José Varela leads environmental efforts to protect Tetlalmanche volcano

Mexican activist José Varela is leading an environmental initiative to protect the Tetlalmanche volcano, the highest peak in the Sierra de Santa Catarina, located between the Tláhuac and Iztapalapa boroughs of Mexico City.

The protected area has faced long-term threats from illegal mining, urban sprawl, and land invasions. Varela, through his regenerative tourism project Inlandmex, aims to change the local narrative by creating the first urban forest planted by tourists in Iztapalapa. His efforts include planting endemic ash trees to restore the natural landscape and promote the area's ecological value in regions that suffer from low green space coverage.