Planting trees for people and birds

As soon as we started collecting seeds, we began plant production in our Moxviquil-Encinar nursery. We are producing at least 80,000 plants of 20 species of temperate forest trees for 2023 restoration season (June to October). 

Our annual restoration campaign started on June 4th, with the rainy season in our region. In 30 days, more than 80 people have participated in planting native trees and shrubs in deforested areas. These areas are are corridors that conect with patches of forest that provide refuge and habitat for more than 200 species of migratory and resident birds.

During 4 weeks we have planted close to 10,000 trees. The variety of people participating is inspiring more and more people to get involved in each reforestation event. From children to seniors, from rural to urban, from Mexicans to people from other countries, everyone comes together for the common good and for the love of Mother Earth.

THANK YOU ALL for your hands, your hearts and your good will to recover water, birds and life! 

Seed collection is an activity that in many cases requires specialized support to access them. The safety of field personnel is a priority. With the support of specialized equipment, the chosen tree is climbed with ropes, harness and helmet, always following the instructions. Of course, it is also important to take care of the trees during the climbing and the collection itself. During the last few months, we were able to collect seeds from Liquidambar styraciflua, Pinus ayacahuite, Pinus michoacana, Pinus maximinoi and Nissa sylvatica. In many cases we were accompanied by fog, humidity and cold, remembering that it is during the winter that many temperate tree species mature their seeds. It is a season of much activity in the forests: seeds, flowers, insects and birds make the environment feel always active.

Winter has arrived and along with it, many species of migratory birds that inhabit the temperate forests of Chiapas (as opposed to the transients that go further south on the continent). It is during the months of November to February that Pronatura Sur's monitoring team carries out specialized surveys to monitor Neotropical Migratory Birds, following Mixed Foraging Flocks in Temperate Forests. Forming Mixed Flocks is a strategy used by several bird species to forage in groups. All the birds using different strata of the forest composition. In Chiapas there are about 40 species that can join these assemblies: from resident to migratory species, most of them insectivorous. Following these flocks make possible to record Golden-cheeked Warbler, a globally threatened species that is declining due to the accelerated change of land use in its breeding sites -in Texas-, and by the accelerated deforestation that reduces the winter habitat in Central America.

These efforts of forest recovery by reforesting with native species together with rural communities, helps to protect and conserve this bird species that serves as an umbrella species, that is, through it the protection and care of all components of temperate forests is managed.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION!