Recent evidence of Mexican temperate forest decline and the need for ex situ conservation, assisted migration, and translocation of species ensembles as adaptive management to face projected climatic change impacts in a megadiverse country

Recent research highlights significant decline in Mexico's temperate forests, particularly along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and at lower elevations, attributed to climate change impacts. The study documents severe mistletoe infestations affecting Pinus hartwegii, reduced seedling recruitment of Abies religiosa, signs of inbreeding and defoliation in endangered Picea species, and increased pest and disease outbreaks in conifers and oaks. These findings challenge the assumption that natural genetic variation alone can sustain forest ecosystems under projected climate scenarios. The authors propose adaptive management strategies, including ex situ conservation, assisted migration, and translocation of species ensembles, to mitigate climate change impacts on Mexico's megadiverse temperate forests.

Sáenz-Romero, C., Mendoza-Maya, E., Gómez-Pineda, E., Blanco-García, A., Endara-Agramont, A. R., Lindig-Cisneros, R., López-Upton, J., Trejo-Ramírez, O., Wehenkel, C., Cibrián-Tovar, D., Flores-López, C., Plascencia-González, A., & Vargas-Hernández, J. J. (2020). Recent evidence of Mexican temperate forest decline and the need for ex situ conservation, assisted migration, and translocation of species ensembles as adaptive management to face projected climatic change impacts in a megadiverse country. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 50(9), 843–854. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2019-0329