WWF's work in Mexico - Forests

Close to 30% of Mexico (55.3 million hectares) is covered by diverse types of forests, most of which run down the Mexican Pacific Slope and are one of the Planet's main sources of biodiversity.

Mexico is home to 50% of all known pine species, but it also harbours a remarkable 135 species of oak (compared to 87 found in United States and Canada together). Mexico's dry forests run from Southern Sonora to Chiapas and represents the largest extend of tropical dry forest north to the equator.

Tropical dry, moist and cloud forests covering 12% of Mexico's territory are found in the south of the country. Animals such as the jaguar, river otter and the anteater depend on these forests.

Mexico's forests - mostly owned and managed by local communities
Remarkably, 80% of Mexico's forests are owned and managed by about 8,000 communities, mostly composed of indigenous people. Rural communities collect a wide variety of non-timber products, such as edible mushrooms, fibres for construction and handicrafts, and medicinal plants.

About 34 million hectares currently have timber harvest plans, but only 502, 656 hectares have been certified under the FSC standards. Some of the greatest social, ecological and economic benefits provided by the country's forests consist of environmental services, notably watershed protection.

Facing rapid depletion
Mexico's forests are being lost at an alarming rate. Annual forest loss is estimated to be between 600,000 and 770,000 hectares. It is also a country suffering increasing levels of water shortage, with 15% of aquifers seriously overexploited.

The Mexico Forest Program started in July 2002 and now days it has projects in the following areas:

• Sierra Norte - In the mountainous range of the North of Oaxaca State. Pine-Oak Forest, and Cloud Forest.
  
• Coastal Mountains - From the Huatulco coast to Nube de Flandes, in the Oaxaca State. Tropical Dry Forest, and Pine-Oak Forest.
  
• Selva Zoque - Chimalapas. In the border of Oaxaca, Chiapas and Veracruz States. Tropical Wet Forest, Tropical Dry Forest, Pine-Oak Forest, Cloud Forest.
  
• Sierra Tarahumara - Upper Conchos watershed, State of Chihuahua. Pine-Oak Forest.