Grupo Argos celebrates the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem with the planting of 40,000 red mangrove seedlings in the Ciénaga de Mallorquín

• The planting will take place next Saturday, July 26, and will include the participation of local organizations from the district of La Playa and local authorities such as the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Atlántico (CRA), EPA Barranquilla Verde, the City Management Office of the Barranquilla District, and Dimar, among others.
• In addition to the planting, environmental education workshops and discussion forums will be held to raise awareness and promote the care of this ecosystem.
• To date, Grupo Argos has planted over one million mangrove seedlings in the departments of Atlántico, Bolívar, and Sucre over the past five years, directly contributing to the restoration of 250 hectares of this ecosystem.

As part of its commitment to protecting the biodiversity of marine ecosystems and recognizing the vital role mangroves play in the quality of life of coastal communities, Grupo Argos will carry out the planting of 40,000 red mangrove seedlings in the Ciénaga de Mallorquín, located in northern Barranquilla. These seedlings will be monitored for one year to ensure their survival. This initiative is part of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, celebrated this Saturday, July 26.

“Mangroves support food security, protect coastlines, regulate the climate, and boost biodiversity in coastal communities. That is why, in the coastal lagoons associated with mangrove ecosystems in the department of Atlántico alone, we have planted more than 170,000 mangrove seedlings over the past three years.”

Ilva Gómez
Sustainability Manager, Urban Development Business, Grupo Argos

The planting will involve the participation of Grupo Argos employees, members of the community of the district of La Playa, and environmental authorities such as the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Atlántico (CRA) and EPA Barranquilla Verde. In addition to the planting, educational activities are planned with children from nine local schools, along with a community forum aimed at fostering awareness and collective learning around the importance of this ecosystem and how to contribute to its conservation.

With the planting of these seedlings, Grupo Empresarial Argos strengthens its position as the private organization that has contributed the most to mangrove restoration in Colombia, with over one million mangrove seedlings voluntarily planted over the past five years. These efforts have supported the restoration of more than 250 hectares of this ecosystem in the departments of Atlántico, Bolívar, and Sucre.

Key facts that highlight the importance of this ecosystem:

• Mangroves are one of the main reservoirs of blue carbon due to their ability to store up to ten times more carbon dioxide per hectare than terrestrial forests, making them vital allies in mitigating the effects of climate change.
• They serve as breeding grounds for over 75% of marine species at some stage of their life cycle.
• Their dense root systems form a natural barrier that helps reduce coastal erosion.