User:Eelasher/Climate change in mexico

= Climate Change in Mexico =

Climate Change in Mexico: Overview
Climate change models, while highly variable, have projected an increase in the variation and intensity of precipitation (i.e., floods and droughts) in Mexico. The largest changes in precipitation are projected to occur during the summer months, especially in southern Mexico, with a potential decrease of 13-15 percent (Colorado-Ruiz) (climate institute report). Furthermore, temperature increases of 1.5-2°C relative to baseline are expected by 2035-2055 (Colorado-Ruiz). As such, scientists have classified the Central American region as a “climate change hot-spot” (Karmalkar) and “highly vulnerable” to climate change (IPCC) (Estrada).

Climate change projections in relation to agriculture in Mexico
Climate change is a critical concern in Mexico, particularly in relation to agriculture. Drying and warming trends are altering and shifting climatic zones and agricultural environments worldwide (Jones) (Bellon) and Mexico is no exception (Bellon). Exact predictions are difficult to make due to the complexity of the factors involved and impacts will be highly region-specific; however, there is a general consensus that the productivity of crops and livestock will decline (Lobell and Gourdji 2012). Highland farmers and the rural poor are especially vulnerable to these climatic shifts (Bellon). Decreased precipitation will place higher burdens on irrigated agriculture, on which much of the country’s exported, economically-important crops rely. (Liverman) Conversely, more intense rainfall events will damage crop production. Higher temperatures are expected to increase evapotranspiration rates, leading to drying trends in soil moisture. (Liverman)

Climate change projections in relation to food and economic security
Many people depend on the agricultural sector for employment. In 2017, roughly seven million people were employed in agriculture in Mexico. (UC Davis) Moreover, many Mexican smallholder farmers continue to depend on rain-fed agriculture for their subsistence and livelihoods. (Liverman) Farmers respond to climate change in varying ways, including changing their agricultural practices, by adjusting their livelihood strategies, or by exiting agriculture altogether. (Bellon) There is evidence to suggest that declining agricultural conditions from climate change in Mexico directly relates to migration to the United States (Feng) (Estrada) Hence climate change threatens not only food and economic security in Mexico, but is also tied to much larger, global processes. In 2017, the United States imported $13.3 billion of fruits and vegetables from Mexico. (UC Davis) Declining crop yields in Mexico due to climate change will ultimately impact global trade networks, national economies, and food security in countries that are, perhaps, geographically distant; yet through free-trade policies such as NAFTA and USMCA, have become highly dependent on Mexican agriculture.

Maize
Maize is of central importance to Mexican agriculture, occupying the largest cultivated area in the country. (Bellon) It is a critical component of the diets and nutritional intake of both the urban and rural populations. A large number of smallholder farmers in Mexico depend on rain-fed maize for their livelihoods, leaving these farmers particularly vulnerable to temperature and precipitation fluxes from climate change (Bellon).

Furthermore, Mexico (Mesoamerica more generally) is the center of origin for maize (citation?). Mexico alone has 59 unique maize landraces recorded (O’Leary) and thousands of regionally adapted maize varieties. Maize diversity in Mexico continues to be maintained and managed by smallholder farmers who participate in traditional seed sharing networks. An estimated 18% of maize cultivation in Mexico takes place in the highlands (Bellon), and maize agro-climates in the highland regions are most at risk from climate change. (Bellon) Many scientists are concerned about the effects climate change poses on maize genetic diversity and the negative impacts that continued maize germplasm loss will have, not only on Mexican agriculture, but worldwide, as maize is the most widely grown crop in the world (O’Leary). Bellon et al. (2011) discusses the need to strengthen and broaden traditional seed networks in Mexico to support farmers and the genetic integrity of maize in light of climate change; thus, extending the geographic ranges of seed networks to link farmers in the highlands, for example, with farmers in mid-altitude environments (Bellon).

Coffee
(see also: coffee production in Mexico)

Variable and extreme climatic events such as droughts, floods, and excessive heat will have important impacts on both the quality and overall production of coffee in Mexico (Estrada). This will, in turn, have widespread consequences on coffee prices and global trade networks. (citation?)

Changes in cloud forest distributions as a result of climate change
Mountain cloud forests, especially in the Michoacán, act as dispersal corridors for many species that travel between habitats. These forests are highly subject to human disturbances such as mining and deforestation. This is important because the distribution of these forests is an integral factor of landscape connectivity. As the distribution of these forests changes due to climate effects, landscape connectivity is also affected. An evaluation of this property of connectivity of the mountain cloud forests of Michoacán was carried out by researchers in order to determine which areas would best benefit from greater conservation efforts.

Changes in butterfly distributions as a result of climate change
Warming temperatures and land-use change are contributing to the movement of butterfly distributions up the Sierra de Juarez mountain range in Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2016, research was conducted to determine which butterfly species were moving either up or down the mountain range. The researchers determined that more species were moving upward than were moving downward. The researchers also concluded that, as a result of distribution changes, there was a greater abundance of generalist butterfly species in lowlands.

Mexican Bats
Bat distributions and ranges in Mexico are expected to shift as a result of changes in climate and increased land-use change. As an indicator species, bats can provide researchers useful information in regard to the degree and extent of climate related species responses. Researchers analyzed previous records of bat occurrence across Mexico and used the derived data to project how bat species may respond to land-use change and climate effects. Results showed that habitat suitability for over half of 130 bat species is expected to decrease under current climate trends. The results also revealed that land-use change had less of an effect on habitat suitability for bats than climate change.

Small mammals in tropical ecosystems
A significant number of mammals are endemic to Mexico, an abundance of those species being small mammals. Many of these small mammals are known to inhabit tropical areas of Mexico, however, it is these tropical dry ecosystems that are highly subject to the effects of land-use change and climate change, making small mammals particularly vulnerable. Researchers set up a 19 year study of small mammal populations in the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve located in Jalisco, Mexico. This site was chosen by the researchers due to the occurrence of a significant amount of anthropogenic disturbance in the surrounding area. The researchers concluded that functional diversity in this area was lower than expected, and, as such, greater conservation efforts should be encouraged in the region.

Birds
In order to determine how conservation efforts should be implemented in order to best protect breeding bird communities, a study was conducted by Aaron D. Flesch. This study of breeding bird communities in Mexico found that species were trending higher in altitude and towards the poles. In order to collect his data, Flesch used techniques that had been used by previous researchers and conducted an observational survey to determine biodiversity values. From the collected data and historical climate data, Flesch found that some lowland species moved north and others moved east to higher altitudes.

Biodiversity
Mexico contains a significant portion of global biodiversity, making it essential that "biodiversity hot-spots" present within its borders are properly protected from the effects of climate change. A large amount of land area in Mexico is already designated as protected areas, as such, these conservation areas make refugia for a number of threatened species. Researchers wanted to determine how protected ecosystems in Mexico will be affected by climate change, and to what degree. Their research concluded that all 40 of the studied protected areas are expected to face warming temperatures while 30 will face decreased precipitation. The researchers suggest that their study be used to determine which of the protected areas in Mexico would benefit most from greater conservation efforts.