A Green and Sustainable San Miguel
By Jesús Ibarra

Preserving the natural environment is of great concern in San Miguel de Allende, as it is in the world at large.

Through the Ecology Department, headed by Don Patterson, the municipal government has created a program called Verde y Sustentable (Green and Sustainable). The government’s efforts are supported by private companies such as Biopolis, which specializes in designing urban landscapes, bio-architecture and ecological restoration, and educational institutions such as UNAM (National Autonomous University) and UAQ (Autonomous University of Querétaro). The goal of “Verde y Sustentable” is to protect, recover and properly use natural resources and promote sustainable social and economic development of people in rural communities. Bio-hydrological corridors, or green belts, will be restored throughout the municipality, as well as recreational and tourist areas and bike paths. The ambitious project, began with the rainwater collection system in the rural community of Agustín Gonzalez, will officially start in 
2008. There is no scheduled completion date, as Patterson states, “These plans can be built upon and developed and represent more work than a lifetime.” 
 
 
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