Reforestamos Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico

An Overview Of Our Solution

The deforestation in Michoacan, due to the increase of the plantations of avocado, is a subject that demands immediate action on the part of the authorities and the society. The threat to our forests is a threat to the very life that develops around them, this includes avocado plantations. The use of avocado through sustainable schemes that increase productivity while promoting the conservation and restoration of forest areas is imperative to achieve the economic benefits of this crop. Conscious of the importance of sustainable avocado production for forests, Reforestamos Mexico seeks to promote the design and implementation of business models in Uruapan, one of the municipalities in Michoacan with greater avocado production and land use changes, looking a balance between economic, social and environmental benefits.

Who is this solution impacting?

Community Type

Suburban

Organization type

Nonprofit

Ecosystem (select all that apply)

Forests

Population impacted

315,350 people

Size of agricultural area

14,300

Production quantity

144,610 Ton

People employed

4,508 people

Describe your solution

The work of Reforestamos Mexico is to identify and develop business models where avocado is the main product but it is integrated by other species that allow the conservation of the soil and the increase of biodiversity under the implementation of sustainable techniques that are not harmful to watersheds or the farmers.An integral part of the solution is the alignment of local and federal government subsidies to foster practices that increase productivity through sustainable actions that seek conservation and restoration of the environment. To this end, Reforestamos Mexico, with the help of strategic actors, will delimit and select areas suitable for sowing avocado, as well as areas where its productivity is not optimal, so that incentives and investments are georeferenced based on these data (go no go zones). Another important point of the solution is the restoration of priority areas for the conservation of water basins or biodiversity hotspots, through the identification of areas for ecological restoration.

Describe your implementation

Business models suggest a cost-effective combination of agrosilvopastoral species, not only economically, but also socially and environmentally. These models involve the production of avocado without causing damage to the soil that lead to its subsequent degradation and abandonment. In addition, identification of areas suitable for cultivation may provide a framework to control the expansion of avocado orchards, direct incentives and identify areas where avocado productivity is optimum du to climatological and orographic characteristics. On the other hand, the alignment and georeferencing of government incentives will allow the creation of mechanisms to promote crops committed to zero deforestation and the conservation and restoration of priority areas for water basins and biodiversity. For the implementation of these solutions, we need the identification of markets willing to pay more for sustainable products. Reforestamos Mexico is currently promoting cero deforestation labeling for products such as avocado, we have approached the Rural Sustainable Development Council in the Ministry of Agriculture. Another key element for effective implementation is the launching of awareness campaigns for farmers to apply these models.

External connections

One of the most important actors is Centro Geo, a civil organization that has made efforts in the georeferencing of the avocado orchards and other land use changes in Michoacan. Other academic institutes will also be key to the design and implementation of solutions. Working with the government at all levels will be a key element to apply business models and incentives in a coordinated way. Reforestamos Mexico already has a close working relationship with the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) and has been seeking closer ties with the Ministry of Agriculture (SAGARPA). Reforestamos Mexico considers it is essential to create synergies between the agricultural and forestry sectors. For these reasons, the solutions sought to be implemented are closely related to the forest sector, since the aim is to reduce the pressure of avocado cultivation on the Uruapan forests as productivity increases.

What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?

Mexico is the leading exporter of avocado in the world, accounting for 30.9% of world production. The 85% of the national production of avocado is concentrated in the state of Michoacan. Only in 2015 the value of avocado production in Michoacan amounted to more than 18 billion pesos. However, this economic income has been generated at the cost of considerable environmental damage. With one million hectares deforested, Michoacan occupies the third place at the national level in degradation of its forest. Avocado orchards have been replacing, with worrying speed, what were formerly woods. This increase in the loss of forest cover is a challenge that poses the need not only of economic valuation in the short term, but also weighting the social and environmental impact that will have repercussions in this and future generations. The environmental impact is reflected in the pollution and scarcity of water, soil erosion and degradation, changes in land use and biodiversity loss.

Describe the context in which you are operating

Uruapan is one of the 113 municipalities of the state of Michoacan. It has an area of 954.17 km2 of which 30.57% is dedicated to agriculture, 4% to livestock and 54.19% is forest. However, this last percentage has decreased due to the indiscriminate planting of avocado. Currently, Uruapan has 14, 300 hectares planted, making it one of the municipalities in Michoacan where more avocado is produced. The deforestation caused in the area is considerable and affects, among other areas, the Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park and the Balsas Hydrological Region, conformed of the Tepalcatepec-Infiernillo River Basin and the Tepalcatepec River Basin. The impact of hydrological basins and soil has considerable impacts on the population and agriculture in the area. In addition, reducing forest cover reduces water absorption levels, and although avocado trees also absorb water, it causes water shortages not only for crops but also for people. Also, due to the use of chemicals for fertilization and pest removal, the basin of both rivers contains very high levels of nitrates. The intensive monoculture of the avocado has caused a consequent degradation of the soil that is detrimental to the productivity of this product and the need to expand to other areas with fertile soils, which in this case, are the forests.

How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?

The implementation of the solution improves the water absorption in the basins that are in Uruapan up to 30% due to the absorption capacity of native forest species. Increased forest cover also results in increased biodiversity and carbon sequestration. In most cases, avocado orchards have a wide variety of plants, especially herbs, however, it was found that in the orchards the proportion of dicotyledons and monocotyledons varies greatly due to herbicide and cut management. They favor grasses and other flowering plants that are not very attractive to pollinators, which directly affect biodiversity and its proper functioning and preservation. Under sustainable management the conservation of plants and the diversification of species promote the conservation of biodiversity and even the creation of biological corridors.

Language(s)

Spanish, Purépecha

Water

Improved water absorption for crops. Since one hectare of avocado consumes about 700 m2, consumption decreases when forest species are included. Sustainable practices in avocado orchards mean better use of water resources and reduction of the use of pollutants. The increase in forest cover impacts the conformation of water bodies in a positive way.

Food Security/Nutrition

Business models favor the increase of production under a sustainable scheme. So, that the avocado industry in Uruapan can continue to produce steadily and even incrementally. The generation of avocado is of paramount importance for the agri-food industry. That is why sustainable schemes are needed to maintain it.

Economic/Sustainable Development

$2,107,054.79 thousand pesos was the economic spill in 2015 for Uruapan derived from the production of avocado. Maintaining and even increasing these numbers requires productive soil and water basins that maintain productivity.

Climate

The absorption of carbon is a key element, which has gained relevance at the international level. On average one hectare of avocado absorbs between 37-55 tons of CO2. In contrast, one hectare of permanent forest captures between 550-900 tons of CO2. The proposed solution seeks a balance that involves the reduction of carbon emissions.

Sustainability

The implementation of this project involves income derived from participation in markets where sustainable products are most valued. Business models are developed so that the initial investment that the producer or investor must make, has a constant yield so additional funds are not required. However, to avoid the progressive expansion of avocado orchards into forest areas, the implementation of Payments for Environmental Services and other coordinated incentives are necessary.

Return on investment

The main cost of the project is aimed at generating the business models most suited to the needs of Uruapan and the georeferenced planning of crops. In comparison, investment returns, when compared to production, are extremely high.

How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?

Business models can be easily replicated if there is coordination and cooperation at the state level. The generation of information and georeferencing of crop opportunities in not only the municipality, but the state can be easily identified if there is collaboration of governmental actors, investors and producers. At the international and even national level, there are already examples of crops under agroforestry schemes and sustainability criteria. The approximate cost for implementation at the state level amounts to about 22,000 dollars.

Overview