In search of a greener future
By Tania Noriz and Suzanne Ludekens (June 2, 2006)
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On Monday, June 5, San Miguel celebrates World Environment Day. However, awareness of environmental issues in Mexico in general, and San Miguel in particular, is still in its initial stages. Locally, groups such as El Charco, the city's botanical garden, and FAI (Feed the Children) promote and run environmental programs. The impact among members of the community, however, has not been widespread. A mere 150 people helped during the botanical garden's clean-up day last month. |
The garden is visited by approximately 20,000 people annually.
The populace does not separate its trash, nor are there recycling programs to encourage it. Home gardens still have high-water-consumption plants, and the city faces water problems due to inappropriate irrigation methods.
| The future of the presa? Many say the only thing San Miguel lacks is a beach, yet the city's largest body of water, the presa (dam), continues to be polluted and abandoned-an underutilized resource with huge tourist and entertainment potential. | |
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Although garbage recycling and environmental educational campaigns might be on people's minds on World Enviroment Day, local authorities agree they must work harder and be inspired in order to tackle long-term projects to make San Miguel cleaner.
Environmentally sound work requires collaboration and joint efforts from authorities, nonprofit organizations and the public.
Conservation of natural resources and creation of public green areas and ecologically friendly housing developments have a high price tag, but not implementing these changes could result in even higher costs. "Now is the time to create environmental policies that will benefit the next
generation. We must invest in new generations," said César Arias, director of El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Gardens. Atención San Miguel spoke to different officials and locals about the local environment.
Environment
Ángel Gastélum (Replacement for Gerardo Arteaga), Director of the Municipal Ecology Office
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During this administration's term the government has focused on two environmental programs: the waste-water treatment plant and the solid-waste dump at Palo Colorado. In March 2005, authorities inaugurated the water treatment plant, which cleans up to 120 liters of water per second. |
The treated waste water returns to the presa.
"We'll continue to work on improvements to the plant and the sewage system until the new mayor is elected," said Gastélum. This year the department's reforestation program has planted approximately 10,000 trees in public areas, gardens and plazas. Another plan involves the creation of a special zone to manufacture bricks (usually made by rural families in a highly contaminating manner by burning old tires). Nevertheless, Gastélum said that this plan is still pending. On a more positive note, the waste-water treatment plant at the Landeta Park wetland is under consideration for this year. The wetland would filter the water and improve its quality, reducing pollution and water costs in a natural manner. Gastélum confirmed there are no plans to clean the presa water despite the obvious advantages. "We could use it as a sports and family area. It could become a tourist and sports attraction."
Solid waste
Julián Villela, Director Public Services Department
The solid-waste dump was the only project of this department during the 2003-2006 administration. In November 2005, the construction of the new dump began. A private company was given the lease to treat the 100 tons of garbage generated daily by the city, separate the organic and inorganic waste and create compost to be used in green areas.
"Non-biodegradable trash will be compressed and removed by the Cruz Azul cement factory, in Mexico City, to be used as fuel," said Villela. He explained that the county won't profit from the waste products, and even though plastic, aluminum, glass and cardboard will be separated, those by-products will not be sold, nor will Cruz Azul pay for the waste. Villela said that residents would not be charged for garbage collection and treatment. In 2003, municipal Ecology and Public Services implemented a trash separation program in schools and publicized it in local media. Villela claims the program, allegedly still in operation, did not work. "The plan was for trucks to collect separated trash, but in the end, the workers always mixed it up. This program didn't prosper; it did not have government and community support and is a shame because it could have helped the city so much."
Ecological reserves
César Arias, Director, El Charco del Ingenio (Botanical
Gardens)
Since 1991, Arias has worked in the rescue and preservation of one of the seven canyons of San Miguel de Allende, El Charco del Ingenio. "This is the most important natural area due to its historical and ecological content. It is one of the few places where native flora of the zone, such as mezquite, huizache, mora and colorín, could be observed. "These plants must be conserved in the city in order to not damage San Miguel's ecosystem, as cedars and eucalyptuses do." For Arias, the main problem that exists in San Miguel is the excessive growth of subdivisions that damage the visual and natural environment. "The government and developers must invest their political and economic resources in environmental education, native vegetation planting and more severe regulations for real estate developments."
Real estate development
Jim Dolan, Director, Dolan Development
Dolan Development is one building company that since 1997 has implemented ecological technologies in its subdivisions. Water treatment plants that recycle water to be used in irrigation of all the subdivisions' green areas, underground wiring and solar energy lighting systems are some of these ecological measures. "I live here with my family, and I believe that it is part of my responsibility to create a better atmosphere for them." One of the projects of Dolan's company for this year is to implement solar energy systems for pools and public lighting. "Yes, the cost is high, but the more we ignore the environment, the more local resources, tourism and businesses generated by tourism will suffer negative and expensive results."
Nonprofit organizations
Eugenia Velasco, program coordinator, FAI
Among FAI's activities is an environmental education program financed by the Institute of Ecology of Guanajuato. Every year, FAI develops workshops on care of the environment in local schools. At the end of the workshops, children visit El Charco del Ingenio. They practice what they learn and go home with a valuable knowledge that lasts a lifetime. For FAI, it is important to teach children all kind of values that serve them in the development of their lives.
Plants
Germán McGregor, Floriade nursery
Floriade, one of San Miguel's nurseries, has specialized in the sale of native plants compatible with the local ecosystem for the past nine years. McGregor explained that plants such as ágaves, lavanda, romero, bugambilia, jacaranda, pirúl, yucca and cypresses do not consume much water, are environmentally friendly and are long-lived. His business does not sell or design gardens with invasive plants that are harmful to the environment. "This is our contribution to the local ecology issues."
For McGregor, it is easy to have a pretty and inexpensive garden at home. A simple garden in a 3- × 3-meter area with grass and some small plants can cost between 300 and 1,000 pesos. Larger gardens with more plants and trees, such as exotic palms, can cost as much as 50,000 pesos. Small trees start at 28 pesos, and trees around five meters high can cost around 5,000 pesos.
Solid waste generated by sanmiguelenses daily
100 total tons per day
50 tons (30 tons plastic)
inorganic waste
50 tons organic waste
26 waste collection trucks
80 collectors
Reforestation
The Ecology Department recommends caring for the environment through tree planting. Ask for free trees at the municipal plant nursery located next to El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden.
Tree planting at Parque Landeta
Monday, June 5, from 9am. Ask for the director of Parque Landeta, Cristina González, at the entrance. Call 154-8838 or 154-4715 (between 9am and 2pm), email charco@unisono.net.mx or ask directly at the main reception area of the botanical garden.
World Environment Day, June 5, 2006 at El Chorro
9am, inauguration, El Chorro
10am, Workshop: "Discovering Nature," Cultural Center at El Chorro
Workshop: "What, How, Why, and for What of Water?," Cultural Center at El Chorro
Movie, 101 Dalmatians, Cultural Center at El Chorro
6pm, Lecture, Cultural Center at El Chorro
7pm, Annual Environment Merit Award, Cultural Center at El Chorro