Volkswagen Mexico and Mexico’s National Institute for Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research (INIFAP) have extended their environmental conservation partnership through 2030, securing the continuation of ecological restoration and research initiatives across 1,855ha in Puebla. The agreement expands a collaboration launched in 2015 that combines forest management, biodiversity conservation and scientific research as part of Volkswagen’s broader sustainability strategy in Mexico.
The partnership began 11 years ago with a focus on restoring and establishing plantations of Guadua aculeata, a native bamboo species, across 355ha. The collaboration was later expanded through the Selva Baja project, which added sustainable management of 1,500ha of acahual forest, bringing the total area dedicated to restoration, conservation and environmental research to 1,855ha.
Research activities conducted at the site include the planting of native flora, wildlife preservation and studies related to carbon capture and storage, groundwater recharge and local ecosystem dynamics. The projects have also generated technical and scientific information on biodiversity, forest management, restoration and sustainable resource use.
“Our environmental strategy includes initiatives focused on ecosystem preservation, the responsible use of resources and the protection of native species. The continuation of this joint work with INIFAP also allows us to promote actions that raise awareness about environmental stewardship and the importance of building a more sustainable future for the communities and species that inhabit this area,” said José Isaac Huerta, Environmental Officer, Volkswagen México.
Alejandro Espinosa, Director General, INIFAP, said the 2026-2030 phase will focus on maintenance activities, biological indicator monitoring and strengthening scientific research at the Las Margaritas Experimental Site.
“The new stage through 2030 should allow us to consolidate what has been achieved, deepen the generation of scientific information and strengthen our understanding of the ecosystem services provided,” Espinosa said. He added that, amid the climate crisis, projects like this represent living laboratories for understanding how to conserve, restore and produce in ways that are compatible with the environment.
Dr. Martha Elena Fuentes, Technical Coordinator Projects, INIFAP, highlighted their contribution to monitoring ecosystem services, including carbon capture and storage, environmental regulation, groundwater recharge and wildlife preservation.
Representatives from Volkswagen de México, including Hugo Sánchez, Environmental Compliance Specialist; José Isaac Huerta, Environmental Officer; and José Roberto Rodríguez Factory Planning Director, emphasized the value of maintaining long-term environmental initiatives capable of translating sustainability commitments into measurable outcomes.
“After a decade of work in this area, it is now possible to see positive results in the recovery of natural spaces and in the benefits these projects have generated for the region. This new phase will continue generating sustained environmental benefits for Puebla,” Rodríguez said.
INIFAP officials also noted that the knowledge generated at Las Margaritas could serve as a model for other regions with similar environmental conditions by providing technical guidance for conservation, restoration and sustainable management efforts.
The collaboration aligns with Volkswagen Group’s Way to Zero strategy, which aims to reduce carbon emissions, optimize resource use and strengthen ecosystem protection initiatives. Since 2008, Volkswagen de México has supported the protection of more than 4,000ha in protected natural areas and other sites with high biological value across the country.
As part of the ceremony, representatives from both institutions unveiled a commemorative plaque at the Bambusetum of the Las Margaritas Experimental Site, marking the beginning of the next phase of collaboration focused on strengthening applied environmental research and conservation efforts in Puebla and Mexico.