Statistics summary
Mexico is a mega-diverse country and is ranked second globally in terms of ecosystem types and fourth in terms of total number of species (Sarukhán, 2009). Mexico’s forests are shaped by the country’s varied climatic characteristics and topography. Of the country’s 194.3 million hectares of land area, 64.8 million are considered forests, representing 33% of the total area (FAO, 2010).
Land use, land use change and forestry represent the fourth source of GHG emissions in the country, generating on average 80 Mt CO2/ year from 1990 to 2006 (SEMARNAT-INE, 2006). As indicated in the Fourth National Communication for the UNFCCC, land use changes from forests to croplands and grasslands were the most significant source of emissions from 1990 to 2006. Preliminary studies indicate that the main proximate causes of deforestation and forest degradation include 1) forest land converted to grassland, 2) slash-and-burn agriculture, 3) illegal logging and 4) natural occurrences (CONAFOR, 2010a). The underlying forces identified include 1) forest area use limitations, 2) a lack of investment in the forestry sector, 3) low income derived from forest activities, 4) agriculture and livestock activities in forest areas 5) uncertainty regarding use rights and 6) poverty/lack of opportunities for forest owners (CONAFOR, 2010a).