Restoring Nature, Rebuilding Trust: Mendoza’s Urban Ecosystem Revival

The City of Mendoza is redefining urban resilience through ecological restoration. The Urban Ecosystem and Biological Corridor Restoration Pilots, part of the Generation-Restoration Program (2024-2026), aim to restore degraded landscapes and reconnect urban green spaces using native species and community participation. Implemented in partnership with UNEP and local institutions, the initiative combines scientific methods with citizen action to enhance biodiversity, environmental education, and urban well-being.

The restoration process was structured around science, inclusion, and continuity, following five key stages:

1. Diagnosis and Planning
Detailed socio-environmental assessments were conducted, including flora and fauna inventories, mapping of degradation zones, and community surveys (287 respondents, 59 group participants). Results informed a restoration plan co-designed with citizens and technical teams.

2. Participatory Design
Community mapping identified areas for intervention in the park’s fill and border zones. Two discussion groups and 14 semi-structured interviews guided the restoration strategy, ensuring social relevance and shared ownership.

3. Active Restoration Actions
Five field workshops involved 268 participants in planting, irrigation, waste removal, and invasive species extraction (1.5 tons of debris cleared). Bird boxes were built and installed by volunteers, enhancing urban biodiversity.

4. Monitoring and Training
Community monitoring was integrated from the start. Thirty-five residents were trained as environmental monitors, learning to use GPS tools for geolocating saplings and tracking survival rates.

5. Awareness and Education
Eleven educational events reached more than 300 participants, and communication campaigns spread restoration messages online and in local schools.

Parallel to these activities, the Biological Corridor Pilot established ecological connectivity between the restored park and urban green areas along Zanjón Frías. Students from Pablo Nogués School designed and implemented vegetation corridors, planting native and drought-resistant species while developing their own irrigation systems.

Collaboration made the project possible:

• International: UNEP (Generation-Restoration framework).
• National: Ministry of Environment (MAyDS).
• Academic: CONICET.
• Local: Local schools, neighborhood associations, and the Municipal Environmental Department.

Outreach was central to building ownership. Mendoza used participatory education, social media, and local events to sustain interest and transparency:

• Campaigns under the slogan “Restore to Live Better” shared progress via institutional networks.
• Visual and digital materials reached thousands of residents.
• Schools became active nodes for environmental awareness and youth participation.

The project was financed through the Generation-Restoration Program (USD 70,000), co-funded by UNEP and the Municipality of the City of Mendoza, within a broader USD 1.4 million urban restoration and biodiversity conservation initiative.

The restoration pilots have revitalized degraded landscapes and strengthened social ties in Mendoza’s hill ecosystems. The Parque Deportivo de Montaña now showcases thriving native vegetation, improved habitat conditions, and cleaner recreational areas. In the Zanjón Frías corridor, new vegetation links have increased biodiversity connectivity between natural and urban zones.

Beyond physical transformation, the initiative has nurtured civic pride. Residents, students, and athletes have become environmental stewards, contributing their time and creativity. Surveys reveal higher awareness of ecosystem conservation and a strong sense of ownership among participants. With 90% plant survival and ongoing monitoring, the project stands as both a scientific and social success—turning restoration into a shared community practice.

Some challenges emerged during implementation, including non-optimal planting seasons, pest (leafcutter ant) damage, and limited signage or waste bins. Coordinating schedules across diverse groups became complex, highlighting the need for continued facilitation and adaptive management.

Mendoza’s ecosystem restoration model demonstrates how governance, participation, and ecological science can contribute to restore urban nature. Its participatory approach, anchored in local leadership and multi-sectoral collaboration, offers a scalable method for other cities seeking to balance recreation and conservation.

Replication is feasible wherever community engagement and municipal coordination can align: identify degraded urban zones, apply participatory diagnostics, and empower citizens to co-lead restoration. By combining education, data, and shared stewardship, Mendoza has proven that restoring ecosystems also restores trust and belonging.

Through collective effort and clear governance, Mendoza transformed degraded hillsides into living classrooms and biodiversity corridors. The city’s pilot programs show that when people and nature collaborate, urban restoration becomes not just possible, but regenerative for both ecosystems and communities.

• Climate Management – Municipality of Mendoza
• PLAC 2023 – Local Climate Action Plan
• RAMCC – Argentinian Network of Municipalities for Climate Change

Silvina Lopez
Environmental Planning and Management Coordinator
Municipality of Mendoza
ambienteciudadmendoza@gmail.com