Unfortunately climate change has found its way to my area of the world: Veracruz, Mexico. While there may be several factors to account for the change, one of the most alarming is the deforestation that has happened within this lovely, green State on the eastern Mexican coast. According to the Director of Forest Development for the State of Veracruz, the forests in Veracruz have been rapidly lost. Of the original 7 million hectares there only remain 1 million 400,000 hectares. The loss exemplifies other regions of the country and, indeed, the world. Certainly Mexico needs to feed its people and produce incomes and it is logical to expect that land has been cleared for this purpose. However, since the clearing has not been managed in a responsible manner and the majority of the land has been cleared for cattle grazing and planting of sugar cane the results have been disastrous. Cattle produce a huge amount of manure which eventually finds its way into the streams and rivers that flow through the State contaminating the water. So much sugar cane has been planted that one result has been the disruption of the flight paths of migrating birds and hawks. In addition, cane has replaced the production of shade grown coffee which was a commodity that not only supported the environment by maintaining the large tree cover that provided the shade necessary for the coffee plants but also gave habitat to the bird population.
The climate change brought about by the absence of trees cannot be ignored any longer. The coast of Veracruz is bordered by a chain of mountains which receive the brunt of winds blowing in from the sea. These winds are loaded with humidity which comes down as rainfall. The forests that were once present served to absorb the rains and to filter the run off which eventually found its way into the aquifers and rivers of the States. Without the protection of these forests, and with so much of the land drained and paved over, the rain now produces severe floods. The forests are needed to serve as a line of defense against this flooding. Also, without the trees, the climate is dryer with the result that the temperatures are also rising, causing the native species of flora and fauna to wither and disappear.

The current Governor, Fidel Herrera Beltrán, was the first to pass a State Forest Law which aims to protect the forests, head waters and ecosystems through out the State. The goals for 2006-2028 include developing a master plan of reforestation of barren lands and working toward reducing the current land use patterns.
The cost of reforestation, conservation, and project development will be financed by those using (and profiting from) the water. The water that provides electricity and drinking water for millions of economically advantaged Veracruzanos comes from the head waters located high in the range of coastal mountains. Ironically, this natural resource belongs to the indigenous people who live in poverty in the highlands and who do not receive any economic benefits from this natural resource.

Let us hope that Veracruz does not fall prey to the usual political graft that permeates the Country and can stand firmly behind this bold plan to help save one region’s natural beauty…and its life.