On October 19, 2024, the Rio Grande Valley community came together for a special mission: planting 15,000 native thornforest seedlings across 15 acres at the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. 🌱 This 30th annual Rio Reforestation event, organized by American Forests, Friends of the Wildlife Corridor, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Defenders of Wildlife, offered locals a chance to get their hands dirty and help restore a critical habitat. 🌎

With less than 10% of the region’s thornforests remaining, this event aimed to restore an ecosystem that supports over 530 bird species, 300 butterfly species, and the U.S.’s only wild population of ocelots—fewer than 100 remain! 🐆 The reforestation efforts brought hope for the recovery of these species by expanding their natural habitat.

“Rio Reforestation was a special day where people took action to save the wildlife that call the Valley home,” said Dr. Shari Wilcox of Defenders of Wildlife. “It was a fantastic opportunity for families to see the impact they could make together.”

The event, held at the Milagro Tract in Pharr, Texas, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., drew families, students, and volunteers from all over. 🌞 They came with gloves, shovels, and a passion for making a difference. H-E-B supported the effort through their Trees for Texans program, ensuring that this project would leave a lasting impact on the community. 🌿

"Seeing people return year after year, planting alongside their kids, was incredible," reflected Romeo Garcia from the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. “They could see the forests they helped plant years ago now thriving. It was truly a beautiful thing.”

The collective effort of this day created a brighter future for the Rio Grande Valley, with each seedling representing a small step towards a healthier, more vibrant ecosystem. 💚