USAID supports Mexico’s goal to achieve net-zero deforestation by 2030 and meet its international climate commitments. Nearly half of Mexico is covered by forest – a total of 88 million hectares. Over 60 percent of Mexico’s forests is managed by communities with collective land tenure arrangements, such as ejidos, and the rest is on private and public lands. Every year over 90,000 hectares of forests are lost due to a variety of factors, including agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, illegal logging, and urbanization.

Counterpart Government of Mexico agencies include the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Forestry Commission, along with local governments. USAID is also engaging with non-governmental stakeholders, including the private sector, environmental NGOs, community forest enterprises, and local communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Activities include promoting better land use management and increasing income sources from community-based forest enterprises.

USAID’s initiatives address the following objectives: reduce GHG emissions from deforestation and forest degradation; improve the capacity of forest-related businesses and land management entities; and increase the participation of communities in sustainable value chains. In addition, USAID supports the development of markets for forest-carbon credits, improved forest monitoring systems, reducing the negative impacts of forest fires, and supporting regional land management entities.