Green Initiative for Land Reclamation and Community Engagement: Covia’s Forest Nursery in Mexico


08/03/2023


Covia owns more than 80,000 acres of land in different locations. The company is committed to using the land responsibly throughout its operations - from the initial development and planning stages, to the production phase, and finally to the reclamation process that aims to protect, restore, and enhance the land and its biodiversity.
 
With this vision in mind, Covia Mexico Team Members, led by Environmental Coordinator Abel Oswaldo Cabada Mendoza, came up with ideas for Covia’s Canoitas, Mexico site. After months of planning, they recently launched their site’s first forest nursery - El Huixachin.
 
The nursery is located near the plant and will grow native trees and plants such as huisache, mesquite, guajillo, chapote, and yucca coahulensis. The creation of this nursey was a big challenge. The Team has built a nursery that can produce 12,000 plants per year and plans to donate most of the harvest to local schools, gardens, and parks.
 
This initiative aims to support the site’s reclamation efforts, but more importantly, to strengthen the site’s relationships with local communities, fostering a shared sense of environmental stewardship.
 
“This first stage of the nursery represents a lot for Planta Canoitas and the Environmental Team. We are cultivating a culture of sustainability and aiming to increase interest in conservation practices. We plan to teach species reproduction and planting techniques so that Team Members and community members can replicate these skills in their homes and neighborhoods. This program is a part of our ESG strategy and driven by our core value, Act Responsibly,” said Mendoza.