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<p><strong>Stay atop the latest research and news! The Global Nature Watch blog uses data to illuminate the state of forests and other ecosystems worldwide and tells the stories of people dedicated to protecting them. Read about deforestation, fires, sustainable agriculture, management and other topics critical to the future of the world's lands.</strong></p>

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Fires Drove Record-breaking Tropical Forest Loss in 2024

The tropics lost a record-shattering amount of primary rainforest in 2024 driven largely by fires, according to new data from UMD and GFW.

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<p>Every fall, one of the planet’s most extraordinary natural spectacles occurs amid the fir forests of central Mexico: Millions of monarch butterflies land here to find respite from the cooling winter temperatures in northeastern U.S. and Canada for their annual hibernation. It is a phenomenon that the <a href="https://monarchconservation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monarch Butterfly Fund</a> affectionately refers to as “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDmKBvztIbk&t=1s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the arrival of the sun’s daughters</a>.” The sight is both visually splendid and culturally important to the people of Mexico. Several myths surround this phenomenon, <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/monarch-butterflies-us-mexico/#:~:text=As%20pollinators%2C%20the%20monarch%20butterfly,enjoy%2C%20like%20squash%20and%20blueberries" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">such as beliefs that monarch butterflies are returning souls of loved ones</a>. &nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1323" height="1600" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18600" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG.jpeg 1323w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG-847x1024.jpeg 847w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG-768x929.jpeg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG-1270x1536.jpeg 1270w" sizes="(max-width: 1323px) 100vw, 1323px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Monarch butterfly sanctuary “Piedra Herrada.” Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



<p>This incredible event, a critical part of the monarchs’ life cycle, depends on Mexico’s forests. However, these forests are feeling the effects of global climate change. One of the effects is the rise of pests; a problem that is not unique to Mexico, forests pests are a growing threat in many other countries (for example, in 2024, WRI reported that forest pests are <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/europe-forest-loss-drivers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a growing threat to Europe’s forests</a>). &nbsp;</p>



<p>To help tackle this issue in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Global Forest Watch (GFW) Small Grants Fund recipient <a href="https://focenmexico.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neovolcanic Axis Conservation Fund (FOCEN)</a> has developed a novel approach, combining alerts on GFW’s Forest Watcher app and complementary technology like drones to monitor pests and inform actions to eradicate them.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A new challenge for monarchs and monitoring: Forest pests</h2>



<p>FOCEN works regionally to create alliances for the conservation, restoration and responsible use of natural resources in central Mexico. Since 2000, FOCEN has worked to conserve the valuable forests in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR), a <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-see-mexico-monarch-butterfly-migration#:~:text=Travelers%20can%20help%20protect%20these,on%20UNESCO's%20World%20Heritage%20list.&text=In%20one%20of%20the%20planet's,fir%20forests%20of%20Central%20Mexico" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a>. Through the <a href="https://focenmexico.org/fondo-monarca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund (Monarch Fund)</a>, FOCEN has facilitated a scheme that provides economic incentives for the payment of ecosystem services to forest owners (ejidos — small landowners and Indigenous communities) across 12,367 hectares of forests, 91% of which are within MBBR’s core zone.</p>



<p>In 2021, after receiving a grant from GFW’s Small Grants Fund, FOCEN set out to address forest disturbance in the MBBR.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="761" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18601" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG.jpeg 1600w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG-1024x487.jpeg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG-768x365.jpeg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG-1536x731.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Peña Blanca viewpoint, “Sierra Chincua” monarch butterfly sanctuary. Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



<p>While conducting initial field investigations using Forest Watcher to identify areas of degradation and create reports on their findings, they quickly discovered that the primary cause of forest degradation in the Reserve is forest pests, specifically bark beetles, which attack weakened trees. Worse, they discovered that the beetles are continuing to spread as temperatures and drought increase, threatening forest habitat that is critical for monarch butterfly migration and overwintering.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1545" height="2000" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18602" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo.png 1545w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo-791x1024.png 791w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo-768x994.png 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo-1187x1536.png 1187w" sizes="(max-width: 1545px) 100vw, 1545px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A new way to use Forest Watcher and monitoring tools</h2>



<p>FOCEN worked quickly to mobilize on this new finding. Teaming up with technical monitoring partner <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ambiomas_org/reels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ambiomas Acciones y Respuestas Adaptativas (Ambiomas)</a>, they adapted their project and set out to create an early warning system for monitoring forest pests and to develop capacity for using the system and monitoring the forest in a new way. &nbsp;</p>



<p>As a first step, FOCEN and Ambiomas recognized that engaging forest owners and community members living in and around the Reserve was essential. They created a comprehensive course with a corresponding manual and led a two-day intensive training event for 14 people on using Forest Watcher. Over the course of six months, community technicians from the participating ejidos and communities, with the support of Ambiomas and FOCEN, conducted more than 100 field visits and produced more than 1,000 reports on observations of forest degradation in the field. This provided the data needed to inform FOCEN’s development of an early warning system. &nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="1200" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18603" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG.jpeg 1600w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Training of community technicians from the Senguio ejido by the Ambiomas team. Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



<p>Next, FOCEN and Ambiomas, with support from GFW and the Monarch Butterfly Fund, took a multi-pronged approach to creating the early warning system. Realizing the time commitment of ground patrols and the limitations of satellite imagery, they incorporated multispectral drone technology that can capture data in multiple wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum (red, green, blue) to complement field visits and provide high-resolution imagery of forest degradation that satellites cannot always capture.</p>



<p>They selected five watersheds to assess that had historical records of monarch butterfly hibernation and that are critical to communities. After conducting drone flights, they used a Tree Density Calculator algorithm (available as a QGIS plugin) that provides an estimate of the number of trees present in the study area and shows the coordinates of each tree, creating a forest inventory that includes each tree’s precise location. They then assessed vegetation health using a platform to interpret the multispectral drone imagery and by assessing high-resolution images.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="663" height="505" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tree-Density-Calculator-fig.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18604"/></figure>



<p>Using the forest inventory, they performed a visual interpretation for each tree determined by the algorithm to have signs of disease, such as standing dead or dry trees and trees with dry tops. The identification criteria were based on the color and appearance of the tree.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="814" height="441" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Examples-of-dead-and-dry-trees-ENG.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18605" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Examples-of-dead-and-dry-trees-ENG.png 814w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Examples-of-dead-and-dry-trees-ENG-768x416.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 814px) 100vw, 814px" /></figure>



<p>They compared this information with the reports generated during monitoring trips using Forest Watcher and found that the reports aligned with the visual interpretation of the images identified by the algorithm.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18606" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4.png 1080w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4-300x300.png 300w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4-768x768.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></figure>



<p>FOCEN and Ambiomas have now conducted multispectral drone flights for two consecutive years during the pre- and post-rainy season and at times of the year when monarchs are not present to determine the vitality of the fir trees and in order to have timely information on the possible presence of forest pests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Outcomes for improved pest monitoring and response </h2>



<p>Thanks to the early warning system, FOCEN, Ambiomas and communities have been able to take targeted action in controlling bark beetles — namely, removing infected trees and wood debris, in accordance with Mexican regulations for controlling and preventing beetle outbreaks. More monitoring is needed to determine whether the bark beetles are now contained, and local communities are currently conducting pest and forest disease monitoring surveys as part of FOCEN’s Best Management Practices Programs within their <a href="https://focenmexico.org/cuenca-sierra-chincua" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">payment for ecosystem services program</a>.</p>



<p>The combination of tools and practices used in the early warning system provides an important complement to field monitoring. It has helped ejidatarios (community landowners), community members and field technicians monitor larger areas and less accessible places faster and has allowed them to better understand their territory. Using the information collected, they have been able to implement conservation and restoration activities that are helping counteract the effects caused by forest pests.</p>



<p>Additionally, FOCEN and Ambiomas have developed a <a href="https://focenmexico.org/microcuencas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MapBuilder and Story Map</a> for each of the five watersheds crucial to monarch hibernation that they monitored throughout the project to aggregate and represent all the data generated, making it possible to conduct spatial analyses with this information.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1430" height="678" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18607" srcset="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot.jpg 1430w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot-1024x486.jpg 1024w, https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot-768x364.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1430px) 100vw, 1430px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MapBuilder Application for the Nicolas Romero watershed. Source: FOCEN, 2022</figcaption></figure>



<p>FOCEN and Ambiomas also worked with the team at GFW to make several improvements to Forest Watcher such as improving the location accuracy of reports and the ability to directly link reports to MapBuilder, which will help others interested in monitoring for pests or using these tools for other applications in the future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Adapting lessons for tackling forest pests around the world</h2>



<p>In October 2022, FOCEN convened a workshop with the Reserve’s community technicians, technical advisors and researchers from the Colegio de Geografía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México to discuss the impact of climate change on forest degradation. As a next step for FOCEN and Ambiomas, greater funding is needed to allow the continuation of monitoring larger areas and to more accurately assess levels of forest degradation in the forests that monarchs depend on.</p>



<p>These impacts to forests and lessons learned are relevant for many geographies that are confronted with similar issues. FOCEN and Ambiomas found that, in addition to an early warning system to reduce response time to forest damage, early detection and monitoring activities are essential to prevent forest degradation from pests. This requires long-term aerial monitoring and strengthening the local capacities of forest owners, in coordination with the various stakeholders involved in the area.</p>



<p>As climate change continues to wreak havoc, less visible but damaging effects like forest pests are becoming more apparent. The issue of pests causing degradation is not isolated to Mexico, and others can learn from the technologies and approaches developed by FOCEN and Ambiomas and implement similar strategies in the areas that are experiencing similar challenges.</p>



<p><em>To learn more about FOCEN and Ambiomas’s work and their early warning system for forest pests, please contact </em><a href="mailto:eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org"><em>eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org</em></a><em> or </em><a href="mailto:ambiomasorg@gmail.co"><em>ambiomasorg@gmail.com</em></a><em>.</em></p>



<style type="text/css"></style>

A New Monitoring Challenge: Protecting Forests from Pests

<p>Every fall, one of the planet’s most extraordinary natural spectacles occurs amid the fir forests of central Mexico: Millions of monarch butterflies land here to find respite from the cooling winter temperatures in northeastern U.S. and Canada for their annual hibernation. It is a phenomenon that the <a href="https://monarchconservation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monarch Butterfly Fund</a> affectionately refers to as “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDmKBvztIbk&amp;t=1s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the arrival of the sun’s daughters</a>.” The sight is both visually splendid and culturally important to the people of Mexico. Several myths surround this phenomenon, <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/monarch-butterflies-us-mexico/#:~:text=As%20pollinators%2C%20the%20monarch%20butterfly,enjoy%2C%20like%20squash%20and%20blueberries" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">such as beliefs that monarch butterflies are returning souls of loved ones</a>. &nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18600"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Monarch butterfly sanctuary "Piedra Herrada." Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



<p>This incredible event, a critical part of the monarchs’ life cycle, depends on Mexico’s forests. However, these forests are feeling the effects of global climate change. One of the effects is the rise of pests; a problem that is not unique to Mexico, forests pests are a growing threat in many other countries (for example, in 2024, WRI reported that forest pests are <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/europe-forest-loss-drivers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a growing threat to Europe’s forests</a>). &nbsp;</p>



<p>To help tackle this issue in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Global Forest Watch (GFW) Small Grants Fund recipient <a href="https://focenmexico.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neovolcanic Axis Conservation Fund (FOCEN)</a> has developed a novel approach, combining alerts on GFW’s Forest Watcher app and complementary technology like drones to monitor pests and inform actions to eradicate them.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A new challenge for monarchs and monitoring: Forest pests</h2>



<p>FOCEN works regionally to create alliances for the conservation, restoration and responsible use of natural resources in central Mexico. Since 2000, FOCEN has worked to conserve the valuable forests in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR), a <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-see-mexico-monarch-butterfly-migration#:~:text=Travelers%20can%20help%20protect%20these,on%20UNESCO's%20World%20Heritage%20list.&amp;text=In%20one%20of%20the%20planet's,fir%20forests%20of%20Central%20Mexico" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a>. Through the <a href="https://focenmexico.org/fondo-monarca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund (Monarch Fund)</a>, FOCEN has facilitated a scheme that provides economic incentives for the payment of ecosystem services to forest owners (ejidos — small landowners and Indigenous communities) across 12,367 hectares of forests, 91% of which are within MBBR's core zone.</p>



<p>In 2021, after receiving a grant from GFW’s Small Grants Fund, FOCEN set out to address forest disturbance in the MBBR.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18601"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Peña Blanca viewpoint, "Sierra Chincua" monarch butterfly sanctuary. Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



<p>While conducting initial field investigations using Forest Watcher to identify areas of degradation and create reports on their findings, they quickly discovered that the primary cause of forest degradation in the Reserve is forest pests, specifically bark beetles, which attack weakened trees. Worse, they discovered that the beetles are continuing to spread as temperatures and drought increase, threatening forest habitat that is critical for monarch butterfly migration and overwintering.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Imagen_Descortezadores_JL-Gallardo.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18602"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A new way to use Forest Watcher and monitoring tools</h2>



<p>FOCEN worked quickly to mobilize on this new finding. Teaming up with technical monitoring partner <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ambiomas_org/reels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ambiomas Acciones y Respuestas Adaptativas (Ambiomas)</a>, they adapted their project and set out to create an early warning system for monitoring forest pests and to develop capacity for using the system and monitoring the forest in a new way. &nbsp;</p>



<p>As a first step, FOCEN and Ambiomas recognized that engaging forest owners and community members living in and around the Reserve was essential. They created a comprehensive course with a corresponding manual and led a two-day intensive training event for 14 people on using Forest Watcher. Over the course of six months, community technicians from the participating ejidos and communities, with the support of Ambiomas and FOCEN, conducted more than 100 field visits and produced more than 1,000 reports on observations of forest degradation in the field. This provided the data needed to inform FOCEN’s development of an early warning system. &nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18603"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Training of community technicians from the Senguio ejido by the Ambiomas team. Credit: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



<p>Next, FOCEN and Ambiomas, with support from GFW and the Monarch Butterfly Fund, took a multi-pronged approach to creating the early warning system. Realizing the time commitment of ground patrols and the limitations of satellite imagery, they incorporated multispectral drone technology that can capture data in multiple wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum (red, green, blue) to complement field visits and provide high-resolution imagery of forest degradation that satellites cannot always capture.</p>



<p>They selected five watersheds to assess that had historical records of monarch butterfly hibernation and that are critical to communities. After conducting drone flights, they used a Tree Density Calculator algorithm (available as a QGIS plugin) that provides an estimate of the number of trees present in the study area and shows the coordinates of each tree, creating a forest inventory that includes each tree’s precise location. They then assessed vegetation health using a platform to interpret the multispectral drone imagery and by assessing high-resolution images.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tree-Density-Calculator-fig.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18604"/></figure>



<p>Using the forest inventory, they performed a visual interpretation for each tree determined by the algorithm to have signs of disease, such as standing dead or dry trees and trees with dry tops. The identification criteria were based on the color and appearance of the tree.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Examples-of-dead-and-dry-trees-ENG.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18605"/></figure>



<p>They compared this information with the reports generated during monitoring trips using Forest Watcher and found that the reports aligned with the visual interpretation of the images identified by the algorithm.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-English-v4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18606"/></figure>



