By Katiana Garcia Rosado
The U.S. Mission in Mexico launched a conservation initiative to build pollinator gardens at posts across Mexico, illustrating America’s commitment to sustainable environments for critical migratory species, while also strengthening cross-border relationships. With the facility management team’s vision and the support of the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, Embassy Mexico City converted an undeveloped tennis court at the chief of mission residence (CMR) into a beautiful garden providing shelter to pollinators.
Pollinators provide essential ecosystem services and assist with 35% of the world’s primary food production volume. However, there has been a severe decline in the pollinator population due to pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. Building pollinator gardens helps sustain pollinators by providing better nutrient access. The CMR garden follows National Wildlife Federation standards, featuring solitary bee nests and raised Hügelkultur beds—a centuries-old technique that uses compostable material and garden waste to improve soil fertility and drainage—combined with non-invasive, native plants to minimize irrigation and support pollinator-plant relationships.
The garden will soon include monarch butterfly-specific habitat and will highlight the annual migration of monarchs from the United States and Canada to the forests of Mexico. Informative signage will help visitors understand the value of transboundary collaboration to preserve earth’s natural resources. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, already partnering with USAID to develop a long-term partnership to support biodiversity conservation in Mexico, donated $100,000 to the initiative, funding garden construction at consulates general close to the U.S.-Mexico border. This plan supports presidential initiatives in conservation efforts and climate change mitigation, strengthening migratory routes and illustrating North American unity.
These collective projects reflect the U.S. government’s dedication to environmental conservation and foster credibility across other collaborations with Mexico, such as cross-border parks, economic corridor development, and biodiversity initiatives.
Salazar expressed his optimism at a press conference to inaugurate the garden, Feb. 8, saying, “Today, we are building the future of the planet … and seeing how the United States and Mexico will continue to fight against climate change.”
Katiana Garcia Rosado is an environmental sustainability intern at Embassy Mexico City.
