Yucatan’s Biodiversity and Environmental Challenges Unveiled

October 18th marks World Nature Protection Day, a global event that draws attention to the state of our planet's biodiversity and the threats it faces. In honor of this day, we're exploring the rich biodiversity of Yucatan, the number of species that have become extinct, and the growing environmental challenges this region is grappling with.

1. Restoring the Earth and Breaking the Deforestation-Drought Cycle
   The theme for World Nature Protection Day in 2024 is "Our lands. Our future. We are the #RestorationGeneration." The United Nations (UN) is urging us all to restore our lands, halt desertification, which currently impacts 40% of land areas, and bolster resilience to droughts. Droughts have already surged by 29% in frequency and duration, and if we don't take urgent action, they could affect over three-quarters of the global population by 2050. The UN emphasizes that while we can't turn back time, we can reforest, rejuvenate water sources, and replenish soils.

2. Yucatan's Historic Year of Extreme Heat and Drought
   Yucatan is currently caught in a destructive cycle. Each year, 30,000 hectares of vegetation are cleared for livestock, crops, and urban expansion. This deforestation leads to increased heat and, subsequently, reduced rainfall and drought. In 2024, Yucatan experienced its worst drought in 30 years, and May saw several records for extreme high temperatures shattered across the region.

3. The Rich Biodiversity of Yucatan

Deforestation not only destroys plant life but also displaces animal species, posing a significant threat to Yucatan's biodiversity. According to the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (Conabio), Yucatan is home to a staggering 5,763 species. This includes a diverse array of fungi, bromeliads, ferns, cacti, vascular plants, and orchids, as well as a wide variety of crustaceans, bees, echinoderms, insects, corals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and both aquatic and terrestrial mammals.

4. Extinct Species in Yucatan
   The list of species from Semarnat, which focuses solely on Protected Natural Areas (ANP), reveals that only one species has become extinct in Yucatan: the monk seal, which used to inhabit the Alacranes Reef.

5. Endangered Species in Yucatan
   According to the same list from Semarnat, a number of species in Yucatan are currently endangered. The precise number and the specific species at risk will be discussed in a subsequent section.