<p>FOCEN and Ambiomas have now conducted multispectral drone flights for two consecutive years during the pre- and post-rainy season and at times of the year when monarchs are not present to determine the vitality of the fir trees and in order to have timely information on the possible presence of forest pests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Outcomes for improved pest monitoring and response </h2>



<p>Thanks to the early warning system, FOCEN, Ambiomas and communities have been able to take targeted action in controlling bark beetles — namely, removing infected trees and wood debris, in accordance with Mexican regulations for controlling and preventing beetle outbreaks. More monitoring is needed to determine whether the bark beetles are now contained, and local communities are currently conducting pest and forest disease monitoring surveys as part of FOCEN’s Best Management Practices Programs within their <a href="https://focenmexico.org/cuenca-sierra-chincua" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">payment for ecosystem services program</a>.</p>



<p>The combination of tools and practices used in the early warning system provides an important complement to field monitoring. It has helped ejidatarios (community landowners), community members and field technicians monitor larger areas and less accessible places faster and has allowed them to better understand their territory. Using the information collected, they have been able to implement conservation and restoration activities that are helping counteract the effects caused by forest pests.</p>



<p>Additionally, FOCEN and Ambiomas have developed a <a href="https://focenmexico.org/microcuencas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MapBuilder and Story Map</a> for each of the five watersheds crucial to monarch hibernation that they monitored throughout the project to aggregate and represent all the data generated, making it possible to conduct spatial analyses with this information.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18607"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MapBuilder Application for the Nicolas Romero watershed. Source: FOCEN, 2022</figcaption></figure>



<p>FOCEN and Ambiomas also worked with the team at GFW to make several improvements to Forest Watcher such as improving the location accuracy of reports and the ability to directly link reports to MapBuilder, which will help others interested in monitoring for pests or using these tools for other applications in the future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Adapting lessons for tackling forest pests around the world</h2>



<p>In October 2022, FOCEN convened a workshop with the Reserve’s community technicians, technical advisors and researchers from the Colegio de Geografía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México to discuss the impact of climate change on forest degradation. As a next step for FOCEN and Ambiomas, greater funding is needed to allow the continuation of monitoring larger areas and to more accurately assess levels of forest degradation in the forests that monarchs depend on.</p>



<p>These impacts to forests and lessons learned are relevant for many geographies that are confronted with similar issues. FOCEN and Ambiomas found that, in addition to an early warning system to reduce response time to forest damage, early detection and monitoring activities are essential to prevent forest degradation from pests. This requires long-term aerial monitoring and strengthening the local capacities of forest owners, in coordination with the various stakeholders involved in the area.</p>



<p>As climate change continues to wreak havoc, less visible but damaging effects like forest pests are becoming more apparent. The issue of pests causing degradation is not isolated to Mexico, and others can learn from the technologies and approaches developed by FOCEN and Ambiomas and implement similar strategies in the areas that are experiencing similar challenges.</p>



<p><em>To learn more about FOCEN and Ambiomas’s work and their early warning system for forest pests, please contact </em><a href="mailto:eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org"><em>eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org</em></a><em> or </em><a href="mailto:ambiomasorg@gmail.co"><em>ambiomasorg@gmail.com</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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<p>Cada otoño, uno de los espectáculos naturales más extraordinarios del planeta tiene lugar entre los bosques de abetos (oyamel) del centro de México: Millones de mariposas monarca aterrizan aquí en busca de un respiro a las frías temperaturas invernales del noreste de EE.UU. y Canadá para su hibernación anual. Es un fenómeno al que el <a href="https://monarchconservation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monarch Butterfly Fund</a> se refiere cariñosamente como «<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDmKBvztIbk&amp;t=1s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">la llegada de las hijas del sol</a>». El espectáculo es a la vez visualmente espléndido y culturalmente importante para el pueblo de México. Existen varios mitos en torno a este fenómeno, como <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/monarch-butterflies-us-mexico/#:~:text=As%20pollinators%2C%20the%20monarch%20butterfly,enjoy%2C%20like%20squash%20and%20blueberries" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">la creencia de que las mariposas monarca son almas que regresan de seres queridos</a>. &nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SANTUARIO_MONARCA_HERRADA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18600"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Santuario de la mariposa monarca «Piedra Herrada». Crédito: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



<p>Este increíble acontecimiento, parte fundamental del ciclo vital de las monarcas, depende de los bosques de México. Sin embargo, estos bosques están sintiendo los efectos del cambio climático global. Uno de los efectos es el aumento de plagas; un problema que no es exclusivo de México, las plagas forestales son una amenaza creciente en muchos otros países (por ejemplo, en 2024, WRI informó que las plagas forestales son una <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/europe-forest-loss-drivers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">amenaza creciente para los bosques de Europa</a>).&nbsp;</p>



<p>Para ayudar a abordar este problema en la Reserva de la Biosfera de la Mariposa Monarca de México, <a href="https://focenmexico.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">El Fondo de Conservación del Eje Neovolcánico (FOCEN)</a>, beneficiario del Fondo de Pequeñas Suvenciones de Global Forest Watch (GFW), ha desarrollado un enfoque novedoso, combinando alertas en la aplicación Forest Watcher de GFW y tecnología complementaria como drones para monitorear las plagas e informar de las acciones para erradicarlas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Un nuevo reto para las monarcas y su monitoreo: las plagas forestales</h2>



<p>FOCEN trabaja a escala regional para crear alianzas en favor de la conservación, la restauración y el uso responsable de los recursos naturales del centro de México. Desde 2000, FOCEN ha trabajado para conservar los valiosos bosques de la Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca (RBMM) de México, declarada <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-see-mexico-monarch-butterfly-migration#:~:text=Travelers%20can%20help%20protect%20these,on%20UNESCO's%20World%20Heritage%20list.&amp;text=In%20one%20of%20the%20planet's,fir%20forests%20of%20Central%20Mexico" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO</a>. A través del <a href="https://focenmexico.org/fondo-monarca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fondo para la Conservación de la Mariposa Monarca (Fondo Monarca)</a>, FOCEN ha facilitado un esquema que proporciona incentivos económicos para el pago de servicios ecosistémicos a los propietarios de bosques (ejidos - pequeños propietarios y comunidades indígenas) a lo largo de 12,367 hectáreas de bosques, 91% de los cuales se encuentran dentro de la zona núcleo de la RBMM.</p>



<p>En 2021, tras recibir una subvención del Fondo de Pequeñas Subvenciones de GFW, FOCEN se propuso abordar las alteraciones forestales en la RBMM.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MIRADOR_PENA_BLANCA_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18601"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mirador de Peña Blanca, santuario de la mariposa monarca «Sierra Chincua». Crédito: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



<p>Mientras realizaban las primeras investigaciones sobre el terreno utilizando Forest Watcher para identificar las zonas de degradación y elaborar informes sobre sus hallazgos, descubrieron rápidamente que la principal causa de degradación forestal en la Reserva son las plagas forestales, concretamente los escarabajos descortezador, que atacan a los árboles debilitados. Peor aún, descubrieron que los escarabajos siguen extendiéndose a medida que aumentan las temperaturas y la sequía, amenazando el hábitat forestal que es fundamental para la migración y la hibernación de la mariposa monarca.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ES-pests-fig.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18628"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fuente: Gallardo S. J.L. 2023</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Una nueva forma de utilizar Forest Watcher y las herramientas de monitoreo</h2>



<p>FOCEN trabajó rápidamente para movilizarse ante este nuevo hallazgo. En colaboración con Ambiomas Acciones y Respuestas Adaptivas (Ambiomas), adaptaron su proyecto y se propusieron crear un sistema de alerta temprana para monitorear plagas forestales y desarrollar capacidades para utilizar el sistema y monitorear el bosque de una forma nueva.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Como primer paso, FOCEN y Ambiomas reconocieron que era esencial implicar a los propietarios de los bosques y a los miembros de las comunidades que viven en la Reserva y sus alrededores. Crearon un curso integral acompañado de un &nbsp;manual y organizaron un curso intensivo de dos días para capacitar a 14 personas en el uso de Forest Watcher. A lo largo de seis meses, técnicos comunitarios de los ejidos y comunidades participantes, con el apoyo de Ambiomas y FOCEN, realizaron más de 100 visitas de campo y elaboraron más de 1000 informes sobre observaciones de degradación forestal sobre el terreno. Esto proporcionó los datos necesarios para que FOCEN desarrollara un sistema de alerta temprana.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAPACITACION_TECNICOS_SHG.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-18603"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Capacitación de técnicos comunitarios del ejido de Senguio por el equipo de Ambiomas. Crédito: Salvador Huitrón García</figcaption></figure>



<p>A continuación, FOCEN y Ambiomas, con el apoyo de GFW y el Fondo de la Mariposa Monarca, adoptaron un enfoque múltiple para crear el sistema de alerta temprana. Conscientes del tiempo que requieren las patrullas terrestres y de las limitaciones de las imágenes por satélite, incorporaron drones con tecnología multiespectral, capaz de captar datos en múltiples longitudes de onda más allá del espectro visible (rojo, verde y azul) para complementar las visitas en campo y proporcionar imágenes de alta resolución de la degradación forestal que los satélites no siempre pueden captar.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Seleccionaron cinco cuencas hidrográficas con registros históricos de hibernación de la mariposa monarca y que son fundamentales para las comunidades. Tras realizar vuelos con drones, utilizaron un algoritmo de cálculo de densidad de árboles (<em>Tree Density Calculator, </em>disponible como complemento de QGIS) que proporciona una estimación del número de árboles presentes en el área de estudio y muestra las coordenadas de cada árbol, creando un inventario forestal que incluye la ubicación precisa de cada árbol. A continuación, evaluaron la salud de la vegetación utilizando una plataforma para interpretar las imágenes multiespectrales de los drones y evaluando imágenes de alta resolución.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tree-Density-Calculator-fig.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18604"/></figure>



<p>Utilizando el inventario forestal, realizaron una interpretación visual de cada árbol que el algoritmo determinaba que presentaba signos de enfermedad, como árboles muertos o secos en pie y árboles con copas secas. Los criterios de identificación se basaron en el color y el aspecto del árbol.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ES-dead-trees-fig.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18631"/></figure>



<p>Compararon esta información con los informes generados durante los viajes de monitoreo con Forest Watcher y comprobaron que los informes coincidían con la interpretación visual de las imágenes identificadas por el algoritmo.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FOCEN-Spanish-v6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18632"/></figure>



<p>FOCEN y Ambiomas llevan dos años consecutivos realizando vuelos multiespectrales con drones durante la época anterior y posterior a las lluvias, así como en épocas del año en las que no hay monarcas para determinar la vitalidad de los oyameles y poder disponer de información puntual sobre la posible presencia de plagas forestales.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Resultados para un mejor monitoreo y la respuesta ante plagas&nbsp; </h2>



<p>Gracias al sistema de alerta temprana, FOCEN, Ambiomas y las comunidades han podido tomar medidas específicas para controlar los escarabajos descortezadores,concretamente, retirar los árboles infectados y los restos de madera, de acuerdo con la normativa mexicana para controlar y prevenir los brotes de escarabajos. Se necesita más monitoreo para determinar si los escarabajos descortezadores están ahora contenidos y las comunidades locales están llevando a cabo actualmente encuestas de monitoreo de plagas y enfermedades forestales como parte de los Programas de Mejores Prácticas de Gestión de FOCEN dentro de su <a href="https://focenmexico.org/cuenca-sierra-chincua" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">programa de pago por servicios ecosistémicos</a>.</p>



<p>El conjunto de herramientas y prácticas utilizadas en el sistema de alerta temprana constituye un complemento importante a la vigilancia en campo. Ha ayudado a los ejidatarios, a los miembros de la comunidad y a los técnicos de campo a vigilar más rápidamente zonas más extensas y lugares menos accesibles y les ha permitido conocer mejor su territorio. Con la información recopilada, han podido poner en marcha actividades de conservación y restauración que están ayudando a contrarrestar los efectos causados por las plagas forestales.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Además, FOCEN y Ambiomas han desarrollado un <a href="https://focenmexico.org/microcuencas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MapBuilder y un Story Map</a> para cada una de las cinco cuencas hidrográficas que son cruciales para la hibernación de las monarcas y que monitorearon a lo largo del proyecto. En ellos, agregaron y representaron todos los datos generados, haciendo posible realizar análisis espaciales con esta información.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MapBuilder-screenshot.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18607"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Aplicación MapBuilder para la cuenca Nicolas Romero. Fuente: FOCEN, 2022</figcaption></figure>



<p>FOCEN and Ambiomas also worked with the team at GFW to make several improvements to Forest Watcher such as improving the location accuracy of reports and the ability to directly link reports to MapBuilder, which will help others interested in monitoring for pests or using these tools for other applications in the future.</p>



<p>FOCEN y Ambiomas también trabajaron con el equipo de GFW para introducir varias mejoras en Forest Watcher, como mejorar la precisión de la ubicación de los informes y la posibilidad de vincular directamente los informes a MapBuilder, lo que ayudará a otras personas interesadas en la vigilancia de plagas o en utilizar estas herramientas para otras aplicaciones en el futuro.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Adaptar las enseñanzas para combatir las plagas forestales en todo el mundo</h2>



<p>En octubre de 2022, FOCEN convocó a un taller con los técnicos comunitarios de la Reserva, asesores técnicos e investigadores del Colegio de Geografía de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México para discutir el impacto del cambio climático en la degradación forestal. Como un siguiente paso para FOCEN y Ambiomas, se necesita mayor financiamiento que permita continuar con el monitoreo de áreas más extensas y evaluar con mayor precisión los niveles de degradación forestal en los bosques de los que dependen las monarcas.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Estos impactos en los bosques y las lecciones aprendidas son relevantes para muchas geografías que se enfrentan a problemas similares. FOCEN y Ambiomas descubrieron que, además de un sistema de alerta temprana para reducir el tiempo de respuesta a los daños forestales, las actividades de detección temprana y seguimiento son esenciales para prevenir la degradación de los bosques a causa de las plagas. Para ello es necesario realizar un monitoreo aéreo a largo plazo y reforzar las capacidades locales de los propietarios forestales, en coordinación con las distintas partes interesadas de la zona.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A medida que el cambio climático sigue causando estragos, los efectos menos visibles pero perjudiciales, como las plagas forestales, son cada vez más evidentes. El problema de las plagas que causan degradación no es exclusivo de México, y otros pueden aprender de las tecnologías y los enfoques desarrollados por FOCEN y Ambiomas y aplicar estrategias similares en las zonas que están experimentando retos parecidos.</p>



<p><em>Si desea más información sobre el trabajo de FOCEN y Ambiomas y su sistema de alerta temprana de plagas forestales, póngase en contacto con </em><a href="mailto:eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org"><em>eligio.garcia@focenmexico.org</em></a><em> o </em><a href="mailto:ambiomasorg@gmail.com"><em>ambiomasorg@gmail.com</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Un nuevo reto de monitoreo: Proteger los bosques de las plagas

GFW partner FOCEN is using a novel monitoring approach to tackle increasing forest pests in in Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve.

