Explore with Mariana Herrera how monuments can be much more than commemorative structures. Through a thoughtful and well-documented perspective, she invites us to reflect on those sculptures and tributes erected in honor of individuals who have left their mark, in her article “Monuments with Roots: Heritage, Culture, and Environmental Awareness”.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. In fact, they are the only ones who ever have.”
-Margaret Mead
Throughout history, people have built monuments to commemorate various achievements such as conquests, wars, or influential figures. However, there are also lesser-known monuments created by activists and visionaries dedicated to protecting nature. These works not only honor those who led these efforts, but also embody essential values such as the defense of forests, wildlife, ecological balance, and the protection of water.
Fuente de los Cántaros- Parque México, Ciudad de México
In Mexico Park in the Condesa neighborhood, among children’s games and strollers, stands a sculpture that seems to whisper ancestral stories: the Fountain of the Cantaros. Created in 1927 by sculptor José María Hernández Urbina, this work is not only an urban ornament, but a bridge between pre-Hispanic and modern Mexico, where the water sacred to the original cultures flows as a metaphor of cultural resistance.
Beyond its beauty, the work is an ecological manifesto:
- The pitchers represent the sacredness of water in Mesoamerican cultures, where it was considered a gift of the gods.
- Its location in a park designed over a former racetrack speaks of how the city rewrites its history, but cannot erase its roots.
- The continuously falling water symbolizes the life that persists, even in urbanized environments.
Today, the fountain remains a meeting point where tourists, citizens and even environmental protesters coalesce. In 2020, during a protest over water shortages in the city, activists placed flowers and seeds around its base, redefining it as a contemporary altar.
Monumento a Miguel Ángel de Quevedo, Ciudad de México
In the heart of the Vivero de Coyoacán, one of the most emblematic green lungs of Mexico City, stands a sculpture in honor of Miguel Ángel de Quevedo (1859-1946), a pioneer of environmental conservation in the country. Known as the “Apostle of the Tree,” it depicts his face with a firm and serene gaze, recalling his tireless work.
His legacy was so profound that even the Day of the Tree was established in Mexico (July 10) thanks to his influence. The sculpture not only honors his memory, but also invites reflection on the importance of following his example in a country facing critical environmental challenges.
La Fermière, Montreal, Canadá
The sculpture of La Fermière (English: “The Farmer”) is a fountain made by the sculptor Alfred Laliberté between 1914 and 1915. It is located in the Gennevilliers-Laliberté square, in front of the Maisonneuve Market in Montreal, Quebec. It depicts a woman farmer, symbolizing the importance of agriculture and the role of women in rural Canadian society. Around her, there are figures of children and animals representing life in the countryside.
Manos: Monumento a la protección del planeta, Zaragoza, España
In the Plaza del Donante de Órganos in Zaragoza stands this striking monument by the artist Rafael Barnola. Two giant hands hold, without touching, a sphere that represents the Earth, symbolizing human responsibility in its care. The work pays homage to all the people who, from anonymity, work to protect the planet. A visual reminder that the future of the Earth is in our hands.
Monumento a Rachel Carson- Springdale, Pensilvania, EE.UU.
Rachel Carson is world renowned for her book “Silent Spring” (1962). Her research was key to the emergence of the modern environmental movement and led to the banning of toxic substances and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The memorial not only pays tribute to his scientific legacy, but also to his tireless fight for truth and conservation, despite criticism from the chemical industry in his time. Located near the Rachel Carson Homestead (her birthplace, now a museum), the sculpture invites visitors to reflect on the importance of protecting our planet and to follow her example of courage, curiosity and love for wildlife. A tribute to the woman who taught us that nature is not a luxury, but a necessity.
These monuments to defenders of nature are much more than art: they are permanent reminders of our responsibility to the planet. Each statue or bust tells a story of struggle and love for the environment, inspiring us to follow their example.
Monuments to defenders of nature are permanent reminders of our responsibility to the planet.
They are not just tributes to the past, but calls to present action. They remind us that protecting the Earth is everyone’s job, regardless of borders or generations. By preserving these figures, we keep their cause alive in a world with urgent ecological challenges.
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