FirstBank met its goal of planting 25,000 native trees through Rescate Costero, an initiative of its 'Uno con el Ambiente' program, at 26 beaches and coastal communities across 19 towns in Puerto Rico. The effort mobilized more than 1,400 volunteers and was backed by more than 15 partner organizations around the island. FirstBank created Rescate Costero in 2023 to help mitigate coastal erosion through nature-based solutions.
Ginoris López-Lay, FirstBank’s executive vice president of Strategic Management, said the program has received an investment of close to half a million dollars over the past three years, and that the achievement mobilized communities, towns, partner organizations, volunteers and FirstBank employees around one purpose. Ecologist and Rescate Costero environmental adviser Alexis Molinares said the impact will continue growing after the final planting day, as the trees will strengthen coastal ecosystems, support biodiversity and help protect Puerto Rico’s coasts for decades, setting in motion natural ecological recovery processes that will keep strengthening these ecosystems over time.