19 Campuses Plant 1,000+ Trees at University of Guadalajara

Students and staff across Mexico's University of Guadalajara are turning their campuses into urban forests, planting more than 1,000 trees donated through a new green initiative.

Nineteen high schools and university centers joined the Arbolado program in November 2024, partnering with Bosque Urbano de Extra (Extra's Urban Forest) to bring native species back to campus grounds. From jacarandas to mesquites, the carefully selected trees are designed to thrive in Jalisco's climate while cleaning the air and providing shade for students.

Graciela Domínguez López, the university's Sustainability Coordinator, explained that the program aims to create active climate awareness across the university community. "All the species that were placed were approved, selected and planted with advice and review from experts," she said, adding that each campus will submit quarterly care reports to track the trees' health.

The donated trees came primarily from Extra's Urban Forest, which has spent 18 years helping schools reforest and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The University Center of the Valleys also contributed 169 native trees to one campus. Species planted include 128 jacarandas, 159 huizaches, 112 mesquites, and dozens of other varieties suited to the region.

Maria Guadalupe Cid Escobedo, who leads the university's sustainability efforts, acknowledged that the team started late in the planting season but made impressive progress. "In this pilot test of the program, 19 schools joined, which have the commitment to care for, preserve and join efforts to maintain the placed trees in good condition," she said.

The participating locations span the entire university system, from Preparatory School 4 to multiple University Centers including those focused on Biological and Agricultural Sciences, Health Sciences, and Engineering. Each campus committed not just to planting but to ongoing tree care and maintenance.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond beautifying campuses, the program creates lasting environmental education. Experts like Dr. Yalma Luisa Vargas Rodríguez and Dr. Agustín Gallegos Rodríguez provided training on selecting endemic species and conducting soil inspections, teaching the university community sustainable practices they can use for years. The pilot's success means more campuses could join future planting seasons, multiplying the environmental impact across one of Mexico's largest university systems. Daniel Montes from Extra's Urban Forest expressed hope to continue expanding the partnership with more native species plantings.

The thousand-plus trees represent more than climate action—they're a growing promise that today's students will leave their campuses better than they found them.