Led by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization alongside the Arbor Day Foundation, the Tree Cities of the World program recently recognized Nogales among 210 other cities and towns around the world, including Hermosillo and Tempe.
Nogales ramped up its efforts in recent years to make the city greener and manage water issues after experiencing extreme flooding and water scarcity due to rapid urban spread, which affect both sides of the international border.
The population of Nogales, Sonora, has grown by at least 20% in the last decade and with it the number of roofs, parking lots, streets and other surfaces that are impervious to water.
They cover former streams and waterways and alter the water cycle. They pollute that naturally-occurring water and bring yearly flooding, leading to accidents and even death
The city’s efforts include requiring developers to replace removed trees or pay an environmental fee, dedicating nearly 120 acres to urban forest, forming a police unit for environmental enforcement, and investing in water treatment plants.
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