sand to change the future,” concluded Fernando Martínez, sponsor of the initiative.
