Federal Agency Offers Grants for Forest Management in José María Morelos

José María Morelos, Quintana Roo — Residents of José María Morelos can access federal environmental conservation programs this year through the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), according to local officials.

Venancio Abán Mejía, a municipal councilor, said the projects CONAFOR will make available include reforestation of areas affected by fires, sustainable forest management, conservation of rural roads, and support for wood-based handicraft production.

He emphasized that the resources are non-repayable grants, meaning ejidatarios (communal landholders) don’t need to reimburse them.

“There are substantial federal resources for natural area conservation and forest management. They can even support road construction to extract products more efficiently and sustainably,” Abán Mejía said.

Priority areas for these programs include El Martirio, San Antonio, La Esperanza, and La Prasumida, where over 100 hectares were recently reforested with federal support.

The projects also create temporary employment in the ejidos and allow forest products to be sold at better prices, strengthening the local economy in a sustainable manner.

Abán Mejía urged community leaders and ejidatarios to approach CONAFOR directly rather than waiting for the General Assembly: “If they have the information, they can gather their people and manage the support. We shouldn’t let these resources that benefit both the ejido and the environment pass us by.”

The councilor added that programs from the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat (Sader) and the Secretariat of Agricultural, Rural, and Fisheries Development (SEDARPA) will soon be available, encouraging the community to stay informed and actively participate in natural environment conservation.