Water compensation projects consist of returning part or all of the water used in municipal, civil or industrial operations to the aquifers. They usually occur in areas of a few thousand hectares and include reforestation and other soil conservation works.

The program contemplates 235 hectares of reforestation, and only local species such as juniper, ocote, and of course, nopal and maguey will be used. In total, more than 250,000 plants will be planted. Reforestation is important to fight the climate crisis, and one of the reasons is that trees are great water catchers. When it rains on the bare ground the water can evaporate or run off, but when it rains on a tree the water infiltrates into the ground and can reach the aquifers. In addition, reforestations work very well to prevent soil erosion and generate ecosystems full of flora and fauna.

When rainwater hits the surface of a degraded soil, a small portion of the soil is loosened and is then susceptible to being blown away by a gust of wind or runoff. This, on a large scale, causes the erosion of thousands of hectares each year. Soil conservation works consist of mitigating the conditions that cause erosion by placing stone barriers or other materials at strategic points on the land. The idea is to reduce the speed of water dragging so that it carries with it the least amount of soil, as well as to retain the soil that has been dragged. These works are essential to prevent erosion in degraded soils that are being restored. Rehabilitating these hectares will increase the capture of water for the subsoil and enrich the ecosystem of the area in general.

As part of the aquifer recharge program, it is important to generate relevant social alliances that promote the exchange of knowledge. We are giving workshops and courses on topics such as silvopastoral systems, agroforestry, traditional herbalism, and nursery construction. This allows the local population to gain the necessary knowledge to increase the value of the production of their plots. In 2020 alone, 42 training sessions are being held.

Working safely is a priority, and a major challenge to meet when managing field operations. In the event that our rigorous safety protocols fail to prevent an accident, we train all our crew leaders in DC3-certified first aid, as well as the knowledge and equipment necessary to handle poisonous snake bites in the field.