Photo of mountains in Mexico Protected Natural Area

Sheccid Gomez Balvas

Valeria López-Portillo

Sarai Eunice Rodríguez

Natural Protected Areas in Mexico: A Strategic Front for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

<div class="imageright"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Photo of tree canopies in Mexico" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/MXblog_1_trees.jpg" width="100%">Photo credit: René Ibarra  </div>



<p>According to the latest analysis on the <a href="https://research.wri.org/gfr/latest-analysis-deforestation-trends" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Forest Review</a>, during 2021, the tropics lost 11.1 million ha (hectares) of <a href="https://research.wri.org/gfr/key-terms-definitions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tree cover</a>. The rate of tropical primary forest loss alone reached 10 football pitches per minute, generating the same amount of CO<sub>2</sub> as the annual fossil fuel emissions of <a href="https://di.unfccc.int/time_series" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">India</a>. Globally in 2021, the world lost 25.3 million ha of tree cover, equivalent to the area of Ecuador.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Forests are a strategic component to addressing climate change. Each year, they <a href="https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/forests-and-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">absorb a third</a> of the CO2 released by the burning of fossil fuels. In addition, they are home to 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity, support soil formation and aquifer recharge and prevent desertification. Because of the economic, social and environmental importance of forests, and their persistent loss at a global level, there are voluntary, public, and private instruments, mechanisms, and legal and economic incentives that seek to protect the integrity of these ecosystems and the biodiversity they house. One of these instruments is the establishment and management of Natural Protected Areas (NPAs).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Approximately <a href="http://www.conafor.gob.mx:8080/documentos/docs/1/7749El%20Sector%20Forestal%20Mexicano%20en%20Cifras%202019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">17% of Mexico’s territory</a> is forested. However, GFW monitoring reveals that these ecosystems continue to experience significant losses and 2021 was no exception. This blog addresses the crucial role NPAs play in reducing forest loss and achieving Mexico’s climate and biodiversity commitments. Furthermore, it analyses tree cover loss between three areas with different protection categories in the state of Campeche, seeking to highlight the role of NPAs in mitigating deforestation.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Forest Loss in Mexico&nbsp;</h2>



<p>According to GFW, in 2021, Mexico was the twenty-sixth country with the greatest tree cover loss, losing 189,080 ha of tree cover, or 1.25 times the area of Mexico City, releasing 85 megatons of CO<sub>2</sub>e into the atmosphere. This loss is important since the Mexican economy, particularly in the rural context, is highly dependent on its forests and jungles through forest-sector employment, trade of timber and non-timber products, ecotourism, and other environmental services with economic importance.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GFW_Nacional_EN-2048x1138.jpg" alt="Graph of tree cover loss in Mexico, 2002-2021" class="wp-image-14005"/></figure>



<p>Nearly 60% of the tree cover loss at the national level was concentrated in five states: Campeche, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz and Quintana Roo. These states lead the deforestation lists in recent decades. In fact, the National Forestry Commission of Mexico (CONAFOR) has identified several <a href="http://www.conafor.gob.mx:8080/documentos/docs/1/7768Documento%20tecnico%202020%20Deforestacion%20Bruta%20Final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deforestation hotspots</a> within their territories.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GFW_Por-estado_EN-2048x1138.jpg" alt="Graph of tree cover loss by state in Mexico, 2021" class="wp-image-14004"/></figure>



<p>During 2021, the rate of tree cover loss in Mexico decreased by 31% compared to the average of the previous five years. However, <a href="https://wrimexico.org/bloga/reporta-global-forest-watch-m%C3%A1ximos-en-p%C3%A9rdida-de-cobertura-forestal-desde-2001" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the last five years recorded</a> four of the five years with the largest loss of tree cover. Thus, the 2021 loss is comparable to the loses that had been maintained up until 2015. Although the reduction represents a respite from the previous rate of losses, it is far from being a trend. For that to be the case, tree cover loss must remain low in the coming years.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The tree cover loss seen in Mexico is the result of social, environmental, economic and governance conditions. In general, the opportunity cost of forest conservation hardly competes with other land uses, such as agriculture, real estate or tourism development. However, determining the causes of the decrease in tree cover loss in 2021 requires an analysis of the conditions in each region. A potential explanation is that, after years of high rates of tree cover loss, there are fewer areas still suitable for exploitation, or what remains is not financially viable for exploitation.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>The Importance of Natural Protected Areas in the Face of Forest Loss&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/MXblog_2_mountains-2048x1365.jpg" alt="Photo of mountains in Mexico Protected Natural Area" class="wp-image-14001"/><figcaption>Photo credit: René Ibarra </figcaption></figure>



<p>Tree cover loss is the permanent or temporary removal of tree cover for any reason, including anthropogenic and natural causes, such as fires. It is a phenomenon that can lead to deforestation, defined as the permanent elimination of forest cover, and induces changes that negatively affect ecosystem structure and functioning. In Mexico, tree cover loss <a href="https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5609275&amp;fecha=31/12/2020#gsc.tab=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">is the main direct cause</a> of degradation of terrestrial ecosystems and loss of biodiversity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Forest degradation impacts the quality of ecosystem services, water services, climate regulation and carbon storage. To maximize the benefits from forests, it is necessary to maintain forest landscapes intact and ensure their sustainable management. Therefore, preventing deforestation is as important as protecting the integrity of existing forest areas.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In addition to being a key part of the solution to climate change, forest conservation creates synergies to address other global crises, such as biodiversity loss, desertification and drought. Similarly, forests contribute to local livelihoods and the national economy.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Environmental regulations and other political instruments <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389934119302011" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">directly and indirectly influence</a> deforestation rates in the world. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ldr.2970" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NPAs have been identified as useful tools</a> to mitigate the loss of tree cover and deforestation. In Mexico, where approximately 11% of the land area <a href="http://sig.conanp.gob.mx/website/pagsig/datos_anp.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">is under some category of federal NPA</a>, several studies <a href="http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S1870-34532011000300020" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimate the effectiveness of the NPAs</a> based on their ability to stop urban growth and prevent land use change processes. In most of the NPAs analyzed, the rates of change are lower than their surrounding areas and the ecoregions in which they are located.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Evidence from Protected Areas in Campeche&nbsp;</h2>



<p>We compared three areas under different protection categories in the state of Campeche to visualize the role of NPAs in mitigating tree cover loss: the Calakmul federal NPA; a <a href="https://www.gob.mx/conanp/articulos/areas-destinadas-voluntariamente-a-la-conservacion-participacion-social-por-el-ambiente-193042#:~:text=Las%20%C3%81reas%20Destinadas%20Voluntariamente%20a,la%20participaci%C3%B3n%20de%20la%20sociedad." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Voluntary Conservation Area (ADVC)</a> in the surrounding area of Calakmul; and an area without any category of protection but with the same type of ecosystems as the two previous areas. Uploading the polygons onto the <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/?analysis=eyJzaG93RHJhdyI6dHJ1ZX0%3D&amp;mainMap=eyJzaG93QW5hbHlzaXMiOnRydWV9&amp;map=eyJkYXRhc2V0cyI6W3siZGF0YXNldCI6InBvbGl0aWNhbC1ib3VuZGFyaWVzIiwibGF5ZXJzIjpbImRpc3B1dGVkLXBvbGl0aWNhbC1ib3VuZGFyaWVzIiwicG9saXRpY2FsLWJvdW5kYXJpZXMiXSwib3BhY2l0eSI6MSwidmlzaWJpbGl0eSI6dHJ1ZX0seyJkYXRhc2V0IjoidHJlZS1jb3Zlci1sb3NzIiwibGF5ZXJzIjpbInRyZWUtY292ZXItbG9zcyJdLCJvcGFjaXR5IjoxLCJ2aXNpYmlsaXR5Ijp0cnVlfV19">GFW platform</a>, we compared the areas of tree cover lost between 2015 and 2021 for the three areas, as well as for the entire state of Campeche.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Because the areas had very different dimensions, we normalized the hectares of cover lost per year with respect to the area of each polygon. The figures reported in the graph represent the percentage of tree cover loss during the selected years in each polygon.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GWF_Campeche_EN-2048x1237.jpg" alt="Graph of tree cover loss in Campeche, 2015-2021" class="wp-image-14003"/></figure>



<p>The results show that, for all the years, the areas with some level of protection (Calakmul and ADVC) experienced a lower percentage of tree cover loss than the average loss in the state of Campeche. Comparing the protected areas with unprotected area, the percentages of loss in protected areas were lower in five of the seven years analyzed. This exercise is a first attempt to visualize the importance of protected areas in one of the states with the highest levels of tree cover loss in Mexico.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Forest Conservation in the National and Global Environmental Agenda&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The value of NPAs and other tools for forest landscape conservation becomes more relevant when considering the various commitments Mexico has made to halt deforestation and forest loss.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The mitigation component of the Mexican <a href="https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/NDC/2022-06/NDC-Esp-30Dic.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nationally Determined Contribution</a> (NDC) seeks to achieve zero net deforestation by 2030. The commitment was reiterated at COP26, where Mexico signed the <a href="https://ukcop26.org/glasgow-leaders-declaration-on-forests-and-land-use/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use</a>, promising to stop and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Likewise, addressing forest loss is the backbone of several regional and voluntary initiatives Mexico has signed on. For example, within the framework of the <a href="https://initiative20x20.org/members" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">20x20 initiative</a> , Mexico committed to restoring one million ha of forest cover by 2020. The initiative was updated for 2030 to protect and restore at least 50 million ha for said year. Likewise, the Bonn Challenge and the New York Declaration on Forests seek to restore another 350 million ha globally by 2030.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that reducing the rate of deforestation and forest degradation <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/chapter/summary-for-policymakers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">is one of the most robust mechanisms to mitigate climate change</a>. It is estimated that the Mexican forestry sector can contribute to reaching <a href="https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5609275&amp;fecha=31/12/2020#gsc.tab=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">22% of the national goal for the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions</a> established in the Paris Agreement, which would contribute to the mitigation of 46 million tons of CO2 equivalent for the year 2030.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In addition to being an effective strategy for mitigation, forest protection creates synergies for adaptation to climate change since forest ecosystem services contribute to increasing the resilience of forest communities and reducing their vulnerability to climate change impacts, such as flooding and droughts. <a href="https://es.mongabay.com/2022/03/dia-mundial-de-la-adaptacion-al-cambio-climatico-ejemplos-exitosos-en-america-latina/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Several success stories</a> have been reported where the recovery of forested areas in high basins benefits the recharge of aquifers, reduces landslide, and increases the availability of water in forest communities.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/MXblog_3_mountains-2048x1365.jpg" alt="Photo of mountains in Mexico" class="wp-image-14000"/><figcaption>Photo credit: René Ibarra </figcaption></figure>



<p>Likewise, forest conservation contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and other commitments for biodiversity conservation. Mexico is recognized as one of <a href="https://www.biodiversidad.gob.mx/pais/quees" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the seventeen megadiverse countries in the world</a> and, since 1992, has been part of the <a href="https://www.biodiversidad.gob.mx/planeta/internacional/cbd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Convention on Biological Diversity</a>, in which it agreed to protect national biodiversity through <a href="https://www.cbd.int/countries/targets/?country=mx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">various goals</a> including reducing the rate of loss and degradation of protected natural habitats to a value close to zero by 2030.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Finally, conserving forest ecosystems and the biodiversity they house is a way of ensuring the well-being of rural communities, as forests cover close to <a href="https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5609275&amp;fecha=31/12/2020" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">70% of the national territory and are home to 10.9 million people</a>, many of whom live in poverty and marginalization. Given this vulnerability, the timber and non-timber forest resources are key to maintaining their livelihoods. For example, herbal medicine represents the first access to health in rural communities and is a common way of treating diseases and illnesses.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Forest loss is a global problem that endangers the forest integrity. Besides providing environmental services that sustain the well-being of communities, forests are key for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Losing the world's forests means undermining our ability to face global crises, such as the climate crisis.&nbsp;</p>



<p>NPAs are one of the most popular mechanisms for the protection of ecosystems in Mexico and have been identified as effective tools to mitigate the tree cover loss. However, the budget allocated to the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) has suffered <a href="https://ciep.mx/presupuesto-dirigido-a-areas-naturales-protegidas-evolucion-2014-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">significant reductions</a> in recent years, which limits its ability to protect areas of high ecological value in the country. Given this, it is necessary to promote initiatives that seek the protection of the country's forests.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Our Work&nbsp;</h2>



<p>WRI Mexico is involved in multiple efforts to conserve forests in the country. Through GFW, we promote and build capacity for forest monitoring among different stakeholders including journalists, academic institutions, and state governments. Similarly, <a href="https://wrimexico.org/our-work/projects/ciudades-que-protegen-los-bosques-para-el-bienestar-humano" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cities4Forests</a> promotes the conservation of urban and peripheral forests in several Mexican cities, creating a link between the ecosystem services of these areas and those urban populations. Finally, the <a href="https://wrimexico.org/our-work/projects/re3co" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RE3CO</a> initiative is undertaking mangrove conservation and restoration projects and promotes forest valuation while strengthening the livelihoods of coastal communities.&nbsp;</p>



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Originally appeared on <a href="https://wrimexico.org/bloga/%C3%A1reas-naturales-protegidas-un-frente-estrat%C3%A9gico-para-la-mitigaci%C3%B3n-y-adaptaci%C3%B3n-al-cambio" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI Mexico</a>. 


 

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Data from GFW shows that Natural Protected Areas in Mexico help prevent forest loss, protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change.

Natural Protected Areas in Mexico Help Protect Forests | GFW Blog

Small grants fund

Small grants fund | Global Forest Watch Blog

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Pronatura Península de Yucatán A. C. is one of Global Forest Watch’s (GFW) 2019 small grants fund recipients. The Small Grants Fund provides financial and technical support to organizations working in the tropics to turn forest monitoring information into action using GFW. As of March 2020, Pronatura Península de Yucatán A. C. is celebrating its 30th anniversary. 

