Regenerate America is a Mercado Libre program that was born in 2021 to promote the regeneration and conservation of iconic biomes in Latin America, a region that is home to 40% of the planet’s biodiversity.
The program leverages technology, science, experts, producers and local communities and works through the financing of projects that combine the protection of biodiversity and the capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, contributing to mitigating climate change by from long-term solutions based on nature.
Regenera América is celebrating its third year of operation and its second in Mexico with good news: Mercado Libre will finance a new biome restoration and conservation project in the country in 2023. This is the Campeche Corridor, focused on the preservation of the Mayan Forest, in the Yucatan Peninsula, which has an initial investment of 2 million dollars.
Llanos de Apan, Mexico
The first project that was supported in Mexico was Apan Plains, in 2022: an initiative aimed at preventing the growing erosion of the Apan area, Hidalgo, which has led to soil loss. In turn, improve the health of the aquifer by restoring 3,135 hectares (135 actively with the planting of more than 130,000 timber and non-timber specimens, and 3,000 passively through a regenerative grazing program), which contemplates soil conservation activities, rehabilitation of bodies of water and environmental education in the area.
Regenerate America and its regional impact
In three years of operation, Regenera América adds an investment of 23.7 million dollars distributed in new projects in Brazil (7) and Mexico (2). During the 2021-2022 period, 6 projects were promoted (5 Brazil and 1 Mexico) reforested 6,276 hectares, planting more than one million trees and restoring more than 10 million trees.
This 2023, Regenera América adds three more projects: Curuá, in the state of Pará, northern Brazil; Novas Florestas, in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest; and Campeche Corridor in Mexico. Three initiatives that had been supported the previous year, Aguas do Río, Corredor Pau Brasil and Café Apuí, will also be expanded, enhancing the benefits of the ongoing processes and the restoration chains generated.
With these initiatives, Regenera América has already begun its process of restoration and conservation of more than 15,000 hectares of native forest, equivalent to more than 14 million restored or conserved trees, which contribute to an estimated collection of more than 1.1 million tons. of CO2e in 30 years and the prevention of the emission of more than 3 million tons of CO2e in the same period.
Strategic allies
The restoration program promoted by Mercado Libre operates with two strategic partners: Pachama, a technology company that measures carbon storage in our trees and monitors forest growth over time; and Toroto, Mexican company that empowers communities and companies to confront climate change through nature solutions based on four pillars of action: carbon, water, biodiversity and community.
Together they will work to restore more than 570 hectares and reforest 150 hectares, producing 180,000 trees in local nurseries to plant in the project area. This will sequester more than 218,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 30 years, in addition to contributing to the conservation of biodiversity. Local governance will also be strengthened and the community will benefit through job creation, as well as capacity building in environmental issues.
Growing in harmony with the environment and generating a positive social and environmental impact in the communities where it operates is one of the challenges assumed by Mercado Libre, which invests a value proportional to its carbon dioxide footprint in conservation and regeneration projects that will generate future credits.
We are excited to promote a new Regenera América project in Mexico, a country that, due to its biological diversity and cultural wealth, represents a strategic area for nature conservation.
Guadalupe Marín, regional director of Sustainability at Mercado Libre.
Tap, play and learn from Biomes in Papalote
As part of the announcement, Mercado Libre set up a temporary exhibition at Papalote Museo del Niño. It will be available until October 25.
Marisol García Fuentes Editorial Director Emprende and Emprendedor.com. I am motivated by stories of tenacity and innovation.