Neza Forest
Transforming a Former Waste Land.
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Trees
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Square Meters
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Native Species
Neza Forest will be situated on the urban periphery of Mexico City, in a neighborhood that once formed part of the ancient, now long-gone Lake Texcoco, and later became a dumping ground for the city’s waste. Today, this area is home to over a million people, many of whom live in marginalized communities. It suffers from a scarcity of green spaces and is one of the most affected by the urban heat island effect in the city.
The local university, with its deep commitment to sustainability, is enthusiastic about playing a key role in this project. Its dedicated Sustainability program will not only support the establishment of the forest but will also ensure its long-term maintenance and care.
The goal is to test this initiative as a pilot, with the ambition to replicate it across streets and public spaces throughout Neza. This strategy aims to rewild the saline soils lacking in biodiversity, mitigate the effects of climate change, and bring much-needed environmental justice to the area.
Forest Makers: Andrea Guzmán & Symbiótica
Forest Partner
Forest Design
The proposed forest design envisions a circular green space strategically placed within an underutilized, barren area, neighboring a sports field and university campus. By incorporating 25 salt-tolerant native species, the design enhances soil quality and biodiversity in high-salinity conditions. A carefully layered planting approach - featuring canopy trees, shrubs, and ground cover - creates a self-sustaining ecosystem that supports local wildlife, provides a vital green refuge for the community, and mitigates the urban heat island effect. This natural buffer improves air quality and promotes overall community well-being.
“What I witnessed in the forest we planted in Nezahualcóyotl is something that gave me hope. Mexico is one of the fastest-warming countries in the world, and we are not prepared. We lack the infrastructure to support dignified life under these new climate conditions. This planting showed me what’s possible. Pocket forests respond to urgency — they grow in rubble, restore degraded soils, and do so with surprising speed and at low cost. More importantly, they offer something essential: a reminder that green space is not a luxury, but a right — that a forest can live just outside our home, and that it can be something we care for, not as a distant ideal, but as part of everyday life. What we need in the Mexican metropolis is not more concrete, but proximity to life. Biodiversity that lives where we live.”
— Andrea Guzmán, Urbanist and SUGi Forest Maker
Planting: May 2025
Native Species Selection
By incorporating 25 salt-tolerant native species, the design enhances soil quality and biodiversity in high-salinity conditions.
A carefully layered planting approach - featuring canopy trees, shrubs, and ground cover - creates a self-sustaining ecosystem that supports local wildlife, provides a vital green refuge for the community, and mitigates the urban heat island effect. This natural buffer improves air quality and promotes overall community well-being.
King Nezahualcoyotl
King Nezahualcoyotl, a ruler of the pre-Hispanic city of Texcocoin the 15th century, is remembered for his wisdom, leadership, and commitment to the environment.
He was known for his love of nature and his innovative water management systems that helped transform the area into a flourishing center of culture and knowledge.