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<p>The Maya Forest stretches for 35 million hectares across Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. This expanse of tropical rainforest is the largest forest in Mexico and second largest tropical rainforest in Latin America after the Amazon. Most of Mexico’s portion of the Maya Forest falls within the Yucatán Peninsula— the heartland of the ancient Mayan Civilization. Thousands of archaeologically significant ruins are scattered throughout the region and the forests provide a home to some iconic endemic species, like the Yucatán parrot, in addition to forming the region’s major carbon sink.&nbsp; </p>



<p>Yet&nbsp;Mexico’s&nbsp;Maya Forest&nbsp;is&nbsp;losing&nbsp;over&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/geostore/dc937754c104056241b106d34da8dd62?analysis=eyJzaG93RHJhdyI6dHJ1ZX0%3D&mainMap=eyJzaG93QW5hbHlzaXMiOnRydWUsImhpZGVMZWdlbmQiOmZhbHNlfQ%3D%3D&map=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%3D%3D&menu=eyJkYXRhc2V0Q2F0ZWdvcnkiOiIiLCJtZW51U2VjdGlvbiI6IiJ9&treeLoss=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&utm_source=GFWBlog&utm_medium=Hyperlink&utm_campaign=GFW&utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank">80,000 hectares</a>&nbsp;of tree cover per year, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="largely&nbsp;due to&nbsp; (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/TNC_JurisdictionalApproaches_CaseStudies_Mexico.pdf" target="_blank">largely&nbsp;due to&nbsp;</a>cattle ranching, pasture expansion, commercial and small-scale agriculture and forest fires. Modern development projects proposed for the area, like the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mayan Train (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.citylab.com/environment/2019/02/mexico-travel-mayan-train-yucatan-tourism-economic-development/583405/" target="_blank">Mayan Train</a>, pose additional challenges for protecting this forest ecosystem. Fortunately, organizations like <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Pronatura Península de Yucatán A.C (opens in a new tab)" href="http://pronatura-ppy.org.mx/" target="_blank">Pronatura Península de Yucatán A.C.</a> are on the frontlines protecting the Maya Forest, using their connections with local communities and governments to get forest monitoring data into the right hands.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="deforestation Yucatán" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ezgif.com-video-to-gif-6.gif" width="100%">Tree cover loss (pink) in the Yucatán Peninsula 2001-2018.</div>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Human activity threatens key biosphere reserves</strong></h3>



<p>Between 2001 and 2018, the three states that comprise the Mayan Forest— <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/MEX/23?map=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%3D%3D&treeLossGlobal=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&utm_source=GFWBlog&utm_medium=hyperlink&utm_campaign=GFW_GlobalDashboard&utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank">Quintana Roo</a>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/MEX/4?map=eyJkYXRhc2V0cyI6W3siZGF0YXNldCI6ImZkYzhkYzFiLTI3MjgtNGE3OS1iMjNmLWIwOTQ4NTA1MmI4ZCIsImxheWVycyI6WyI2ZjY3OThlNi0zOWVjLTQxNjMtOTc5ZS0xODJhNzRjYTY1ZWUiLCJjNWQxZTAxMC0zODNhLTQ3MTMtOWFhYS00NGY3MjhjMDU3MWMiXSwiYm91bmRhcnkiOnRydWUsIm9wYWNpdHkiOjEsInZpc2liaWxpdHkiOnRydWV9LHsiZGF0YXNldCI6Ijg5N2VjYzc2LTIzMDgtNGM1MS1hZWIzLTQ5NWRlMGJkY2E3OSIsImxheWVycyI6WyJjMzA3NWM1YS01NTY3LTRiMDktYmMwZC05NmVkMTY3M2Y4YjYiXSwib3BhY2l0eSI6MSwidmlzaWJpbGl0eSI6dHJ1ZSwicGFyYW1zIjp7InRocmVzaCI6MzAsInZpc2liaWxpdHkiOnRydWV9fV0sImNlbnRlciI6eyJsYXQiOjE5LjM5NjA2Mjc0Nzg3NjQ5NiwibG5nIjotOTAuNzQwOTk5OTk5OTMzODl9LCJiZWFyaW5nIjowLCJwaXRjaCI6MCwiem9vbSI6Ny4yMjU1NjA2MjY4MjgyNjgsImNhbkJvdW5kIjpmYWxzZSwiYmJveCI6W119&treeLossGlobal=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&utm_source=GFWBlog&utm_medium=hyperlink&utm_campaign=GFW_GlobalDashboard&utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank">Campeche</a> and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/MEX/31?map=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&treeLossGlobal=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&utm_source=GFWBlog&utm_medium=hyperlink&utm_campaign=GFW_GlobalDashboard&utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank">Yucatán</a>— lost approximately 1.5 million hectares of tree cover. Pronatura’s work is focused on preventing further loss by defending three biosphere reserves in the peninsula: the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve and the El Zapotal Conservation Area, which is privately owned and managed by Pronatura. </p>



<p>Pronatura has been working in the region for 30 years as of this March. After accumulating an abundance of biodiversity data through their work, they created a conservation information center to house and analyze the data. Pronatura uses this wealth of information to support their various other programs including forest fire management, ecotourism and rural development and the management of the Zapotal Conservation Area.</p>



<p>As a Small Grants Fund recipient in 2016 and again in 2019, the organization incorporated GLAD deforestation alerts and biodiversity data available on GFW into a custom online platform called <a href="http://www.observatorioselvamaya.org.mx/monitoreo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Maya Forest Watch</a>. This platform is designed to map forest conditions in the Yucatán peninsula and provide near-real-time updates on tree cover loss and fires. </p>



<p>“One of the
purposes of Maya Forest Watch is to measure changes in deforestation. What we
now know is that we are losing [forests in the state of Yucatán] mostly because
of cattle ranching and agricultural practices. About 11 percent is due to
wildfires,” said Efraim Acosta, a project manager for Pronatura. </p>



<p>With Maya
Forest Watch, Pronatura can show a simplified yet dynamic picture of
environmental changes in the Peninsula — a useful tool for both local
governments and communities trying to make land use and conservation decisions.
Because of the large percentage of loss due to wildfires, daily fire alerts are
a crucial element of the platform. Slash-and-burn agriculture and burning for cattle
ranching is common in the peninsula, but winds and buildup of dry vegetation
can easily turn controlled burns into out-of-control forest fires. Maya Forest
Watch has allowed local officials to respond quickly to wildfires and minimize forest
loss. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Communities form the core of forest protection work</h3>



<p>Pronatura
emphasizes collaboration with the local communities living in the peninsula,
especially ejidos — areas of communal agricultural land in Mexico that are owned
and managed by local communities— that overlap with biosphere reserves. Pronatura
has trained ejido members to use Maya Forest Watch to understand land change
dynamics and respond to forest threats including wildfires.</p>



<p>“People
that we work with have a lot of field experience…they just don’t have the tools
or the opportunity or they don’t have a voice, so that’s something that this
project can help to do,” said Acosta. Employing geospatial data and monitoring
tools has given communities a mechanism to coordinate their responses across
the region.</p>



<p>Pronatura has also collaborated closely with federal, state
and local officials which has allowed them to continue making strides towards
strong forest protections. </p>



<p>“We’re acting as the middle person in between the
communities and the state governments,” said Acosta.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="fires in yucatán" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/firesyucatan.jpg" width="100%">Pronatura has aided communities in coordinating their responses to wildfires, even across state lines. Photo Courtesy of Pronatura Península de Yucatán A.C.</div>



<p>One of the most successful collaborations Pronatura has facilitated
has been the coordination of fire brigades across all three states in the
Peninsula. </p>



<p>“We have been training wildfire brigades in fire prevention
through the use of GLAD deforestation alerts and VIIRS fire alerts with future
wildfire risks,” said Acosta. The brigades have been monitoring fire alerts, conducting
patrols and quelling out of control burns when necessary. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The future of the Yucatán Peninsula</strong></h3>



<p>Although the last 30 years have had their share of
successes, the road ahead is still paved with challenges. </p>



<p>“There are major threats coming to the Peninsula, not only
developments, but also changing policies. Infrastructure projects in the next
five years will change landscapes,” said Acosta. Not to mention the impacts of
climate change that are already being felt across the Peninsula: “The dry season
is drier and the wet season is more humid.” </p>



<p>Acosta said that despite this, Pronatura will continue to
move forward with their projects, leveraging their strong relationships with
communities and government officials, and their knowledge and data about the
Peninsula. </p>



<p>“The agricultural department is helping figure out how to
make these issues more central to policies,” said Acosta.</p>



<p>Ultimately, Pronatura remains optimistic. </p>



<p>“We’re hopeful that we can put environmental awareness to
the development policies so now future progress can be done better,” said
Acosta. “Do more with less, which is kind of the government motto right now,
and see where we can help.”</p>



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BANNER PHOTO: Mayan Ruins in Calakmul. Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinrao/8633714889/in/photolist-e9W3Dg-ea2HuN-2svBjT-mBcTcb-ea2HfL-e9W3pg-2svBe6-ea2Hzj-mAGke2-ea2HDh-e9W3ye-e9W3kB-e9W3sF-2cMzeP7-4oLriG-mJN3pD-2a6otoY-22pCpt5-2cRVhV2-QJbdad-2bKTmxU-P6NkFT-22pCuCy-DQp2hr-22pCj11-22pCmBJ-EAfVDz-227XMpe-22pCuxJ-6Tgj48-2svBeK-3annfi-3anneP-4oGpap-4oLr45-4oGoVk-snMWm-7vmaHo-23rwaHQ-227XMzV-mJN1Yc-22pCiHC-23rw8YC-Jxrjjc-22pCiSL-Jxrisc-DQp2Dt-23rwck7-JxriK6-snNG8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dinesh Rao/Flickr</a>.  

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30 Years of Forest Protection in the Yucatán Peninsula

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Pronatura Península de Yucatán A. C. is one of Global Forest Watch’s (GFW) 2019 small grants fund recipients. The Small Grants Fund provides financial and technical support to organizations working in the tropics to turn forest monitoring information into action using GFW. As of March 2020, Pronatura Península de Yucatán A. C. is celebrating its 30th anniversary. 

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<hr>



<p>The Maya Forest stretches for 35 million hectares across Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. This expanse of tropical rainforest is the largest forest in Mexico and second largest tropical rainforest in Latin America after the Amazon. Most of Mexico’s portion of the Maya Forest falls within the Yucatán Peninsula— the heartland of the ancient Mayan Civilization. Thousands of archaeologically significant ruins are scattered throughout the region and the forests provide a home to some iconic endemic species, like the Yucatán parrot, in addition to forming the region’s major carbon sink.&nbsp; </p>



<p>Yet&nbsp;Mexico’s&nbsp;Maya Forest&nbsp;is&nbsp;losing&nbsp;over&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/geostore/dc937754c104056241b106d34da8dd62?analysis=eyJzaG93RHJhdyI6dHJ1ZX0%3D&amp;mainMap=eyJzaG93QW5hbHlzaXMiOnRydWUsImhpZGVMZWdlbmQiOmZhbHNlfQ%3D%3D&amp;map=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%3D%3D&amp;menu=eyJkYXRhc2V0Q2F0ZWdvcnkiOiIiLCJtZW51U2VjdGlvbiI6IiJ9&amp;treeLoss=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&amp;utm_source=GFWBlog&amp;utm_medium=Hyperlink&amp;utm_campaign=GFW&amp;utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank">80,000 hectares</a>&nbsp;of tree cover per year, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="largely&nbsp;due to&nbsp; (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/TNC_JurisdictionalApproaches_CaseStudies_Mexico.pdf" target="_blank">largely&nbsp;due to&nbsp;</a>cattle ranching, pasture expansion, commercial and small-scale agriculture and forest fires. Modern development projects proposed for the area, like the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mayan Train (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.citylab.com/environment/2019/02/mexico-travel-mayan-train-yucatan-tourism-economic-development/583405/" target="_blank">Mayan Train</a>, pose additional challenges for protecting this forest ecosystem. Fortunately, organizations like <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Pronatura Península de Yucatán A.C (opens in a new tab)" href="http://pronatura-ppy.org.mx/" target="_blank">Pronatura Península de Yucatán A.C.</a> are on the frontlines protecting the Maya Forest, using their connections with local communities and governments to get forest monitoring data into the right hands.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="deforestation Yucatán" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ezgif.com-video-to-gif-6.gif" width="100%">Tree cover loss (pink) in the Yucatán Peninsula 2001-2018.</div>



<h3><strong>Human activity threatens key biosphere reserves</strong></h3>



<p>Between 2001 and 2018, the three states that comprise the Mayan Forest— <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/MEX/23?map=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%3D%3D&amp;treeLossGlobal=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&amp;utm_source=GFWBlog&amp;utm_medium=hyperlink&amp;utm_campaign=GFW_GlobalDashboard&amp;utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank">Quintana Roo</a>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/MEX/4?map=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&amp;treeLossGlobal=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&amp;utm_source=GFWBlog&amp;utm_medium=hyperlink&amp;utm_campaign=GFW_GlobalDashboard&amp;utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank">Campeche</a> and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/MEX/31?map=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&amp;treeLossGlobal=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&amp;utm_source=GFWBlog&amp;utm_medium=hyperlink&amp;utm_campaign=GFW_GlobalDashboard&amp;utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank">Yucatán</a>— lost approximately 1.5 million hectares of tree cover. Pronatura’s work is focused on preventing further loss by defending three biosphere reserves in the peninsula: the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve and the El Zapotal Conservation Area, which is privately owned and managed by Pronatura. </p>



<p>Pronatura has been working in the region for 30 years as of this March. After accumulating an abundance of biodiversity data through their work, they created a conservation information center to house and analyze the data. Pronatura uses this wealth of information to support their various other programs including forest fire management, ecotourism and rural development and the management of the Zapotal Conservation Area.</p>



<p>As a Small Grants Fund recipient in 2016 and again in 2019, the organization incorporated GLAD deforestation alerts and biodiversity data available on GFW into a custom online platform called <a href="http://www.observatorioselvamaya.org.mx/monitoreo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Maya Forest Watch</a>. This platform is designed to map forest conditions in the Yucatán peninsula and provide near-real-time updates on tree cover loss and fires. </p>



<p>“One of the
purposes of Maya Forest Watch is to measure changes in deforestation. What we
now know is that we are losing [forests in the state of Yucatán] mostly because
of cattle ranching and agricultural practices. About 11 percent is due to
wildfires,” said Efraim Acosta, a project manager for Pronatura. </p>



<p>With Maya
Forest Watch, Pronatura can show a simplified yet dynamic picture of
environmental changes in the Peninsula — a useful tool for both local
governments and communities trying to make land use and conservation decisions.
Because of the large percentage of loss due to wildfires, daily fire alerts are
a crucial element of the platform. Slash-and-burn agriculture and burning for cattle
ranching is common in the peninsula, but winds and buildup of dry vegetation
can easily turn controlled burns into out-of-control forest fires. Maya Forest
Watch has allowed local officials to respond quickly to wildfires and minimize forest
loss. </p>



<h3>Communities form the core of forest protection work</h3>



<p>Pronatura
emphasizes collaboration with the local communities living in the peninsula,
especially ejidos — areas of communal agricultural land in Mexico that are owned
and managed by local communities— that overlap with biosphere reserves. Pronatura
has trained ejido members to use Maya Forest Watch to understand land change
dynamics and respond to forest threats including wildfires.</p>



<p>“People
that we work with have a lot of field experience…they just don’t have the tools
or the opportunity or they don’t have a voice, so that’s something that this
project can help to do,” said Acosta. Employing geospatial data and monitoring
tools has given communities a mechanism to coordinate their responses across
the region.</p>



<p>Pronatura has also collaborated closely with federal, state
and local officials which has allowed them to continue making strides towards
strong forest protections. </p>



<p>“We’re acting as the middle person in between the
communities and the state governments,” said Acosta.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="fires in yucatán" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/firesyucatan.jpg" width="100%">Pronatura has aided communities in coordinating their responses to wildfires, even across state lines. Photo Courtesy of Pronatura Península de Yucatán A.C.</div>



<p>One of the most successful collaborations Pronatura has facilitated
has been the coordination of fire brigades across all three states in the
Peninsula. </p>



<p>“We have been training wildfire brigades in fire prevention
through the use of GLAD deforestation alerts and VIIRS fire alerts with future
wildfire risks,” said Acosta. The brigades have been monitoring fire alerts, conducting
patrols and quelling out of control burns when necessary. </p>



<h3><strong>The future of the Yucatán Peninsula</strong></h3>



<p>Although the last 30 years have had their share of
successes, the road ahead is still paved with challenges. </p>



<p>“There are major threats coming to the Peninsula, not only
developments, but also changing policies. Infrastructure projects in the next
five years will change landscapes,” said Acosta. Not to mention the impacts of
climate change that are already being felt across the Peninsula: “The dry season
is drier and the wet season is more humid.” </p>



<p>Acosta said that despite this, Pronatura will continue to
move forward with their projects, leveraging their strong relationships with
communities and government officials, and their knowledge and data about the
Peninsula. </p>



<p>“The agricultural department is helping figure out how to
make these issues more central to policies,” said Acosta.</p>



<p>Ultimately, Pronatura remains optimistic. </p>



<p>“We’re hopeful that we can put environmental awareness to
the development policies so now future progress can be done better,” said
Acosta. “Do more with less, which is kind of the government motto right now,
and see where we can help.”</p>



<hr> 

<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”="">

BANNER PHOTO: Mayan Ruins in Calakmul. Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinrao/8633714889/in/photolist-e9W3Dg-ea2HuN-2svBjT-mBcTcb-ea2HfL-e9W3pg-2svBe6-ea2Hzj-mAGke2-ea2HDh-e9W3ye-e9W3kB-e9W3sF-2cMzeP7-4oLriG-mJN3pD-2a6otoY-22pCpt5-2cRVhV2-QJbdad-2bKTmxU-P6NkFT-22pCuCy-DQp2hr-22pCj11-22pCmBJ-EAfVDz-227XMpe-22pCuxJ-6Tgj48-2svBeK-3annfi-3anneP-4oGpap-4oLr45-4oGoVk-snMWm-7vmaHo-23rwaHQ-227XMzV-mJN1Yc-22pCiHC-23rw8YC-Jxrjjc-22pCiSL-Jxrisc-DQp2Dt-23rwck7-JxriK6-snNG8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dinesh Rao/Flickr</a>.  

