At the Misión Block, we’ve already rescued and relocated 11,883 plants. We’ve also reforested a total of six hectares and replanted them with 1,344 saplings and seedlings. Magdalena Mata tells us how they’re getting on and the challenges involved.

In Mexico, we're working on a major reforestation and native species rescue project on a 60-hectare piece of land in the Santa Anita field, within the Municipality of Camargo, Tamaulipas, which lies in the Misión Block field. This initiative is a great example of how hydrocarbons development can co-exist with environmental protection, showcasing our commitment to restoring what we alter in nature, and recognizing the responsibility that comes with any kind of intervention.

Magdalena Mata, Health, Safety and Environment Lead Supervisor, tells us about the project guidelines. “When we need to make operational changes, we have to include them in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This helps outline both the negative and positive impacts these modifications will have on the area, like creating more jobs or building roads to improve connectivity for local communities.”

“We’re in the process of relocating flora and fauna and reforesting the land with local species. It’s definitely a challenging task, especially since the site is about two hours from our operational base, it's quite arid, and home to rattlesnakes. That means we have to go in with all the necessary safety gear to get the job done safely," Magdalena points out.

“We started by setting up a collection center where we’re placing all the rescued species to check their condition and heal them if needed. For some, we take cuttings to help them reproduce, and for those we take to be transplanted back on the original land, we apply rooting agents, gels, and fertilizers so they get the best chance to thrive," she explains. “We started by conducting a thorough diagnosis of the premises, examining key soil characteristics like fertility levels and available nutrients to support the growth of new plants. Unfortunately, water tests revealed that the water at the site is quite briny, which isn’t ideal for the plants. To address this, we installed tanks and now fill them twice a week to ensure the land is properly irrigated. We also evaluated which species could be successfully reproduced through their seeds as part of the reforestation effort,” adds Magdalena.

Another challenge she highlights is the restricted access to the property. “We can only enter on specific days and during daylight hours. On top of that, we have to follow strict security protocols to prevent any incidents or issues due to organized crime activity in the region.”

Despite the difficulties, Magdalena praises her team's commitment and work. “Whenever we change the way land is used, it inevitably causes an impact, but we're working hard to make up for it. Beyond reforesting and rescuing species, we're also improving roads and pathways for local communities. This adds extra value to the project, benefiting not just the environment but the people living in the area as well," she highlights.

A new landscape

The team has already relocated 11,883 individual specimens, which were included in a monthly monitoring program to ensure that at least 80% survive. In addition, 1,344 of a total of 49,534 plants have already been reforested. These figures come from both the Regional Environmental Assessment (MIA in Spanish) and the 21 Technical Justification Studies for Change of Land Use in Forest Lands (ETJCUSTF in Spanish), regulatory requirements that have so far been scrupulously met .

“The Regional MIA we submitted was approved by the Federal Government’s Agency for Safety, Energy, and Environment (ASEA) on December 4, 2019. Since then, there have been 16 modifications, each reflecting an update to the operation. For every change, we are required to relocate any protected flora and fauna in the area and reforest other sites as designated by the authorities. This serves as compensation for using the land for our activities," explains Magdalena.