Mérida declares 200th black algarrobo tree as Green Heritage

The municipal government of Mérida has officially declared a majestic black algarrobo tree as the city’s 200th ‘Green Heritage Tree’ (Árbol Patrimonio Verde). Located in the Colonia México neighborhood, the tree stands 21.52 meters tall with a canopy diameter of 27.7 meters. According to I-Tree data, the specimen has stored approximately 5,453 kilograms of carbon, equivalent to 19,995 kilograms of CO2.

Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada announced the declaration during her second government report, emphasizing that the initiative integrates urban growth with nature protection. The designation imposes strict conservation measures, including a total ban on felling the tree, mandatory maintenance by the City Council, and its inclusion in urban development and territorial planning. Specific regulations for pruning will also be implemented to ensure the tree's health.

Raúl Escalante Aguilar, director of the Environmental and Animal Welfare Unit, reported that the 200 recognized trees represent 39 different species distributed across 50 sites, including 33 neighborhoods and 17 townships. The administration has set a goal to reach 300 protected trees, aiming to recognize approximately 100 new specimens per year.