Abstract

ROSETE-VERGES, Fernando A. et al. The progress of the deforestation in Mexico 1976-2007. Madera bosques [online]. 2014, vol.20, n.1, pp.21-35. ISSN 2448-7597.

This paper seeks to show the deforestation rate in Mexico based on land use and vegetation changes data from 1976 to 2007 using the official data published by INEGI. The results of the National Forest Inventory for 2000 were added to make a cut and the process was analyzed in two stages from 1976 to 2000 and from 2000 to 2007. Moreover, a polygon level analysis was carried out over the forest with secondary vegetation to know if they are coming from a recovery process or from a degradation process. The results show that the change rates are lower in the 2000-2007 than the 1976-2000 periods, but the annual loss of forest are around the 500 000 ha. For the complete period it was found a forest annual loss of 534 707 ha. The deforestation official data are sub valued since 2006 because they discount the 100% of secondary vegetation, when the real amount of recovery process is over 10% to 13%. The deforestation official data were recalculated from 2006 on, and the new results match with the amount of 500 000 ha per year. The principal use for the deforested areas is still the rainfed agriculture.

Keywords : Forest alteration; land use change; recovery process; change rates; secondary vegetation.

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