After two weeks of intense land preparation, calling for volunteers, collaborators, and friends, gathering tools, and above all, having all the trees donated through our “Adopt a Tree” program, our 11th annual reforestation took place on June 27, 2021.

Before starting the arduous planting day, a ceremony was held to ask permission from the land that provides us with natural resources, landscapes, and ecosystems that make up the biodiversity surrounding us in the Valley. Afterwards, the “Speaking Stick” team handed over the copal trees to the people who adopted them so they could give them a name.

As part of the reforestation activities, we provided training on the correct way to plant a tree. The team takes into account the importance of raising awareness about tree care, which is why maintenance is provided twice a year. Watering, pruning, fertilization, and weeding help the trees gain the necessary resilience to survive in the environment where they are planted.

Finally, to celebrate the collaborative work that took place that morning, our friends from Suena Barro delighted us with their ensemble of ceramic musical instruments. There was a great gathering with all the attendees, which showcased the value of the community that identifies us.

Our workshop continues with the fixed goal of achieving sustainable consumption of the wood we use to carve our pieces, so it is a source of pride to express that this reforestation was a complete success. In addition to surpassing last year's goal, with over 9,500 trees reforested in three different communities in the Valley of Ocotlán, we achieved the first sustainable wood utilization from our nursery.

This year, the communities of Santo Tomás Jalieza and Santa Catarina Minas from the Valley of Ocotlán joined, along with our sister town Teotitlán del Valle. We want to share our joy and thank each person who joined voluntarily. With their support, a culture of resource regeneration awareness is being promoted, not just consumption.

We want to give special recognition to the local businesses of the Ocotlán valley for their generosity: Taller Zurita, Nisjali Water Purifier, Pinturas Sayer Ocotlán, Maya Gas Station; a thank you to brands like Urology of High Specialization, Casa Pedro Domecq, Mezcal El Terco, and Elixir de Agave for adopting more than 20 trees; and especially to Grupo Modelo for providing the tools. Thanks to the organizations Relato Nativo and Thread Caravan for their support in creating a better collective future. They share with us the commitment to the environment in our land.

Finally, this great effort of collective reforestation would not be possible without the support of the Alfredo Harp Helú Oaxaca Foundation, which year after year trusts our bioconservation project to continue creating microforests and alliances that transform the landscape and collective consciousness.