Cancún, Quintana Roo — Cancún’s “Arboliza Cancún” reforestation program has planted more than 3,000 native trees in its first two phases, with a 90% survival rate, according to Fernando Haro Salinas, director of Ecology for the municipality of Benito Juárez.
The program, launched in August 2025 by Mayor Ana Paty Peralta, includes a school-focused phase called “Arboliza Cancún en tu Escuela,” which has already planted over 350 trees at eight schools. Seven more schools are scheduled for planting before the summer break.
Haro Salinas credited the high survival rate to technical guidance from environmental organizations, including the Mexican Arboriculture Association, Reforestemos México, and urban reforestation specialists.
The program’s success helped Cancún earn the international “Tree Cities of the World” designation for the first time. The award, granted by Reforestemos México, the Arbor Day Foundation, and United Nations-affiliated bodies, will be presented on May 29 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, at a national meeting of 48 Mexican cities recognized for urban reforestation and environmental policies.
To qualify, Cancún demonstrated permanent tree-planting programs, dedicated budgets for urban tree care, and environmental regulations such as the Climate Action Regulation and Quintana Roo’s Urban Tree Law.
In addition to reforestation, the municipality has conducted seven urban cenote cleanups, with an eighth scheduled this weekend. Authorities reported removing more than five tons of solid waste from various cenotes, noting a decrease in trash compared to previous years. In some cenotes, waste per session dropped from three tons to smaller amounts, which officials attribute to greater public environmental awareness.
However, illegal dumping of trash and bulky waste persists, especially at night. The municipality regularly maintains about 25 urban cenotes and is developing monitoring and environmental mapping projects using specialized technology to create a comprehensive assessment of these ecosystems.
