PHARR, Texas - Rio Reforestation, a community planting event, is returning to the Rio Grande Valley, bringing together community members to restore native thornforest habitat.
During the event community members will help plant approximately 12,000 seedlings across 12 acres (the equivalent of nine football fields) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
Rio Reforestation, which is returning after a three-year hiatus for its 29th year, is being organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, American Forests, Friends of the Wildlife Corridor and Defenders of Wildlife.
The event aims to restore thornforest habitat to the Valley, while raising awareness about native plant reforestation in the Rio Grande Valley.
Jon Dale, director for Texas and Mexico with American Forests, explained that thornforests play a pivotal role in maintaining biodiversity, providing habitat for native wildlife and promoting ecological balance. He pointed out that the Rio Grande Valley is home to some of the most unique habitats in the country.
Dale said thornforests alone support 1,200 plant species, 530 bird species, 300 butterfly species and the only remaining population of ocelots in the United States. However, he said, less than 10 percent of original thornforests remain, straining the ecosystem and its benefits to wildlife and communities.
In 2022, American Forests released the Thornforest Conservation Plan. Developed in partnership with the Thornforest Conservation Partnership, the plan identifies core areas of existing thornforest habitat, potential corridors that link these habitats together and habitat restoration opportunities throughout the Rio Grande Valley and neighboring areas.
Ocelots are among the many species in the Rio Grande Valley facing a critical threat of extinction within the United States. There are only about 80 ocelots left in the nation, confined to a small and isolated population within the Rio Grande Valley.
"Thornforests are crucial to the survival of so many animals that call the Lower Rio Grande Valley home, including the iconic ocelot,” said Dr. Sharon Wilcox, senior Texas Representative with Defenders of Wildlife. “Rio Reforestation is a day for the community to gather to celebrate these special landscapes and resident wildlife—and to participate in the fight for their future.”
Wilcox said that by participating in Rio Reforestation, attendees will contribute to the revitalization of these critical ecosystems, ensuring a future for the Rio Grande Valley's natural ecosystem. Preserving thornforest habitat not only supports regional economic growth and community resilience but also safeguards natural resources, she explained.
Rio Reforestation will take place from 8 a.m. to noon on October 21. The planting site can be accessed by driving to 1320 Military Highway, Pharr, TX 78577, Milagro Tract.
Anyone interested in participating can register online.
