Mexico Battles Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Wildfires in Baja California

Mexico Battles Escalating Tree Cover Loss and Wildfires in Baja California

Mexico has been grappling with a significant loss of tree cover over the past two decades. Analysis of historical data reveals a disturbing trend of escalating tree cover loss, which has culminated in a net negative change of 1.25%. The most substantial drivers of this loss have been identified as shifting agriculture, contributing to the majority of the tree cover decline, followed by urbanization, forestry, and wildfires.

In the year 2023 alone, Mexico experienced a tree cover loss of over 226,000 hectares, with shifting agriculture accounting for approximately 62% of this loss. Wildfires, while less significant in comparison to other factors, still contributed to the loss with over 4,200 hectares affected. The latest incident in Baja California, where a wildfire alert was registered on January 10, 2025, underscores the ongoing challenge Mexico faces in managing and mitigating the impact of these environmental setbacks.