</div> 

 

<hr>

<hr> 

<div class="attribute"> 
Pronatura Península de Yucatán A. C. es una de las organizaciones beneficiarias del Fondo de Pequeñas Donaciones de Global Forest Watch (GFW) en 2019. El Fondo de Pequeñas Donaciones proporciona asistencia financiera y técnica a organizaciones que trabajan en los trópicos para que lleven a la acción la información del monitoreo de los bosques con la ayuda de GFW. En marzo de 2020, Pronatura Península de Yucatán A. C. celebró su aniversario número treinta.

</div> 

<hr>



<p>La Selva Maya se
extiende a través de 35 millones de hectáreas a lo largo de México, Guatemala y
Belice. Esta superficie constituye el bosque lluvioso tropical más grande de
México y la segunda selva de este tipo en América Latina, después del Amazonas.
La mayoría de la porción mexicana de la Selva Maya está dentro de la Península
de Yucatán, el corazón de la antigua civilización maya. La región está delineada
con miles de importantes sitios arqueológicos y bosques albergan algunas de las
especies endémicas más icónicas, como el loro yucateco, así como el sumidero de
carbono más importante de la región.</p>



<p>Sin embargo, la Selva Maya de México está perdiendo más de <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/geostore/dc937754c104056241b106d34da8dd62?analysis=eyJzaG93RHJhdyI6dHJ1ZX0%3D&amp;mainMap=eyJzaG93QW5hbHlzaXMiOnRydWUsImhpZGVMZWdlbmQiOmZhbHNlfQ%3D%3D&amp;map=eyJjZW50ZXIiOnsibGF0IjoxOS43MzAxMzcyMzM4MDg4NzIsImxuZyI6LTg5LjI4Njg3MjQzMTkyMDA3fSwiYmVhcmluZyI6MCwicGl0Y2giOjAsInpvb20iOjcuNTc2NjAxNDU0Nzc0NDM0LCJkYXRhc2V0cyI6W3siZGF0YXNldCI6Ijg5N2VjYzc2LTIzMDgtNGM1MS1hZWIzLTQ5NWRlMGJkY2E3OSIsIm9wYWNpdHkiOjEsInZpc2liaWxpdHkiOnRydWUsImxheWVycyI6WyJjMzA3NWM1YS01NTY3LTRiMDktYmMwZC05NmVkMTY3M2Y4YjYiXX0seyJkYXRhc2V0IjoiZmRjOGRjMWItMjcyOC00YTc5LWIyM2YtYjA5NDg1MDUyYjhkIiwibGF5ZXJzIjpbIjZmNjc5OGU2LTM5ZWMtNDE2My05NzllLTE4MmE3NGNhNjVlZSIsImM1ZDFlMDEwLTM4M2EtNDcxMy05YWFhLTQ0ZjcyOGMwNTcxYyJdLCJvcGFjaXR5IjoxLCJ2aXNpYmlsaXR5Ijp0cnVlfV0sImNhbkJvdW5kIjpmYWxzZSwiZHJhd2luZyI6ZmFsc2UsImJib3giOltdfQ%3D%3D&amp;menu=eyJkYXRhc2V0Q2F0ZWdvcnkiOiIiLCJtZW51U2VjdGlvbiI6IiJ9&amp;treeLoss=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&amp;utm_source=GFWBlog&amp;utm_medium=Hyperlink&amp;utm_campaign=GFW&amp;utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank">80.000 hectáreas</a> de cubierta arbórea al año, en<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" gran parte como consecuencia (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/TNC_JurisdictionalApproaches_CaseStudies_Mexico.pdf" target="_blank"> gran parte como consecuencia</a> de la ganadería, la expansión de los pastizales, la agricultura comercial y a pequeña escala y los incendios forestales. Los proyectos de modernización de la zona, como el <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.citylab.com/environment/2019/02/mexico-travel-mayan-train-yucatan-tourism-economic-development/583405/" target="_blank">Tren Maya</a>, platean desafíos adicionales para la protección de este ecosistema. Afortunadamente, algunas organizaciones como <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://pronatura-ppy.org.mx/" target="_blank">Pronatura Península de Yucatán A.C.</a> están a la vanguardia en la protección de la Selva Maya y usan sus conexiones con las comunidades y los gobiernos locales para que los datos sobre el monitoreo de los bosques lleguen a buenas manos.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="deforestacion en Yucatán" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ezgif.com-video-to-gif-6.gif" width="100%">
Pérdida de la cubierta arbórea (rosa) en la Península de Yucatán 2001-2018.</div>



<h3><strong>La actividad humana amenaza las reservas esenciales de la biosfera</strong></h3>



<p>Entre 2001 y 2018, los tres estados que integran la Selva Maya— <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/MEX/23?map=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%3D%3D&amp;treeLossGlobal=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&amp;utm_source=GFWBlog&amp;utm_medium=hyperlink&amp;utm_campaign=GFW_GlobalDashboard&amp;utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank">Quintana Roo</a>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/MEX/4?map=eyJkYXRhc2V0cyI6W3siZGF0YXNldCI6ImZkYzhkYzFiLTI3MjgtNGE3OS1iMjNmLWIwOTQ4NTA1MmI4ZCIsImxheWVycyI6WyI2ZjY3OThlNi0zOWVjLTQxNjMtOTc5ZS0xODJhNzRjYTY1ZWUiLCJjNWQxZTAxMC0zODNhLTQ3MTMtOWFhYS00NGY3MjhjMDU3MWMiXSwiYm91bmRhcnkiOnRydWUsIm9wYWNpdHkiOjEsInZpc2liaWxpdHkiOnRydWV9LHsiZGF0YXNldCI6Ijg5N2VjYzc2LTIzMDgtNGM1MS1hZWIzLTQ5NWRlMGJkY2E3OSIsImxheWVycyI6WyJjMzA3NWM1YS01NTY3LTRiMDktYmMwZC05NmVkMTY3M2Y4YjYiXSwib3BhY2l0eSI6MSwidmlzaWJpbGl0eSI6dHJ1ZSwicGFyYW1zIjp7InRocmVzaCI6MzAsInZpc2liaWxpdHkiOnRydWV9fV0sImNlbnRlciI6eyJsYXQiOjE5LjM5NjA2Mjc0Nzg3NjQ5NiwibG5nIjotOTAuNzQwOTk5OTk5OTMzODl9LCJiZWFyaW5nIjowLCJwaXRjaCI6MCwiem9vbSI6Ny4yMjU1NjA2MjY4MjgyNjgsImNhbkJvdW5kIjpmYWxzZSwiYmJveCI6W119&amp;treeLossGlobal=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&amp;utm_source=GFWBlog&amp;utm_medium=hyperlink&amp;utm_campaign=GFW_GlobalDashboard&amp;utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank">Campeche</a> y <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/MEX/31?map=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&amp;treeLossGlobal=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319&amp;utm_source=GFWBlog&amp;utm_medium=hyperlink&amp;utm_campaign=GFW_GlobalDashboard&amp;utm_content=Pronatura_3_2020" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Yucatán</a>— perdieron aproximadamente 1,5 millones de hectáreas de cubierta arbórea. El trabajo de Pronatura se centra en prevenir pérdidas adicionales mediante la defensa de las tres reservas de la biosfera dentro de la Península: la Reserva de la Biosfera Calakmul, la Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Lagartos y el Área de Conservación El Zapotal, propiedad privada de Pronatura y gestionado por la organización. </p>



<p>En marzo, Pronatura cumplió 30 años trabajando en la
región. Después de acumular abundantes datos sobre biodiversidad a través de su
labor, creó un centro de información sobre conservación para albergar y
analizar los datos. Pronatura usa esta gran cantidad de información para apoyar
sus diversos programas sobre gestión de los incendios forestales, ecoturismo,
desarrollo rural y la creación del Área de Conservación El Zapotal.</p>



<p>La organización, beneficiaria del Fondo de Pequeñas Donaciones en 2016 y de nuevo en 2019, incorporó las alertas de deforestación GLAD y los datos sobre biodiversidad disponibles en GFW a una plataforma online denominada <a href="http://www.observatorioselvamaya.org.mx/monitoreo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Observatorio de la Selva Maya</a>. Esta plataforma está diseñada para trazar un mapa de las condiciones de las selvas en la Península de Yucatán y proporcionar información actualizada en casi tiempo real sobre la pérdida de cubierta arbórea e incendios. </p>



<p>“Uno de los propósitos del Observatorio de la Selva Maya
es medir los cambios en la deforestación. Lo que sabemos ahora es que estamos
perdiendo [selvas en el estado de Yucatán] sobre todo como consecuencia de las
prácticas de ganadería y agricultura. Alrededor del 11% se debe a los incendios”,
dijo Efraim Acosta, coordinador técnico de Pronatura. </p>



<p>Gracias al Observatorio de la Selva Maya, Pronatura puede
mostrar un panorama simplificado, aunque dinámico, de los cambios
medioambientales en la Península —un instrumento útil tanto para los gobiernos
como para las comunidades locales cuando intentan tomar decisiones sobre el uso
de la tierra y la conservación. Teniendo en cuenta el gran porcentaje de
pérdidas como consecuencia de los incendios, las alertas diarias sobre
incendios son un aspecto crucial de la plataforma. La agricultura itinerante y
la quema para la ganadería son habituales en la Península, pero los vientos y
la acumulación de vegetación seca pueden hacer fácilmente que las quemas
controladas se conviertan en incendios forestales incontrolados. El Observatorio
de la Selva Maya ha permitido que los funcionarios locales respondan
rápidamente a los incendios y minimicen la pérdida de bosques. </p>



<h3><strong>Las comunidades son esenciales para la labor de
protección de los bosques </strong></h3>



<p>Pronatura hace hincapié en la colaboración con las
comunidades locales de la Península, especialmente los ejidos —tierras de
propiedad comunal que pertenecen a las comunidades locales y están gestionadas
por ellas— que colindan con reservas de la biosfera. Pronatura ha capacitado a
miembros de los ejidos en el uso del Observatorio de la Selva Maya para
que entiendan las dinámicas del cambio en la tierra y respondan a las amenazas
para los bosques, como los incendios.</p>



<p>“Las personas con las que trabajamos tienen mucha
experiencia de campo…
simplemente, no tienen las herramientas o la oportunidad, o no tienen una voz,
de modo que eso es algo con lo que puede ayudar este proyecto”, dijo Acosta. El
empleo de datos geoespaciales y herramientas de monitoreo ha proporcionado a
las comunidades un mecanismo para coordinar sus respuestas en toda la región.</p>



<p>Pronatura también
ha colaborado estrechamente con funcionarios federales, estatales y locales, lo
que le ha permitido seguir avanzando en el fortalecimiento de la protección de
los bosques. 

“Actuamos como intermediarios entre las comunidades y
los gobiernos estatales”, dijo Acosta.



</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Incendios Yucatán" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/firesyucatan.jpg" width="100%">Pronatura asiste a las comunidades en la coordinación de la respuesta a los incendios. Foto por Pronatura Península de Yucatán A.C.</div>



<p>Una de las
colaboraciones más exitosas que ha facilitado Pronatura ha sido la coordinación
de brigadas de bomberos en los tres estados de la Península. </p>



<p>“Hemos estado
capacitando a brigadas de lucha contra incendios en tareas de prevención de
futuros riesgos de incendios mediante el uso de las alertas de deforestación
GLAD y las alertas de incendios VIIRS”, dijo Acosta. Las brigadas han estado
monitoreando alertas de incendios, realizando patrullas y sofocando quemas incontroladas
cuando ha sido necesario. </p>



<h3><strong>El futuro de
la Península de Yucatán</strong></h3>



<p>Aunque se han
cosechado éxitos durante los últimos 30 años, el futuro sigue presentando
desafíos. </p>



<p>“Se avecinan
amenazas importantes para la Península, no solo desarrollos urbanísticos, sino
también cambios de políticas. Los proyectos de infraestructura cambiarán el
paisaje en los próximos cinco años”, dijo Acosta. Y eso sin mencionar los
impactos del cambio climático que ya se están sintiendo en toda la Península: “La
estación seca es más seca y la estación húmeda es más húmeda”. </p>



<p>Acosta señaló
que, a pesar de esta situación, Pronatura continuará avanzando con sus
proyectos, aprovechando sus estrechas relaciones con las comunidades y &nbsp;funcionarios gubernamentales, y sus
conocimientos y datos sobre la Península. </p>



<p>“La Secretaría de
Agricultura está ayudando a buscar la manera de que estas cuestiones sean más
importantes para las políticas”, dijo Acosta.</p>



<p>En última
instancia, Pronatura no pierde el optimismo. </p>



<p>“Tenemos la
esperanza de infundir una conciencia medioambiental a las políticas de desarrollo,
de manera que el progreso pueda hacerse mejor en el futuro”, dijo Acosta. “Hacer
más con menos, que es el tipo de eslogan del gobierno actual, y ver dónde
podemos ayudar”.</p>



<hr> 

<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”=""> 

FOTO: Ruinas mayas en Calakmul. Foto de <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinrao/8633714889/in/photolist-e9W3Dg-ea2HuN-2svBjT-mBcTcb-ea2HfL-e9W3pg-2svBe6-ea2Hzj-mAGke2-ea2HDh-e9W3ye-e9W3kB-e9W3sF-2cMzeP7-4oLriG-mJN3pD-2a6otoY-22pCpt5-2cRVhV2-QJbdad-2bKTmxU-P6NkFT-22pCuCy-DQp2hr-22pCj11-22pCmBJ-EAfVDz-227XMpe-22pCuxJ-6Tgj48-2svBeK-3annfi-3anneP-4oGpap-4oLr45-4oGoVk-snMWm-7vmaHo-23rwaHQ-227XMzV-mJN1Yc-22pCiHC-23rw8YC-Jxrjjc-22pCiSL-Jxrisc-DQp2Dt-23rwck7-JxriK6-snNG8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dinesh Rao/Flickr</a>. 

