Tamaulipas Congress approves urban forests as protected areas

The Tamaulipas State Congress has approved a legislative reform that establishes urban forests as a distinct category of Protected Natural Areas. The reform modifies the Sustainable Development Code and the Law of Human Settlements, Land Use Planning, and Urban Development.

This legal change aims to provide formal protection, restoration, and reforestation support for high-density vegetation areas located within or on the periphery of cities. These ecosystems are recognized for their ability to mitigate heat island effects, filter air pollutants, recharge aquifers, and protect biodiversity.

The initiative, proposed by Deputy Yuriria Iturbe Vázquez and developed in collaboration with the civil association Tonantzin Tlalli, Venerable Madre Tierra, addresses a legal gap that previously left areas like the El Refugio Urban Forest in Ciudad Victoria without specific legal status. Under the new law, urban forests will hold the same legal standing as state parks.