As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability and strengthening the community, FirstBank will hold Rescate Costero event, focused on planting coastal trees as a stategy to mitigate beach erosion.

The activity will take place at Playa Punta Santiago in Humacao on Saturday, September 27, starting at 8:00 a.m. and will bring together volunteers, environmental organizations, students and community members for a day of ecological action. This will be the first time the Rescate Costero program will be held in Humacao, expanding its reach to new coastal communities facing the challenges of climate change and erosion.

The main focus will be coastal reforestation, an effective measure to strengthen the natural barrier against erosion, protect marine and coastal habitats, and improve the resilience of communities to climate change. These actions not only protect our coasts, but also strengthen the quality of life for the communities that depend on them. 

Rescate Costero is a multi-sector initiative of FirstBank that promotes coastal erosion mitigation. The bank’s goal is to plant 25,000 trees over a three-year period (2023 to 2026). In its second year, the program has succeeded in planting 14,930 native trees in 26,844.12 liner feet along various coasts in Puerto Rico, thanks to the collaboration of volunteers from local communities, bank employees and multi-sector allies.   

The financial institution has held planting events in Loíza, Manatí, Isabela, Luquillo, Arecibo, Barceloneta, Camuy, Quebradillas, Toa Baja, Aguada and Naguabo. This initiative is part of the social responsibility program Uno con el Ambiente (One with the Environment), which integrates environmental, community and educational efforts to promote a more sustainable Puerto Rico. As part of this commitment, the bank is extending an invitation to join this mission for a greener, more resilient Puerto Rico. Interested volunteers can register at unoconelambiente.com, where they’ll find information about upcoming events and educational resources on coastal erosion.   

FirstBank is a member FDIC.