Quantifying active and passive restoration in Central Mexico from 1986–2012: assessing the evidence of a forest transition

Between 1986 and 2012, the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Central Mexico experienced a net increase of 3,798 hectares of forest, yet this recovery is slowing. A study combining satellite imagery analysis with field interviews (n=43) revealed that most of this regrowth—estimated between 58 and 429 hectares—was due to natural regrowth (passive reforestation) on previously degraded lands rather than active reforestation efforts. Reduced logging and grazing pressures were key drivers, while agricultural abandonment had less influence than previously thought. The findings suggest prioritizing investments in maintaining forest resilience over costly reforestation programs.

Honey‐Rosés, J., Maurer, M., Ramírez, M. I., & Corbera, E. (2018). Quantifying active and passive restoration in Central Mexico from 1986–2012: assessing the evidence of a forest transition. Restoration Ecology, 26(6), 1180–1189. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12703