Mexican Forestry








 The Forests of Mexico



Mexico is rich in temperate and tropical forests. Mexico possesses 1.3 %
of the world's total forest resource, with one quarter of Mexico's total
land area classified as forest lands. Mexico is exceptionally rich in
pines: there are in total 72 species, varieties and forms, more than any
other country in the world.

Of 192 mha total land area, approximately 50 mha are wooded, made up of
both coniferous and broad-leaved forests. The coniferous and broad-leaved
forests, located in temperate-cold climate, total about 26 mha, and
account for 90% of Mexico's forest production. The largest areas of
temperate-cold forest can be found in the states of Chihuahua, Durango,
Jalisco, Michoacan, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Guerrero. At 24 mha, tropical and
subtropical forests are comparable in size, but they account for only 10%
of Mexican forest production. Tropical forests are located in the states
of Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco and Oaxaca.

Most of the softwood production is used in domestic construction - mainly
concrete forming. Other important uses include finishing work such as
molding and parquet flooring, manufactured doors, windows and furniture.
Over 90% of all hardwood consumed in Mexico goes to the furniture
manufacturing industry. In addition, there are many non-wood special
forest products found in Mexican forests: it is estimated that the
Indians of the tropical rain forest use 1 500 species of tropical plants
to produce 3 000 different products such as medicines, construction and
domestic materials, dyes and poisons.

Although Mexico's forest area is relatively large, its contribution to
the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is barely 0.6%. As a
consequence, the government has traditionally assigned few resources to
developing and managing Mexico's forests, or investments in
infrastructure. Transportation costs in the forestry sector are unusually
high, in part because of the low road density: only 8 m per hectare, or
one third of the density recommended by the FAO. Timber is often found in
hard to reach mountainous regions, and what roads do exist can be made
impassable by heavy rains. Wood production costs are currently 35 to 40
percent higher than the world average.

However, in recent years, Mexico has begun to implement major changes to
more fully develop its forest industries. The government has chosen to
develop the forest sector under the guidelines of sustainable forest
management. Consequently, constitutional changes were made in the
nation's land tenure system. In 1991 the Mexican Constitution was amended
and a new Agrarian Law was enacted, allowing the ejidatarios (groups of
farmers that collectively manage forested and agricultural lands) to
either lease or sell their lands to individuals or corporations, with the
approval of the group. The land reforms also extended the length of time
a concession may be granted: before the reforms concessions were limited
to one year periods, which did little to encourage long-term investments
in infrastructure.. The government's intent is to demonstrate to national
and international investors the Mexico's forests represent a sound
investment.

Despite these policy changes, investors have been slow to invest in
Mexican forestry. According to several studies, Mexico offers much
potential for forest production, particularly in temperate forests.
However, achieving this potential will require further policy changes in
the forest sector.

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