</div> 

 

<hr>

Tres Décadas de Proteger los Bosques en la Península de Yucatán

For three decades, this NGO has been working with communities in the Yucatán peninsiula to protect the ancient Maya Forest.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3dc298e411f65b199fc3734919d6934e?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Sarah Ruiz

commodities

commodities | Global Forest Watch Blog

Mauricio Mondragón

<hr> 

<div class="attribute"> 

As the avocado industry continues to grow in Mexico, particularly in Michoacán and Jalisco, deforestation, water stress and social challenges compound.
 

</div> 

<hr>



<p>Demand for avocados has exploded in the last decade, and Mexican production of “green-gold” has expanded to meet it. National production has grown 8% annually since 2009; the country produced <a href="http://infosiap.siap.gob.mx/gobmx/datosAbiertos.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">2.2 million</a> tons of avocados in 2018 alone. Although the majority of Mexico’s avocados come from the state of Michoacán, the avocado boom is now pushing into other regions – a move that may threaten the country’s forests.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The environmental impact of avocado production in Michoacán</strong></h3>



<p>More than three-quarters of Mexico’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://elfinanciero.com.mx/graficos/2019/alto-costo-oro-verde/index.html" target="_blank">avocado production</a> occurs in the state of Michoacán, where the resource-intensive crop has already been associated with environmental and social problems. Avocado production drove <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://jornadabc.mx/tijuana/31-10-2016/hasta-el-40-de-la-deforestacion-en-michoacan-es-por-aguacates-profepa" target="_blank">30-40%</a> of recent deforestation in Michoacán. These local forests are important for biodiversity, livelihoods and for providing the catchment basins that supply water to local communities and Mexico City. Orchards have also begun edging into protected areas, including the <a href="http://bit.ly/2Nu87DX" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve</a>, where native vegetation is paramount for the insect’s survival. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mexico’s avocado production is expanding into new territories </strong></h3>



<p>As international demand for avocado
continues to rise, more and more orchards are cropping up to meet it. Jalisco,
Michoacán’s neighboring state, is a distant second for domestic avocado
production (9% of the national total) but is growing faster than anywhere else
in the country, including Michoacán. </p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Avocado growth by state" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/avocado_growth_by_state.png" width="100%">Note: Production in 2009 for each state was normalized to 1. The values in the graph for subsequent years are the production relative to that base year.</div>



<p>The crop is incredibly valuable for Jalicense farmers. In 2018, the production value per hectare of avocado trees was $7,000, almost <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://infosiap.siap.gob.mx/gobmx/datosAbiertos.php" target="_blank">four times</a> as much as a decade ago. And it is unlikely that any other single crop (like corn) or other land-uses (like forestry) can compete with the opportunity cost of avocado plantations.</p>



<p>But as the industry continues to grow in Jalisco and elsewhere, it will be essential to prevent “green-gold” from having the same negative impacts it has had in Michoacán. Already in Jalisco, regions with the most avocado production are experiencing the highest rates of tree cover loss. The municipality of Zapotlán el Grande experienced the most growth in avocado production over the last decade (from 2,400 tons in 2009 to almost 37,000 in 2018). In the same period, it ranked ninth out of 125 municipalities in terms of most tree cover lost. </p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Tree cover loss and avocado production" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/avocado_tcl_and_production.png" width="100%"></div>



<p>Another concern is erosion and river overflow. This past summer, the <a href="https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/se-desborda-de-nuevo-rio-en-san-gabriel-jalisco" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Salsipuedes River</a> in the municipality of San Gabriel, Jalisco overflowed three times, killing five people. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://noticieros.televisa.com/ultimas-noticias/deforestacion-principal-causa-de-desbordamientos-en-rio-salsipuedes-jalisco/" target="_blank">Experts assessing</a> the disaster indicated that deforestation in the foothills, where native vegetation has been replaced by avocado orchards, played a large role in the flooding. </p>



<p>Avocado trees also require more water than native vegetation. According to data on WRI’s <a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/08/17-countries-home-one-quarter-world-population-face-extremely-high-water-stress" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Aqueduct platform</a>, Mexico already suffers from high water stress. Jalisco, in particular, experiences <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wri.org/applications/aqueduct/water-risk-atlas/#/?advanced=false&basemap=hydro&indicator=bws_cat&lat=21.12549763660629&lng=-124.23339843750001&mapMode=analysis&month=1&opacity=0.5&ponderation=DEF&predefined=false&projection=absolute&scenario=optimistic&scope=baseline&timeScale=annual&year=baseline&zoom" target="_blank">extremely high</a><em> </em>water stress, where 80% or more of the available supply is withdrawn every year. Rapidly planting thirsty avocado trees could prevent water from filtering down to aquifers, causing further water stress in surrounding communities. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How to achieve sustainable avocado production in Mexico</strong> </h3>



<p>To continue Mexico’s growth in avocado production
sustainably will first and foremost require more land planning policies based
on soil suitability and water availability. Most forests in Mexico are
community-owned. In the Huatulco-Copalita Basin of Oaxaca, the community first assessed
the physical and biological characteristics of its lands – including soil,
slope, rain patterns and more – and then chose agricultural activities best
suited to these conditions. Though the concept is simple, methodically applying
these criteria to plan land management doesn’t happen often in Mexico. </p>



<p>On the market side, tools that reward good agricultural practices, such as sustainable certification schemes, should be promoted by consumers, producers, government bodies and development initiatives to safeguard the wealth of Mexican forests. Moreover, tools such as <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://pro.globalforestwatch.org/" target="_blank">Global Forest Watch Pro</a> can help to monitor value chains, ensuring deforestation-free production. Simultaneously, policy makers should ensure that policies and incentives align with the goals of rural development and environmental sustainability. Lack of alternative livelihoods can be a significant driver of unsustainable land use practices. A diversified rural economy, on the other hand – which considers not only a wider variety of crops, but also non-agricultural activities such as forestry or ecotourism – can generate resilient communities and jobs, reduce the rate of forced migration and protect ecosystems and their associated environmental services. </p>



<hr> 

<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”=""> 
WRI Mexico’s Forests program is working in several local communities to encourage rural production using an integrated perspective of land use planning, considering food, forests, biodiversity and climate change. WRI Mexico is also working in collaboration with top agricultural production companies to develop sustainable and resilient production schemes that allow farmers to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. Learn more <a href="https://wrimexico.org/our-work/topics/forests" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. 
<p></p>
 
Arturo Pizano, general director of Fideicomiso del Programa de Desarrollo Forestal de Jalisco (FIPRODEFO), and Ivan Zuñiga, Forests program manager of WRI Mexico, also contributed to this blog post.
<p></p>
BANNER PHOTO: Avocados ripening on the tree. Photo by <a href="https://flickr.com/photos/julianjb/463697648/in/photolist-GYza3-G7vmGN-6FUhuA-dy55Uu-7DuBUQ-cUT7BW-pgAiAs-cUTaAY-cUT4SQ-Xu5nzC-7DqL2t-2cYTzps-fBapCQ-5N6N6P-2bXfHJJ-5QMrk2-9aACvC-7Dq7TE-2BkeW-8gGvET-7TAipA-23LuKg-4R6XBr-arQ5Uu-yJ1mt-7NcMXG-XNEf-HtVtme-hobG4-23G4Ea-Yy4G7v-qAjmBB-DKxcut-DHo5zN-kTZUv3-aahHGW-DgC4Ej-9nvx2v-7c33NU-5tXwJe-Hi5wmL-4HogAs-aHYY7e-7q5sqo-eyRG4Q-CWhSz7-ctJieC-9FwYiu-DrG5Jo-WRD3UF" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Julian Berry/Flickr </a>. 
<p></p>
Originally appeared on <a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2020/02/mexico-avocado-industry-deforestation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI Insights</a>. 
</div> 

 

<hr>



<style type="text/css"></style>

Will Mexico’s Growing Avocado Industry Harm Its Forests?

<hr> 

<div class="attribute"> 

As the avocado industry continues to grow in Mexico, particularly in Michoacán and Jalisco, deforestation, water stress and social challenges compound.
 

</div> 

<hr>



<p>Demand for avocados has exploded in the last decade, and Mexican production of “green-gold” has expanded to meet it. National production has grown 8% annually since 2009; the country produced <a href="http://infosiap.siap.gob.mx/gobmx/datosAbiertos.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">2.2 million</a> tons of avocados in 2018 alone. Although the majority of Mexico’s avocados come from the state of Michoacán, the avocado boom is now pushing into other regions – a move that may threaten the country’s forests.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The environmental impact of avocado production in Michoacán</strong></h3>



<p>More than three-quarters of Mexico’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://elfinanciero.com.mx/graficos/2019/alto-costo-oro-verde/index.html" target="_blank">avocado production</a> occurs in the state of Michoacán, where the resource-intensive crop has already been associated with environmental and social problems. Avocado production drove <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://jornadabc.mx/tijuana/31-10-2016/hasta-el-40-de-la-deforestacion-en-michoacan-es-por-aguacates-profepa" target="_blank">30-40%</a> of recent deforestation in Michoacán. These local forests are important for biodiversity, livelihoods and for providing the catchment basins that supply water to local communities and Mexico City. Orchards have also begun edging into protected areas, including the <a href="http://bit.ly/2Nu87DX" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve</a>, where native vegetation is paramount for the insect’s survival. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mexico’s avocado production is expanding into new territories </strong></h3>



<p>As international demand for avocado
continues to rise, more and more orchards are cropping up to meet it. Jalisco,
Michoacán’s neighboring state, is a distant second for domestic avocado
production (9% of the national total) but is growing faster than anywhere else
in the country, including Michoacán. </p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Avocado growth by state" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/avocado_growth_by_state.png" width="100%">Note: Production in 2009 for each state was normalized to 1. The values in the graph for subsequent years are the production relative to that base year.</div>



<p>The crop is incredibly valuable for Jalicense farmers. In 2018, the production value per hectare of avocado trees was $7,000, almost <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://infosiap.siap.gob.mx/gobmx/datosAbiertos.php" target="_blank">four times</a> as much as a decade ago. And it is unlikely that any other single crop (like corn) or other land-uses (like forestry) can compete with the opportunity cost of avocado plantations.</p>



<p>But as the industry continues to grow in Jalisco and elsewhere, it will be essential to prevent “green-gold” from having the same negative impacts it has had in Michoacán. Already in Jalisco, regions with the most avocado production are experiencing the highest rates of tree cover loss. The municipality of Zapotlán el Grande experienced the most growth in avocado production over the last decade (from 2,400 tons in 2009 to almost 37,000 in 2018). In the same period, it ranked ninth out of 125 municipalities in terms of most tree cover lost. </p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Tree cover loss and avocado production" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/avocado_tcl_and_production.png" width="100%"></div>



<p>Another concern is erosion and river overflow. This past summer, the <a href="https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/se-desborda-de-nuevo-rio-en-san-gabriel-jalisco" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Salsipuedes River</a> in the municipality of San Gabriel, Jalisco overflowed three times, killing five people. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://noticieros.televisa.com/ultimas-noticias/deforestacion-principal-causa-de-desbordamientos-en-rio-salsipuedes-jalisco/" target="_blank">Experts assessing</a> the disaster indicated that deforestation in the foothills, where native vegetation has been replaced by avocado orchards, played a large role in the flooding. </p>



<p>Avocado trees also require more water than native vegetation. According to data on WRI’s <a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/08/17-countries-home-one-quarter-world-population-face-extremely-high-water-stress" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Aqueduct platform</a>, Mexico already suffers from high water stress. Jalisco, in particular, experiences <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wri.org/applications/aqueduct/water-risk-atlas/#/?advanced=false&amp;basemap=hydro&amp;indicator=bws_cat&amp;lat=21.12549763660629&amp;lng=-124.23339843750001&amp;mapMode=analysis&amp;month=1&amp;opacity=0.5&amp;ponderation=DEF&amp;predefined=false&amp;projection=absolute&amp;scenario=optimistic&amp;scope=baseline&amp;timeScale=annual&amp;year=baseline&amp;zoom" target="_blank">extremely high</a><em> </em>water stress, where 80% or more of the available supply is withdrawn every year. Rapidly planting thirsty avocado trees could prevent water from filtering down to aquifers, causing further water stress in surrounding communities. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How to achieve sustainable avocado production in Mexico</strong> </h3>



<p>To continue Mexico’s growth in avocado production
sustainably will first and foremost require more land planning policies based
on soil suitability and water availability. Most forests in Mexico are
community-owned. In the Huatulco-Copalita Basin of Oaxaca, the community first assessed
the physical and biological characteristics of its lands – including soil,
slope, rain patterns and more – and then chose agricultural activities best
suited to these conditions. Though the concept is simple, methodically applying
these criteria to plan land management doesn’t happen often in Mexico. </p>



<p>On the market side, tools that reward good agricultural practices, such as sustainable certification schemes, should be promoted by consumers, producers, government bodies and development initiatives to safeguard the wealth of Mexican forests. Moreover, tools such as <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://pro.globalforestwatch.org/" target="_blank">Global Forest Watch Pro</a> can help to monitor value chains, ensuring deforestation-free production. Simultaneously, policy makers should ensure that policies and incentives align with the goals of rural development and environmental sustainability. Lack of alternative livelihoods can be a significant driver of unsustainable land use practices. A diversified rural economy, on the other hand – which considers not only a wider variety of crops, but also non-agricultural activities such as forestry or ecotourism – can generate resilient communities and jobs, reduce the rate of forced migration and protect ecosystems and their associated environmental services. </p>



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<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”=""> 
WRI Mexico’s Forests program is working in several local communities to encourage rural production using an integrated perspective of land use planning, considering food, forests, biodiversity and climate change. WRI Mexico is also working in collaboration with top agricultural production companies to develop sustainable and resilient production schemes that allow farmers to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. Learn more <a href="https://wrimexico.org/our-work/topics/forests" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. 
<p></p>
 
Arturo Pizano, general director of Fideicomiso del Programa de Desarrollo Forestal de Jalisco (FIPRODEFO), and Ivan Zuñiga, Forests program manager of WRI Mexico, also contributed to this blog post.
<p></p>
BANNER PHOTO: Avocados ripening on the tree. Photo by <a href="https://flickr.com/photos/julianjb/463697648/in/photolist-GYza3-G7vmGN-6FUhuA-dy55Uu-7DuBUQ-cUT7BW-pgAiAs-cUTaAY-cUT4SQ-Xu5nzC-7DqL2t-2cYTzps-fBapCQ-5N6N6P-2bXfHJJ-5QMrk2-9aACvC-7Dq7TE-2BkeW-8gGvET-7TAipA-23LuKg-4R6XBr-arQ5Uu-yJ1mt-7NcMXG-XNEf-HtVtme-hobG4-23G4Ea-Yy4G7v-qAjmBB-DKxcut-DHo5zN-kTZUv3-aahHGW-DgC4Ej-9nvx2v-7c33NU-5tXwJe-Hi5wmL-4HogAs-aHYY7e-7q5sqo-eyRG4Q-CWhSz7-ctJieC-9FwYiu-DrG5Jo-WRD3UF" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Julian Berry/Flickr </a>. 
<p></p>
Originally appeared on <a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2020/02/mexico-avocado-industry-deforestation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI Insights</a>. 
</div> 

