The Municipal Government of Cuernavaca declared five ahuehuetes located in the Chalchihuapan canyon, in Santa María Ahuacatitlán, as Heritage Trees, in recognition of their ecological, historical, and cultural value.
The declaration is made in accordance with the Cabildo Agreement SO/AC-342/17-V-2023, which establishes the criteria for the protection of heritage trees in the municipality. These specimens stand out for their ecological function within the canyon ecosystem, their contribution to water regulation, and their role as a habitat for various species of flora and fauna.
The evaluation and ruling process was carried out by the Ecological Planning Committee of the Municipality of Cuernavaca (COET), the technical body in charge of analyzing and evaluating the candidate trees for this type of decree. From this declaration, the ahuehuetes will have a special management regime, based on scientific and technical criteria.
The management of this grove will be respectful, non-intrusive, and strictly regulated, so interventions will only be allowed based on a technical opinion issued by a certified arborist, thus guaranteeing its long-term conservation.
During the event, municipal authorities such as the municipal trustee Paula Trade, acting as municipal president of Cuernavaca; the Secretary of Sustainable Development and Public Services, Guillermo López Mejía; the general director of Sustainable Development, José Alfredo Rodríguez San Ciprián; and the director of Community Care, Neighborhoods, Towns and Delegations, Marco Robles, participated in the unveiling of the declaration.
Previously, the General Directorate of Sustainable Development, in coordination with the Department of Barrancas, carried out an environmental education workshop and delivered trees to the community, promoting citizen participation in the conservation of the natural environment.
Likewise, the protocol act was attended by C. Roberto Peña, a resident of the town of Santa María Ahuacatitlán, who shared with the attendees a historical narrative about the ahuehuetes, highlighting their symbolic value and their importance for the identity and collective memory of the community.
The ahuehuete (Taxodium mucronatum) is an emblematic species of Mexico. Its name in the Nahuatl language means “old water tree”, because its natural habitat is located in areas near rivers and bodies of water. It is a species native to Mexico, the United States, and Guatemala, and can reach a longevity of up to 1,650 years, making it a living witness to the country’s natural and cultural history.
In 1921, the ahuehuete was designated as the National Tree of Mexico, consolidating itself as a symbol of identity, resistance, and permanence. Historically, these species have been used in avenues, gardens, and squares in the Valley of Mexico, many of which are preserved to this day.
With this action, the Government of Cuernavaca reaffirms its commitment to the protection of natural heritage, the conservation of ecosystems, and sustainable development, recognizing that the preservation of these trees requires social and institutional co-responsibility.
Source: La Union
