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 News from Around Banderas Bay | June 2005 
Pitillal River Banks Reforestation Program
 PVNN
| | Vallarta city officials began a comprehensive reforestation project along the Pitillal River banks with the intention of turning the Pitillal River's Federal Zone into a sports and recreation area. |
Puerto Vallarta - Last weekend, Councilman Cesar Abarca Gutierrez, chairman of the sports commission, accompanied by the director of the Public Services Department, Martin Vazquez Mendoza, and the Principal of the Regional High School, Armando Soltero Macías, began a comprehensive reforestation project along the Pitillal River banks with the intention of turning it into a sports and recreation area.
In July 2003, the Grupo Ecológico de Puerto Vallarta planted 90 trees of different species along the south bank of the Pitillal River along some 2 kms, extending from the Francisco Medina Ascencio Avenue western bridge to the Francisco Villa eastern bridge. The goal of that reforestation was also to improve the green area along the Pitillal River's Federal Zone so that it could be used for the recreation of Vallartans and tourists.
One year after the initial planting, members of the Grupo Ecológico de Puerto Vallarta who returned to inspect the area found that some of the trees planted originally had disappeared. With the disappearance of the trees and the proof of their mistreatment, only 35% of the trees planted initially had survived. Further attempts to reforest the area were made by Grupo Ecológico in July of 2004, when they replaced the trees that had been lost since the July 2003 planting.
As a result, during last weekend's tour, Martin Vazquez and Principal Armando Soltero inspected the areas to be reforested and discussed the types of plants and trees that could be introduced here, taking into consideration the conditions of the area, in order to get the best result from the new reforestation effort.
Councilman Abarca said that talks have been held with the rest of the members of the City Council regarding the works that could be carried out on the banks of the Pitillal River. In this sense he commented that the intent is to make the area pedestrian only, and to create a velodrome where competitions can be held in the future.
He also commented that once completed, this area is bound to become an important tourist attraction and a place where the people of Puerto Vallarta can practice sports. "The idea is to dignify the area to make it adequate for the practice of sports, and to offer the people of Puerto Vallarta and our visitors a place for recreation that is safe and comfortable, well lit, and with the added attraction of its natural beauty," the councilman commented.
He also mentioned that the Regional High School of Puerto Vallarta has offered its support in the reforestation efforts and added that within the next few days, a meeting will be held with representatives of the Fluvial Vallarta development, who are also interested in bringing the area up to its potential, which in turn will benefit the future inhabitants of the residential development.
Abarca Gutiérrez went on to say that this project is of great importance to City Hall, since it means private funds benefiting public spaces. Since the Regional High School and the Fluvial Vallarta company have already pledged their support, the involvement of Federal and State governments, as well as that of the private sector, are being sought.
City officials are encouraging more community involvement in the project, asking residents living near the reforestation area to participate by thwarting acts of vandalism and destruction once the trees are planted. In order to ensure the success of this year's reforestation program, the need to watch over the trees is obvious, as is the need to water them during the dry season between December and May. |
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