Impact of Productive Activities on Forest Cover Change in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve Region: Evidence and Research Gaps

Deforestation remains the dominant forest cover change process in Mexico's Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, driven primarily by traditional agriculture initially and later by intensified livestock and conventional farming. However, other significant processes like forest degradation from fallow shortening and selective logging, as well as recovery through long fallows and core zone delimitation, are often overlooked in regional-scale assessments. A systematic review of 53 studies revealed that while deforestation is the most investigated process, there's a notable gap in research on sustainable initiatives' impact. The study highlights the need for local-level understanding to differentiate between temporary and long-term forest dynamics, emphasizing the importance of supporting reduced-impact logging, sustainable agriculture, improved fallows, and beekeeping with adequate monetary resources to ensure resilient growth.

Špirić, J., Vallejo, M., & Ramírez, M. I. (2022). Impact of Productive Activities on Forest Cover Change in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve Region: Evidence and Research Gaps. Tropical Conservation Science, 15. https://doi.org/10.1177/19400829221105712