Lopez Obrador looks to tree planting to create Mexico jobs

[Judi Lynn]

Updated 3:34 pm CDT, Monday, July 30, 2018

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says he wants to create 400,000 jobs by planting 1 million hectares (2.47 million acres) with timber and fruit trees.

Lopez Obrador said in a video posted Sunday that he wants to plant half the total amount in 2019, focusing on timber species like cedar and mahogany. The other half would be planted in 2020.

Referring to the Usumacinta river basin near the border with Guatemala, Lopez Obrador said 50,000 to 100,000 hectares could be planted there. He said the upper canopy of timber species could provide cover for cacao plantings beneath. Cacao is the source of chocolate.

Lopez Obrador sees the planting program as a way to offer rural Mexicans work in their home communities, so they do not have to emigrate.

https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Lopez-Obrador-looks-to-tree-planting-to-create-13117433.php

(Short article, no more at link.)

Viva, AMLO.

[sandensea]

1. Should AMLO see this through, it'll be a model for the entire region.

It could be easier said than done; but his committing to it this early is a very bold move indeed. Would that other Latin American leaders were this proactive.

Argentina's Macri, who likes to think of himself as "green" (all part of his on-again, off-again "progressive" rebranding), has instead welched on Argentina's promised contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement: The restoration of almost 4,000 mi² of woodland - signed by Cristina Kirchner during her last days in office.

While Macri has promoted investment in wind energy (just as Mrs. Kirchner did), his Chief of Staff's family was recently caught illegally clearing 150 mi² of forests in eastern Salta Province - a rainy, erosion prone area.

The clearing was stopped by court order, fortunately.

Thanks for posting this, Judi, and All The Best to AMLO in this endeavor - no easy task, considering what's likely to be stiff landowner opposition.