Transition Industries and CONAFOR partner on wetlands conservation in Sinaloa
Transition Industries and Mexico’s National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) have signed a collaboration agreement to support wetlands conservation in the Mexican state of Sinaloa through a long-term Environmental Services Payment (ESP) programme.
The initiative is linked to the Pacifico Mexinol project and will support the conservation and protection of 600 hectares of wetlands in the region through a jointly funded scheme.
Under the agreement, Pacifico Mexinol and CONAFOR will each contribute 50% of the programme funding through a concurrent financing structure. Local members of the Ejido Plan de Guadalupe community will implement conservation and compensation activities with specialised technical support.
Transition Industries said the programme forms part of its broader commitment to biodiversity protection and sustainable development, despite environmental assessments confirming that the Mexinol project avoids impacts on sensitive ecosystems including mangroves and Sarcocaule Scrub habitats.
The company noted that the conservation programme significantly exceeds Mexican environmental requirements associated with the project’s environmental impact approval. While the project’s environmental permit requires 7.15 hectares of reforestation and six hectares of mangrove restoration, the agreement with CONAFOR covers conservation of 600 hectares of wetlands.
Pacifico Mexinol said the initiative aligns with a “Biodiversity Net Gain” strategy aimed at creating or enhancing habitats of equal or greater ecological value.
Wetlands in the region play a key role in biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, flood protection and water regulation. The programme is also expected to generate economic benefits for rural communities involved in land stewardship and conservation management.
The agreement builds on other environmental measures associated with the Mexinol project, including wastewater treatment and reuse systems designed to avoid freshwater extraction and prevent wastewater discharge into the Bay of Ohuira.
The project has additionally committed to preserving a 15-hectare conservation area between the industrial site and the bay, supporting protection of natural vegetation and vulnerable species including the Guayacam tree.
Pacifico Mexinol is being developed as a large-scale low-carbon methanol facility with investment exceeding $3.3 billion. Once operational, the plant is expected to produce more than 6,000 metric tonnes per day of green and blue methanol using renewable and low-carbon technologies.
The project is expected to create more than 6,000 construction jobs and at least 450 permanent operational positions while supporting long-term environmental and community development programmes in the Ahome Municipality region.
