Thanks to the initiative of a private citizen, Ajijic’s waterfront park is now graced with a meandering row of 20 new trees. The reforestation project was carried out along the western extreme of the Malecon on Saturday, July 28 in cooperation with the municipal government.
A variety of native Mexican species—including primavera, rosa morada, ceiba, tabachin, and parota—were donated by Chula Vista resident Ana Romana who raised them from seedlings at a nursery she operates in Mezcala. The trees are already four to five years old, with strong roots and well developed top growth that lend to high probability of survival under minimal care. All except the parota are attractive flowering varieties.
Romana is an ardent proponent for the preservation and restoration of endemic flora in Lake Chapala’s ecosystem. Intent on promoting the development of a sustainable green ring around the lake, she hopes to continue planting trees along the shoreline, particularly species such as the sabino (Taxodium mucronatum, also known as ahuehuete) and sauce (Salix bonplandiana) that not only thrive in riparian habitats, but also help purify the water sources by which they grow.