Mercedes was distinguished as “Tree City of the World” by the FAO and international foundations
Mercedes was officially declared Tree City of the World, a distinction granted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Arbor Day Foundation of the United States and the Reforestamos México foundation. This is an international program that recognizes cities that meet global standards in urban tree management and forest planning.
The announcement was made during a teleconference with representatives of these institutions, with the participation of Mayor Juan Ignacio Ustarroz, his counterpart from Luján Leonardo Boto, the rector of the National University of Luján (UNLu) Walter Panessi, the dean of Technology Elena Craig and a large audience. The recognition comes as a result of sustained work in the formation of urban forests in Mercedes and its localities, through the Biotechnological Nursery and the close coordination with the UNLu in training, extension and research instances. Mayor Ustarroz thanked all the institutions and neighbors that participated in the initiative and highlighted the role of each school, club and neighborhood society that joined the reforestation plan. He also highlighted the task of municipal areas such as Green Spaces, Public Services and Environment, which under the coordination of Darío Taramasco have promoted interdisciplinary projects with the aim of consolidating a more sustainable city. For his part, Boto valued the joint work between Mercedes, Luján and the National University of Luján in the construction of environmental public policies. Taramasco, director of Espacios Verdes, highlighted the virtuous articulation between the municipality, the university and the community, highlighting that forestation not only beautifies, but also improves the quality of life of the neighbors. Luis Ponce, undersecretary of Public Services, highlighted the importance of citizen commitment and the effort of municipal workers: it is a task that combines the educational, the environmental and the social, with multiple benefits for the city. The distinction is It took place within the framework of the second day of training in urban forests, where students from technical and agricultural schools participated in theoretical-practical meetings with professionals from the Buenos Aires Ministry of Agrarian Development and the Civil Association of Arboriculture, as well as teachers and researchers from UNLu. The meeting ended with a survey of public trees and the delivery of certificates of attendance. With this recognition, Mercedes joins the select group of cities in the world that receive international certification, consolidating its commitment to environmental planning and the construction of a greener and more sustainable community.
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