Freeport McMoran

Cerro Verde Volunteers Plant Native Trees in Reforestation Campaign

July 7, 2025

Volunteers from Cerro Verde and a local school teamed up to plant 60 trees as part of a reforestation campaign in commemoration of World Environment Day.

Workers from the site’s Environmental Management and Community Relations departments organized the campaign to plant the trees in what’s known as the “Melgariano Arboretum” in the upper hills of the Mariano Melgar district of Arequipa, Peru. The goal of the June 5 effort was to replant vegetation on 15 of the 74 acres planned for reforestation.

Twenty-two volunteers planted 60 trees – including the Cahuato, Vilco, Molle and Huranguay species – to contribute to the ecological recovery of the soil and help strengthen local biodiversity. The trees come from the Uchumayo nursery that is owned and operated by Cerro Verde.

Among the volunteers were high school students from the PNP 7 de Agosto school. These students are recognized in the area for their work on environmental awareness and are known locally as the “Guardians of Planet Earth.”

“Initiatives like this remind us of the power we have as a team to join forces to recover an area previously used as a waste dump,” said Johanna Illanes, Environmental Manager-Cerro Verde. “Having the commitment and active involvement of the Guardians of Planet Earth from the PNP 7 de Agosto Educational Institution reaffirms my pride in belonging to a company that demonstrates every day it is a responsible producer committed to sustainability, both now and in the future."

After coordinating and planning with the municipality of Mariano Melgar, trees native to the region were selected for the reforestation, said Edwin Bustamante, Community Relations Analyst responsible for environmental issues.

“Our commitment to improving environmental quality in Arequipa is reflected in this reforestation, which is part of the creation of the largest urban forest in southern Peru,” Bustamante said.

<- Go Back