 

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<hr> 

<div class="attribute"> 
Las experiencias de producción de aguacate en Michoacán son una advertencia para otros estados de la República, como Jalisco.
</div> 

<hr>



<p>El aguacate mexicano ha tenido una década de creciente popularidad. Con una producción de casi 2.2 millones de toneladas en 2018, México es el principal productor a nivel mundial. La producción nacional ha crecido a una tasa de 8% anual desde 2009, mientras que el valor comercial de esta producción se ha incrementado a una tasa de 18% anual (en 2018,<a href="http://infosiap.siap.gob.mx/gobmx/datosAbiertos.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">&nbsp;fue de $42 mil millones de pesos</a>).&nbsp;</p>



<p>Más de la mitad de la producción nacional es para exportación:&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.cedrssa.gob.mx/post_caso_de_-n-exportacinin-_el_aguacate-n.htm" target="_blank">alrededor de una tercera parte de los aguacates</a>&nbsp;que entran al mercado internacional son de origen mexicano. Las importaciones mundiales de aguacate&nbsp;<a href="https://nube.siap.gob.mx/gobmx_publicaciones_siap/pag/2018/Atlas-Agroalimentario-2018" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">han aumentado 172%</a>&nbsp;en la última década, lo que se ha reflejado en crecientes exportaciones mexicanas del producto, principalmente con destino a Estados Unidos, Japón y Canadá.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>El impacto ambiental de la producción de aguacate en Michoacán</strong></h3>



<p>A partir del auge del cultivo, Michoacán ha sufrido una fuerte expansión de plantaciones de aguacate, a raíz de la cual, el estado ha experimentado diversos problemas ambientales y sociales. A través de&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/country/MEX?mainMap=eyJzaG93QW5hbHlzaXMiOnRydWUsImhpZGVMZWdlbmQiOmZhbHNlfQ%3D%3D&amp;map=eyJjZW50ZXIiOnsibGF0IjoyMy45NDQ4MDEyNjA2NjQ2NzYsImxuZyI6LTEwMi41MjgyNjMwOX0sImJlYXJpbmciOjAsInBpdGNoIjowLCJ6b29tIjo0LjI5Mzk3NTE3MDAxNDI4NCwiZHJhd2luZyI6ZmFsc2UsImNhbkJvdW5kIjpmYWxzZSwiYmJveCI6W119&amp;mapPrompts=eyJvcGVuIjp0cnVlLCJzdGVwc0tleSI6InN1YnNjcmliZVRvQXJlYSIsInN0ZXBJbmRleCI6MH0%3D&amp;utm_campaign=gfw&amp;utm_source=gfwblog&amp;utm_medium=hyperlink&amp;utm_term=jaliscoavocado_2_2020" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Global Forest Watch</a>, se han identificado casos de cambio de uso de suelo para la siembra de huertas de aguacate, incluyendo en<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/commodities/bosques-decaen-rapidamente-para-dar-paso-al-aguacate-mexicano" target="_blank">&nbsp;zonas de amortiguamiento de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (ANPs)</a>, resultando en problemas de estrés hídrico en comunidades aledañas, ya que el aguacate tiene mayor demanda hídrica que la vegetación nativa, mientras que permite menos filtración a los mantos acuíferos. De acuerdo con el Atlas de Riesgo Aqueduct, México sufre un alto estrés hídrico. En particular, Michoacán y Jalisco experimentan un <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.wri.org/applications/aqueduct/water-risk-atlas/#/?advanced=false&amp;basemap=hydro&amp;indicator=bws_cat&amp;lat=19.787380181986222&amp;lng=-107.76489257812501&amp;mapMode=analysis&amp;month=1&amp;opacity=0.5&amp;ponderation=DEF&amp;predefined=false&amp;projection=absolute&amp;scenario=optimistic&amp;scope=baseline&amp;timeScale=annual&amp;year=baseline&amp;zoo" target="_blank">estrés hídrico alto y extremadamente alto</a>. La siembra de árboles de aguacate pueden causar que se fieltre menos agua hacia los acuíferos, exacerbando la situación en las comunidades aledañas.</p>



<p>La siembra de árboles de aguacate puede causar que se filtre menos agua hacia los acuíferos, causando más estrés hídrico en las comunidades aledañas. Asimismo, la deforestación asociada al cultivo de aguacate aumenta el nivel de riesgo relacionado con erosión y desbordamiento de ríos. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>La producción se extiende a nuevos territorios</strong></h3>



<p>Se espera que la demanda de aguacate continúe creciendo, mientras que la capacidad de producción sustentable en Michoacán, el principal productor nacional, se acerca a su límite. El estado de Jalisco es el segundo productor de aguacate, con un 9% del producto nacional, muy distante de la&nbsp;<a href="https://elfinanciero.com.mx/graficos/2019/alto-costo-oro-verde/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">producción en Michoacán, de 77%</a>. Jalisco es, sin embrago, el estado con mayor crecimiento en su producción en los últimos años. Por ende, es trascendental evitar que se repliquen en Jalisco las consecuencias negativas experimentadas en Michoacán.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="[OPTIONAL DESCRIPTION]" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/20.01.30-Mexico-Rebrand_-Production-by-State_SP.png" width="100%">La producción en 2009 de cada estado fue normalizada e igualada a 1. Los valores de la gráfica en años subsecuentes es la producción relativa a ese año base.</div>



<p>Es necesario lograr un crecimiento ordenado y sostenible de las plantaciones de aguacate en Jalisco para aprovechar la alta demanda y creciente valor, pues, siendo éste tan atractivo para los agricultores de Jalisco es difícil detener la expansión del cultivo. En 2018, la producción de una hectárea sembrada con árbol de aguacate valía en promedio&nbsp;<a href="http://infosiap.siap.gob.mx/gobmx/datosAbiertos.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">136 mil pesos brutos</a>, casi cuatro veces más que hace una década. A la vez, es difícil que otros cultivos, como el maíz, u otros usos de suelo, como el manejo forestal, puedan competir con el costo de oportunidad de la siembra de aguacate.</p>



<p>Aunque no toda la expansión del aguacate en Jalisco ha causado deforestación, es un hecho que las regiones donde ha habido mayor producción también son zonas con altos niveles de pérdida de cobertura forestal, lo cual está provocando un incremento de desastres naturales. De hecho, en 2019 ya se registró&nbsp;<a href="https://noticieros.televisa.com/ultimas-noticias/deforestacion-principal-causa-de-desbordamientos-en-rio-salsipuedes-jalisco/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">una crisis relacionada con la deforestación</a>&nbsp;para cultivar aguacate: el desbordamiento del río Salsipuedes, en el municipio de San Gabriel, Jalisco, que cobró al menos cinco vidas.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="[OPTIONAL DESCRIPTION]" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/20.01.30-Mexico-Rebrand_-Tree-Cover-Loss_SP.png" width="100%"></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cómo lograr una producción sustentable en México</strong></h3>



<p>Para continuar el crecimiento de la producción de este fruto sin mayores afectaciones al medio ambiente, es indispensable implementar políticas de ordenamiento territorial que planifiquen el uso de la tierra basado en la aptitud del suelo, disponibilidad de agua y vocación del territorio, como en el caso del&nbsp;Sistema Comunitario para el Manejo y Protección de la Biodiversidad en la <a href="http://www.leisa-al.org/web/index.php/volumen-19-numero-3/2156-el-sistema-comunitario-para-el-manejo-y-proteccion-de-la-biodiversidad-cuenca-huatulco-copalita-oaxaca-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="cuenca Huatulco-Copalita (opens in a new tab)">cuenca Huatulco-Copalita</a> de Oaxaca, donde se llevó a cabo un ejercicio de planificación territorial comunitaria en el que las comunidades decidieron, basándose en características territoriales (físicas, biológicas y culturales) y perspectivas de vida (criterios de beneficio propio) el uso de cada porción de su territorio, así como los mecanismos para lograr su visión (estructuras y procedimientos internos).</p>



<p>Por otro lado, se deben impulsar herramientas de mercado que premien las buenas prácticas agrícolas, como esquemas de certificación sustentable, para salvaguardar la riqueza de los bosques mexicanos y asegurar la continuidad del capital natural nacional. Asimismo, herramientas como <a href="https://pro.globalforestwatch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Global Forest Watch Pro (opens in a new tab)">Global Forest Watch Pro</a> pueden asistir para el monitoreo de las cadenas de valor, asegurando producción libre de deforestación.</p>



<p>A la par,
es importante implementar políticas e incentivos alineados con las metas de
desarrollo rural y sustentabilidad ambiental, ya que la falta de alternativas
de medios de vida a menudo provoca un uso de suelo insostenible para satisfacer
las necesidades básicas. Una economía rural diversificada, que considere no
solo diferentes cultivos, si no también actividades diferentes de la
agricultura, como manejo forestal o ecoturismo, genera comunidades resilientes
y empleos, disminuye la tasa de migración forzada, protege a los ecosistemas y
sus servicios asociados y contribuye a la mejora de la calidad de vida.</p>



<hr> 

<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”=""> 

El programa de Bosques de WRI México busca generar condiciones habilitadoras para la restauración y la prevención del cambio de la cobertura vegetal desde dos frentes: el alineamiento de las políticas públicas con los objetivos de conservación y restauración y el incremento del involucramiento de la iniciativa privada en la agenda verde. En conjunto con algunas de las empresas de producción agrícola más importantes del país, el programa de Bosques trabaja en el desarrollo de esquemas productivos sustentables y resilientes que, simultáneamente, permitan a los productores adaptarse a los efectos del cambio climático y mitiguen su contribución al mismo. Además, participa en proyectos con comunidades locales en varios estados del país, como Veracruz, Oaxaca y Puebla, para fomentar la producción rural utilizando un enfoque integrado de planificación del uso de la tierra que tenga en cuenta los objetivos de alimentos, bosques, biodiversidad y cambio climático.
<p></p>
Los autores agradecen a Arturo Pizano, director general del  Fideicomiso para la Administración del Programa de Desarrollo Forestal del Estado de Jalisco (FIPRODEFO), y a Iván Zúñiga, gerente del programa Bosques de WRI México, por su asesoría y contribuciones para la elaboración de este artículo.
<p></p>
FOTO DE LA BANDERA: Aguacates que maduran en el árbol. Foto por <a href="https://flickr.com/photos/julianjb/463697648/in/photolist-GYza3-G7vmGN-6FUhuA-dy55Uu-7DuBUQ-cUT7BW-pgAiAs-cUTaAY-cUT4SQ-Xu5nzC-7DqL2t-2cYTzps-fBapCQ-5N6N6P-2bXfHJJ-5QMrk2-9aACvC-7Dq7TE-2BkeW-8gGvET-7TAipA-23LuKg-4R6XBr-arQ5Uu-yJ1mt-7NcMXG-XNEf-HtVtme-hobG4-23G4Ea-Yy4G7v-qAjmBB-DKxcut-DHo5zN-kTZUv3-aahHGW-DgC4Ej-9nvx2v-7c33NU-5tXwJe-Hi5wmL-4HogAs-aHYY7e-7q5sqo-eyRG4Q-CWhSz7-ctJieC-9FwYiu-DrG5Jo-WRD3UF" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Julian Berry/WRI</a>. 

 <p></p>
Publicado originalmente en <a href="https://wrimexico.org/bloga/%C2%BFcrecer%C3%A1-la-industria-aguacatera-expensas-de-los-bosques-mexicanos" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI Mexico Insights</a>. 

</div> 

 

<hr>

¿Crecerá la Industria Aguacatera a Expensas de los Bosques Mexicanos?

As the avocado industry continues to grow in Mexico, particularly in Michoacán and Jalisco, deforestation, water stress, and social challenges compound.

Will Mexico’s Growing Avocado Industry Harm Its Forests? | Forest Insights | Global Forest Watch Blog

Deforestation Alerts

Deforestation Alerts | Global Forest Watch Blog

guest post

guest post | Global Forest Watch Blog

indigenous peoples

indigenous peoples | Global Forest Watch Blog

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<div class="attribute"> 

Raul Padilla Calderon is an IT consultant working with the Oaxacan government on Biodiversity matters, and Floriberto Vásquez Ruiz works within the Oaxacan state government as the Undersecretary for Climate Change, Natural Resources and Biodiversity.

</div> 

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<p>In Oaxaca, Mexico, 78% of the land is controlled by local communities— that’s over 9,375,000 hectares. Yet, although these communities have the right to make decisions about the use of their land, they often lack the data needed to make informed decisions on where to construct settlements, farm or preserve the natural environment.&nbsp; </p>



<p>Mexico’s land rights system designates two types of land for community management, “comunidades agrarias” and “ejidos”, both of which endow the land and all its natural resources to local communities. In Oaxaca, there are<a href="http://bit.ly/2swgTu2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" 850 ejidos and 714 comunidades (opens in a new tab)"> 850 ejidos and 714 comunidades</a>, each with their own governing bodies, regulations and customs. The majority of these territories are on rural land, which in Oaxaca is highly mountainous terrain where internet connectivity and access to land management data is rare. </p>



<div class="imageright"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Mapa Oaxaca" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/scrnshot4.png" width="100%"> GLAD alerts displayed in the Mapa Oaxaca application. </div>



<p>A new phone application, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mapa Oaxaca (opens in a new tab)" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gob.MapaOaxaca.www" target="_blank">Mapa Oaxaca</a>, places this data in the hands of comuneros and ejiditarios, to help better inform their decisions on how to use the natural resources within their territory. The app was recently commissioned by the state as part of Oaxaca’s efforts to combat climate change, in recognition of the fact that 12% of their greenhouse gas emissions come from the loss of forests. Cellphones are becoming near universal across the younger population who will take advantage of sporadic Wi-Fi signals when available, and Mapa Oaxaca is designed for use on these phones even when they are offline in more remote areas.&nbsp; </p>



<p>The app contains a wealth of data and geographic information divided into six categories:&nbsp;</p>



<ol><li><em><strong>Territorial divisions and land tenure</strong>.</em>&nbsp;This data allows users to see the boundaries of microregions, municipalities and their ejido or&nbsp;comunidad, as well as major population centers and roads.&nbsp;</li><li> <em><strong>Regional Territorial Ecological Planning Program of the State of Oaxaca (POERTEO)</strong>.</em>&nbsp;POERTEO&nbsp;layers provide recommendations for suitable uses of different lands&nbsp;based on the environmental impact of production activities, in order to better protect and preserve the available natural resources.&nbsp; </li><li> <em><strong>Natural resources</strong></em>. This category includes information on the area of basins, rivers, soil types, geology, vegetation and climate.&nbsp; </li><li> <em><strong>National Forestry&nbsp;Commission&nbsp;(CONAFOR)</strong>.&nbsp;</em>This data shows areas that are eligible for financial support from CONAFOR.&nbsp; </li><li> <em><strong>Fire and deforestation alerts.</strong>&nbsp;</em>This category&nbsp;includes&nbsp;GLAD&nbsp;deforestation alerts&nbsp;and fire alerts&nbsp;from <a href="http://bit.ly/2LfScsC" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Global Forest Watch (opens in a new tab)">Global Forest Watch</a>.&nbsp; </li><li> <em><strong>Ecological integrity indices.</strong></em>&nbsp;This data indicates natural areas that have been degraded by human activity.&nbsp; </li></ol>



