Mexico City's 'Neza York' Grows Forest on Saline Soil

A year ago, planting trees in Nezahualcóyotl seemed nearly impossible. The crowded Mexico City neighborhood sits on an ancient lakebed with soil so salty that most plants won't survive.

Today, a pocket forest with trees over 10 feet tall is proving the skeptics wrong. Urban planner Andrea Guzmán partnered with nonprofit SUGi to create the 25-species forest, and more than 90% of the plants are thriving.

"The truth is, everything happened very quickly," Guzmán said. Within months of proposing the idea, funding was secured and volunteers were mobilizing.

Nezahualcóyotl, nicknamed "Neza York" for its dense population, desperately needed this green space. The concrete-heavy neighborhood suffers from urban heat island effects, with temperatures running up to 7 degrees hotter than surrounding areas.

Residents had access to just a tiny fraction of the green space recommended by the World Health Organization. Marginalized communities like Neza often receive little investment in parks and trees, leaving them vulnerable to extreme heat.

The team used the Miyawaki method, a Japanese technique that packs three to five different plants into every 10 square feet. The soil gets refreshed with compost and irrigation supports the young plants for three years. After that, the forest becomes self-sustaining.

Over 300 volunteers helped transform the bare soil near Universidad Tecnológica de Nezahualcóyot into a living ecosystem. The dense planting encourages trees to grow upward quickly, mimicking natural forest structures.

The forest now holds over 25 native plants specially chosen to tolerate the salty soil. Surface temperatures inside the forest drop significantly compared to the surrounding concrete.

The Ripple Effect

The success in Neza is creating a roadmap for other struggling neighborhoods. Urban planner Amelia Harvey mapped tree density across Mexico City and found that areas like Nezahualcóyotl and Ecatepec need trees most urgently.

Urban forests deliver benefits beyond cooling. They reduce noise pollution, capture harmful air particles, attract wildlife, and help prevent flooding by allowing water to soak into the ground.

Research shows people with little access to green space experience higher levels of depression and anxiety. "An urban forest is a healthy place that can inspire and surprise you," Guzmán explained. "We need to be part of a world that still holds magic."

SUGi has already helped create over 263 pocket forests across 62 cities worldwide. The Neza project proves that even the most challenging urban environments can support thriving green spaces with the right approach.

"You cannot care for something you don't know," Guzmán said. The forest becomes a living classroom for city residents, reconnecting them with nature and showing what's possible when communities come together.

This one pocket forest is sparking hope that even the densest, most challenging urban landscapes can bloom again.