Improving the environment has been central to Rotary service from the organization's earliest days. Spurred by the example of Rotary founder Paul Harris, who stopped to plant many a tree during his world travels, Rotarians have planted millions of trees, created parks large and small, and carried out recycling activities in communities all over the globe. In 1990, Rotary International endorsed a focus on Preserve Planet Earth as a way to promote awareness among Rotarians and increase the number of Rotary environmental service projects.

The Rotary Club of Queretaro has partnered with The Commission for Protecting the Natural Environment, known as FIQMA for its Spanish initials, in its quest to not only protect natural reserves but to reverse some of the damage that has been done by committing to replant species native to the area. FIQMA is a municipally-affiliated incorporation with independent, transparent funding and a Technical Committee comprised of both municipal officials and citizens. FIQMA's goal is to work on behalf of society to protect the environment. The Rotary Club of Queretaro will provide funds to build and maintain a greenhouse, which will fuel the replantation of many species on FIQMA's land reserves.

The semi-desert state of Queretaro faces desperate environmental challenges, as underground aquifers are sinking at a rate of one to four meters per year while the urban industry and population continue to boom. Green areas have diminished by 65% over the past 10 years. Replanting can help solve this problem. Thick flora and porous soils act as a sponge, absorbing rainwater and purifying it as it trickles down into the subsoil and eventually into aquifers. (FIQMA publication, Annual Report 2004)

Visit FIQMA Website