Yucatán Peninsula: 285,580 Hectares of Jungle Lost in Four Years

Between 2019 and 2023, the Yucatán Peninsula lost 285,580 hectares of jungle. Of this, 5,610 hectares were destroyed due to the construction of the Tren Maya megaproject, specifically in sections known as Tramos 5, 6, and 7 in Quintana Roo and Campeche. This data was published in the most recent evaluation conducted by the Mexican Civil Council for Sustainable Forestry (CCMSS), under the technical direction of researcher Edward Ellis.

The overall loss equates to an average of 71,000 hectares per year and approximately 196 hectares per day, representing an annual deforestation rate of 0.4%—four times the national average of 0.1%. Among the three states comprising the peninsula, Campeche experienced the greatest impact with an annual deforestation rate of 29,000 hectares, followed by Yucatán with 27,519 hectares, and Quintana Roo with 14,595 hectares.

Deforestation at an Accelerated Pace

According to Sergio Madrid, executive director of the CCMSS, the rate of deforestation in the Yucatán Peninsula is “extremely high” and occurring at a “very accelerated pace.” Madrid presented the findings of the report, titled “Deforestation Evaluation in the Yucatán Peninsula 2019–2023,” alongside regional director Sara Cuervo and researcher Edward Ellis.

Yucatán State

Yucatán lost 110,077 hectares of jungle during this period, with an annual loss of 27,519 hectares. The municipalities of Tizimín, Panabá, Tekax, and Sucilá were the hardest hit.

Campeche

Campeche saw a total loss of 117,124 hectares of forest, translating to an annual rate of 29,281 hectares. The most affected municipalities were Hopelchén, Candelaria, Carmen, Calakmul, and Palizada.

Quintana Roo

In Quintana Roo, 58,319 hectares were cleared during the same period, with an annual loss of 14,595 hectares. The municipalities of Bacalar, Othón P. Blanco, Cancún, and Felipe Carrillo Puerto saw the highest deforestation rates.

NASA Confirms Long-Term Forest Loss

Over the past two decades, satellite data captured by NASA and analyzed with the help of researchers from the University of Maryland has revealed that the Selva Maya—the vast tropical forest spanning southern Mexico, Belize, and northern Guatemala—has experienced a 23% reduction in forest cover. This deforestation has been attributed to several human-driven activities, including cattle ranching, illegal logging, and the expansion of agriculture.

The data, gathered through the Landsat program and the MODIS Spectroradiometer, highlights the stark transformation of the region’s landscapes. Protected areas have not been spared, with the greatest losses observed in Petén, Guatemala.

Major Drivers of Deforestation

Agroindustry and Livestock

The expansion of soybean farming and other industrial-scale agriculture is one of the primary culprits. Areas such as Hopelchén, Campeche, and Tizimín, Yucatán, have become hotspots for agroindustrial activity. Additionally, large-scale cattle ranching has intensified in the region, contributing to forest loss.

Urban and Tourism Expansion

Urbanization, particularly in areas like Cancún and the Riviera Maya, has resulted in widespread deforestation to accommodate tourism infrastructure, residential developments, and commercial projects. For over five decades, “touristification” has been a key driver of environmental degradation in these areas.

Illegal Logging and Mining

Illicit activities, such as illegal logging and mining, continue to exacerbate the destruction of the region’s forests. The growing demand for timber and minerals fuels these unregulated operations.

Institutional Weakness

Environmental protections have weakened significantly in recent years, particularly during the construction of federally-led megaprojects. According to Madrid and Cuervo, this decline in institutional oversight has hindered the enforcement of environmental regulations and the protection of natural resources.

The Tren Maya: A New Driver of Deforestation

The Tren Maya megaproject, which spans more than 1,500 kilometers of railway, has emerged as a significant contributor to deforestation in the Yucatán Peninsula. The project connects five states—Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Yucatán—and is divided into seven sections (Tramos). The CCMSS evaluation dedicates a specific chapter to the project’s environmental impact.

From 2019 to 2023, the construction of the Tren Maya resulted in the loss of 5,610 hectares of jungle across Tramos 5, 6, and 7. The breakdown is as follows:

• Tramo 5 (Cancún to Tulum): 1,607 hectares cleared over 111 kilometers.
• Tramo 6 (Tulum to Chetumal): 2,076 hectares cleared over 256 kilometers.
• Tramo 7 (Chetumal to Escárcega): 1,927 hectares cleared over 254 kilometers.

According to Dr. Edward Ellis, the deforestation caused by the Tren Maya is far more aggressive and irreversible compared to other activities such as agriculture. Unlike pastures or milpa systems, where land can regenerate over time, the jungle cleared for the railway is permanently replaced with cement and ballast, leaving no possibility for recovery.

Advanced Monitoring with SICAMFOR

The CCMSS evaluation was conducted using the Sistema de Información de Cambios de Cobertura Forestal (SIACMFOR), a cutting-edge platform that integrates tools like Planet NICFI, Collect Earth Online, and Google Earth Engine for high-precision data analysis. Sicamfor offers a level of accuracy 5 to 8 times greater than existing platforms like Global Forest Watch or Conafor’s Satellite Forest Monitoring System (SAMF).

While SICAMFOR excels at measuring forest loss and recovery, it does not automatically identify the specific activities causing these changes. However, by combining satellite data with fieldwork, scientific studies, and community input, CCMSS has identified the historical drivers of deforestation in the region.

A Permanent Loss

Dr. Ellis underscores that the deforestation caused by the Tren Maya represents a “total and permanent” loss of environmental services, such as carbon capture and water filtration. Unlike other types of deforestation, where partial ecological recovery is possible, the railway’s footprint is effectively irreversible.

“Even pastures can regenerate over time, but the deforestation caused by the Tren Maya leaves the land with zero ecological functionality,” Ellis explained. “The impact is more aggressive, more total, and permanent.”

Source: El Universal