Mexico has faced significant challenges in managing its tree cover, with the latest incident being a wildfire in Baja California Sur. Over the years, the country has experienced a fluctuating trend in tree cover loss, primarily driven by shifting agriculture, which has consistently been the leading cause of deforestation. The data reveals that shifting agriculture was responsible for a staggering average of over 69% of the total tree cover loss from 2001 to 2022.
Forestry activities, wildfires, and urbanization have also contributed to the decline, with forestry accounting for an average of approximately 17%, wildfires around 2%, and urbanization just under 1% of the total tree cover loss during the same period. The impact of these drivers has led to an overall net loss in tree cover, with a net change of -790,307.77 hectares, marking a -1.25% change.
Explore country profileThe most recent fire alert in Baja California Sur underscores the ongoing struggle against wildfires in the region. While the number of incidents is relatively low, the cumulative effect of these and other drivers of tree cover loss is a cause for concern. The country's rich biodiversity and the well-being of its ecosystems hang in the balance as Mexico continues to grapple with these environmental challenges.