<p>Currently most of this data is only accessible by using GIS software on a computer with enough processing power to download and manipulate large datasets, limiting its use to a handful of specialized technicians working either in government agencies or with universities and research institutions. With the Mapa Oaxaca app that technical information can be directly accessed by anyone with a smartphone. </p>



<p>The data is stored within the app, making it useful even when the phone is not connected to the internet. In the case of GFW’s near-real-time alerts, the data is automatically updated each time the phone has access to the internet and stored in the app for future offline use.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Mapa Oaxaca has already been adopted by the staff of the Environment Secretariat for use in their field activities. It is currently in the process of being introduced by the Secretary of the Environment of the Government of Oaxaca to communities across the state. </p>



<p>Other states in Mexico have also expressed interest in adapting the Mapa Oaxaca format for their particular use. A territorial planning app like this could be useful for states like Chiapas and Quintana Roo where the majority of forest resources fall on ejido or communal lands.&nbsp; </p>



<p>Similar tools have already begun to be employed on a smaller scale to help in monitoring the <a href="http://bit.ly/2Y9nTsu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve (opens in a new tab)">Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve</a> in Chiapas. In October, a pilot of the platform began, testing its usefulness for rapid response to forest clearing or fire within the reserve.&nbsp; </p>



<p>Environmental monitoring tools continue to proliferate as new sources of data become available, but data is only useful if it is accessible. Mapa Oaxaca strives to bridge the technological gap for the people of Oaxaca, giving them the information they need to sustainably manage their lands.&nbsp; </p>



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<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”="">
BANNER PHOTO: Oaxaca is a mountainous region in Mexico. Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/alistairkitchen/13285047655/in/photolist-meXkPM-eeBXgv-4qppfs-4qppcw-Sv1F7K-4qkjrV-4qppkC-RpQseb-RskBGZ-MJkggi-daz8Qi-meXsgz-USnYw-meXqSn-meXpw6-fUmZMv-meZjBb-meYbMe-meZePL-meYcbv-KbJipA-dazakE-meXmsF-meYb2g-4bR9L1-5Wd9H6-8QC13N-SCGpBQ-awAXF8-3dxrH3-4qkjhc-4qkkxT-awASCx-bUd73L-4qkjwX-meXn4k-meXnFn-meZi5J-meZhvh-88V3iX-7B5jiC-7B1wcX-SGkyUp-d73TXo-d73VPf-awDze7-3dsZnV-d73TBm-awDiDU-d73Ry5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alistair Kitchen/Flickr</a>. 
 

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Mapa Oaxaca Platform Puts the Power of Data into the Hands of Mexican Communities

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Raul Padilla Calderon is an IT consultant working with the Oaxacan government on Biodiversity matters, and Floriberto Vásquez Ruiz works within the Oaxacan state government as the Undersecretary for Climate Change, Natural Resources and Biodiversity.

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<p>In Oaxaca, Mexico, 78% of the land is controlled by local communities— that’s over 9,375,000 hectares. Yet, although these communities have the right to make decisions about the use of their land, they often lack the data needed to make informed decisions on where to construct settlements, farm or preserve the natural environment.&nbsp; </p>



<p>Mexico’s land rights system designates two types of land for community management, “comunidades agrarias” and “ejidos”, both of which endow the land and all its natural resources to local communities. In Oaxaca, there are<a href="http://bit.ly/2swgTu2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" 850 ejidos and 714 comunidades (opens in a new tab)"> 850 ejidos and 714 comunidades</a>, each with their own governing bodies, regulations and customs. The majority of these territories are on rural land, which in Oaxaca is highly mountainous terrain where internet connectivity and access to land management data is rare. </p>



<div class="imageright"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Mapa Oaxaca" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/scrnshot4.png" width="100%"> GLAD alerts displayed in the Mapa Oaxaca application. </div>



<p>A new phone application, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mapa Oaxaca (opens in a new tab)" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gob.MapaOaxaca.www" target="_blank">Mapa Oaxaca</a>, places this data in the hands of comuneros and ejiditarios, to help better inform their decisions on how to use the natural resources within their territory. The app was recently commissioned by the state as part of Oaxaca's efforts to combat climate change, in recognition of the fact that 12% of their greenhouse gas emissions come from the loss of forests. Cellphones are becoming near universal across the younger population who will take advantage of sporadic Wi-Fi signals when available, and Mapa Oaxaca is designed for use on these phones even when they are offline in more remote areas.&nbsp; </p>



<p>The app contains a wealth of data and geographic information divided into six categories:&nbsp;</p>



<ol><li><em><strong>Territorial divisions and land tenure</strong>.</em>&nbsp;This data allows users to see the boundaries of microregions, municipalities and their ejido or&nbsp;comunidad, as well as major population centers and roads.&nbsp;</li><li> <em><strong>Regional Territorial Ecological Planning Program of the State of Oaxaca (POERTEO)</strong>.</em>&nbsp;POERTEO&nbsp;layers provide recommendations for suitable uses of different lands&nbsp;based on the environmental impact of production activities, in order to better protect and preserve the available natural resources.&nbsp; </li><li> <em><strong>Natural resources</strong></em>. This category includes information on the area of basins, rivers, soil types, geology, vegetation and climate.&nbsp; </li><li> <em><strong>National Forestry&nbsp;Commission&nbsp;(CONAFOR)</strong>.&nbsp;</em>This data shows areas that are eligible for financial support from CONAFOR.&nbsp; </li><li> <em><strong>Fire and deforestation alerts.</strong>&nbsp;</em>This category&nbsp;includes&nbsp;GLAD&nbsp;deforestation alerts&nbsp;and fire alerts&nbsp;from <a href="http://bit.ly/2LfScsC" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Global Forest Watch (opens in a new tab)">Global Forest Watch</a>.&nbsp; </li><li> <em><strong>Ecological integrity indices.</strong></em>&nbsp;This data indicates natural areas that have been degraded by human activity.&nbsp; </li></ol>



<p>Currently most of this data is only accessible by using GIS software on a computer with enough processing power to download and manipulate large datasets, limiting its use to a handful of specialized technicians working either in government agencies or with universities and research institutions. With the Mapa Oaxaca app that technical information can be directly accessed by anyone with a smartphone. </p>



<p>The data is stored within the app, making it useful even when the phone is not connected to the internet. In the case of GFW’s near-real-time alerts, the data is automatically updated each time the phone has access to the internet and stored in the app for future offline use.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Mapa Oaxaca has already been adopted by the staff of the Environment Secretariat for use in their field activities. It is currently in the process of being introduced by the Secretary of the Environment of the Government of Oaxaca to communities across the state. </p>



<p>Other states in Mexico have also expressed interest in adapting the Mapa Oaxaca format for their particular use. A territorial planning app like this could be useful for states like Chiapas and Quintana Roo where the majority of forest resources fall on ejido or communal lands.&nbsp; </p>



<p>Similar tools have already begun to be employed on a smaller scale to help in monitoring the <a href="http://bit.ly/2Y9nTsu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve (opens in a new tab)">Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve</a> in Chiapas. In October, a pilot of the platform began, testing its usefulness for rapid response to forest clearing or fire within the reserve.&nbsp; </p>



<p>Environmental monitoring tools continue to proliferate as new sources of data become available, but data is only useful if it is accessible. Mapa Oaxaca strives to bridge the technological gap for the people of Oaxaca, giving them the information they need to sustainably manage their lands.&nbsp; </p>



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<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”="">
BANNER PHOTO: Oaxaca is a mountainous region in Mexico. Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/alistairkitchen/13285047655/in/photolist-meXkPM-eeBXgv-4qppfs-4qppcw-Sv1F7K-4qkjrV-4qppkC-RpQseb-RskBGZ-MJkggi-daz8Qi-meXsgz-USnYw-meXqSn-meXpw6-fUmZMv-meZjBb-meYbMe-meZePL-meYcbv-KbJipA-dazakE-meXmsF-meYb2g-4bR9L1-5Wd9H6-8QC13N-SCGpBQ-awAXF8-3dxrH3-4qkjhc-4qkkxT-awASCx-bUd73L-4qkjwX-meXn4k-meXnFn-meZi5J-meZhvh-88V3iX-7B5jiC-7B1wcX-SGkyUp-d73TXo-d73VPf-awDze7-3dsZnV-d73TBm-awDiDU-d73Ry5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alistair Kitchen/Flickr</a>. 
 

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<div class="attribute"> 
Raúl Padilla es consultor informático para el gobierno de Oaxaca en materia de biodiversidad. Floriberto Vásquez Ruiz es Subsecretario de cambio climático, recursos naturales y biodiversidad.
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<p>En Oaxaca, México, 78%
de las tierras son controladas por comunidades locales – esto es más de
9,375,000 hectáreas.-Aunque estas comunidades tienen derechos sobre el uso de
sus tierras, regularmente no cuentan con los datos necesarios para tomar
decisiones informadas acerca de dónde construir asentamientos humanos, granjas
o preservar el entorno natural.</p>



<p>El sistema de derechos sobre la tierra de México designa dos tipos de manejo comunitario “comunidades agrarias” y “ejidos”, ambos dotan a las comunidades del uso de la tierra y todos sus recursos naturales asociados. En Oaxaca, hay <a href="http://bit.ly/2swgTu2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="850 ejidos y 714 comunidades (opens in a new tab)">850 ejidos y 714 comunidades</a>, cada uno con sus propios &nbsp;gobiernos, regulación y usos y costumbres. La mayoría de estos territorios son comunidades rurales que se encuentran en terrenos montañosos donde la conectividad a Internet y el acceso a datos sobre manejo de tierras son escasos. </p>



<div class="imageright"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Mapa Oaxaca" src="https://content.globalforestwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/scrnshot4.png" width="100%"> Alertas GLAD mostradas en la aplicación Mapa Oaxaca. </div>



<p>Una nueva aplicación móvil, <em><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gob.MapaOaxaca.www" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mapa Oaxaca (opens in a new tab)">Mapa Oaxaca</a></em>, coloca estos datos en manos de comuneros y ejidatarios, para ayudar a informar mejor sus decisiones sobre cómo usar los recursos naturales dentro de su territorio. La app fue recientemente comisionada por Oaxaca como parte de los esfuerzos del estado para combatir el cambio climático, reconociendo el hecho de que el 12% de sus emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero provienen de la pérdida de bosques. Los teléfonos celulares se están convirtiendo casi universales entre la población más joven, que aprovecha las esporádicas señales de Wi-Fi, Mapa Oaxaca está diseñado para usarse en estos teléfonos, incluso cuando estén desconectados en las áreas más remotas.</p>



<p>La app contiene datos e
información geográfica dividida en seis categorías:</p>



<ol><li><strong>Divisiones territoriales y posesión de la tierra</strong>: Estos datos permiten al usuario ver los límites de microrregiones, municipios y ejidos o comunidades, así como los principales centros de población y carreteras.</li><li><strong>Programa de Ordenamiento Ecológico Regional del Territorio del Estado de&nbsp;Oaxaca (POERTEO):</strong>&nbsp;Las capas de POERTEO proporcionan recomendaciones para usos adecuados de diferentes tierras en función del impacto ambiental de las actividades de producción, a fin de proteger y preservar mejor los recursos naturales disponibles. </li><li><strong>Recursos naturales</strong>:&nbsp; Esta categoría incluye información del área como cuencas, ríos, tipos de suelo, geología, vegetación y clima.</li><li><strong>Comisión Nacional Forestal (CONAFOR):</strong> Estos datos muestran áreas que son elegibles para recibir apoyo financiero de CONAFOR.</li><li><strong>Alertas de incendios y deforestación</strong>: Esta categoría incluye alertas GLAD de deforestación e incendios de <a href="http://bit.ly/2LfScsC" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Global Forest Watch (opens in a new tab)">Global Forest Watch</a>. </li><li><strong>Índices de integridad ecológica</strong>: Estos datos incluyen áreas naturales que han sido degradadas por actividades humanas.</li></ol>



<p>Actualmente, la mayoría
de los datos son solo accesibles a través de Sistemas de Información Geográfica
(SIG) en una computadora con suficiente poder de procesamiento para descargar y
manipular grandes grupos de datos, limitando el uso a técnicos especializados
que trabajan en agencias gubernamentales, universidades o instituciones de
investigación. Con la app Mapa Oaxaca, cualquier persona con un teléfono
inteligente puede acceder directamente a la información técnica.</p>



<p>Los datos se almacenan
dentro de la aplicación, por lo que se pueden usar incluso cuando el teléfono
no está conectado a internet. En el caso de las alertas <em>casi en tiempo real</em> de GFW, los datos se actualizan automáticamente
cada vez que el teléfono tiene acceso a internet y se almacenan en la
aplicación para uso sin conexión.</p>



<p>Mapa Oaxaca ya ha sido
adoptado por el personal de la Secretaría del Medio Ambiente del estado para su
uso en sus actividades de campo. Actualmente, está en proceso de ser presentada
por el Secretario del Medio Ambiente del Gobierno de Oaxaca a las comunidades
de todo el estado.</p>



<p>Otros estados en México
también han expresado su interés en adaptar el formato de Mapa Oaxaca para sus
propios casos. Una aplicación de planificación territorial como ésta podría ser
útil para estados como Chiapas y Quintana Roo, donde la mayoría de los recursos
forestales se encuentran en ejidos o tierras comunales.</p>



<p>Ya se han comenzado a
utilizar herramientas similares a menor escala para ayudar a monitorear la
Reserva de Biosfera Selva El Ocote, en Chiapas. En octubre, comenzó un piloto
de la plataforma, probando su utilidad para una respuesta rápida a la tala de
bosques o incendios dentro de la reserva.</p>



<p>Las herramientas de
monitoreo ambiental continúan proliferando a medida que nuevas fuentes de datos
están disponibles, ya que éstos solo son útiles si son accesibles. Mapa Oaxaca
se esfuerza por cerrar la brecha tecnológica para la gente de Oaxaca,
brindándoles la información que necesitan para administrar sus tierras de
manera sostenible.</p>



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<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”=""> 
FOTO BANNER: Oaxaca es una región montañosa en México. Foto por <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/alistairkitchen/13285047655/in/photolist-meXkPM-eeBXgv-4qppfs-4qppcw-Sv1F7K-4qkjrV-4qppkC-RpQseb-RskBGZ-MJkggi-daz8Qi-meXsgz-USnYw-meXqSn-meXpw6-fUmZMv-meZjBb-meYbMe-meZePL-meYcbv-KbJipA-dazakE-meXmsF-meYb2g-4bR9L1-5Wd9H6-8QC13N-SCGpBQ-awAXF8-3dxrH3-4qkjhc-4qkkxT-awASCx-bUd73L-4qkjwX-meXn4k-meXnFn-meZi5J-meZhvh-88V3iX-7B5jiC-7B1wcX-SGkyUp-d73TXo-d73VPf-awDze7-3dsZnV-d73TBm-awDiDU-d73Ry5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alistair Kitchen/Flickr</a>. 

 
 

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La Plataforma Mapa Oaxaca Pone el Poder de los Datos en las Manos de las Comunidades Mexicanas

A new phone application, Map Oaxaca, places land use data in the hands of comuneros and ejiditarios, to help better inform their decisions.

A new phone application, Mapa Oaxaca, places land use data in the hands of comuneros and ejiditarios, to help better inform their decisions.