2023 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

Currently, the Paseo 5 de Febrero project is underway, which includes the regeneration of the section of Avenida 5 de Febrero, from Zaragoza Avenue to Colonia Obrera, in the City of Querétaro in Mexico. This project, which is seen as the most important work of the state administration 2021-2027, aims to renovate Avenida 5 de Febrero, this will benefit more than 300,000 people and public transport users, around 120,000 motorists and thousands of pedestrians who pass through the area every day.

In the section that includes the reference project, there are small ridges that house trees of various species, including palm trees, jacarandas and tabachines; Such vegetative elements must be removed for the modernization of the road. Due to the above, it will be necessary to move the trees to a new home. In this context, the State Executive Power committed to zero felling of trees and that is why each one will have to be relocated, transferred and cared for.

Due to the above and not having other references, QROTECTORES is an innovative experience without precedent in Querétaro. In this context, QROTECTORES aims to: protect, rescue and relocate more than 400 trees that will be removed by the "Paseo 5 de Febrero" project; involving the people of Queretaro in caring for the environment through a tree adoption program, including a media dissemination strategy and socialization about the results of the program. It is intended to relocate trees so that they stay alive in their destination site and continue to provide environmental services such as air purification, climate regulation and maintenance of biodiversity. In addition, it will sensitize the people of Queretaro about the importance of natural elements in their day to day.

As a starting point, the opening of a call is displayed, where citizens can register to be one of the "QROtectors". The adoption will have no cost, however, they must meet two important commitments: be present at the start of the transplant and, of course, the day they are relocated to their new home.

The “QROtectors” can name their tree with the name of a loved one they fondly remember, the love of their life or that of their favorite childhood character and a signage will be placed on the side of the tree for their ID; likewise, as a collective thank you, the "QROtectors" will receive an acknowledgment that will forever unite them to Querétaro.

The destination sites for each relocated tree are determined by the Executive Power of the State through the Secretary of Urban Development and Public Works, in collaboration with the Municipality of Querétaro; Being that so far, the following have been identified: a) the sanctuary called "Parque El Tlacuache", located in the Villa Cayetano Rubio Delegation, Municipality of Querétaro, which due to its characteristics of environmental services, is a favorable space for citizens to go for a walk or hike and they can keep an eye on their adopted trees; as well as b) the "Alfalfares" Park, also located in the Municipality of Querétaro.

Implementing projects like this in Querétaro will improve the conditions of urban trees, reforest, rescue native species and have healthy trees.

Caring for and conserving native species of trees means that native plant species, as well as organisms such as insects and other animals, stay in them and this leads to an ecological balance not only in the City of Querétaro, or in the Metropolitan Area of Querétaro, but within our state.

"Qrotectores" has a website: www.qrotectores.com (External link), where you can find a record and follow-up of the adoptions carried out, it has informative material and it is the link channel through which the Queretaro residents They can adopt trees.