A total of two million 410,084 hectares of forests, jungles and other ecosystems, equivalent to 16 times the area of Mexico City, were consumed by forest fires in the last five years across the country.

Between 2019 and 2023, data from the National Forestry Commission (Conafor) recorded 34,990 forest fires, of which 31 per cent, almost one in three, were caused intentionally and 22 per cent by agricultural activities.

Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico - May 14, 2024

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A total of two million 410,084 hectares of forests, jungles and other ecosystems, equivalent to 16 times the area of Mexico City, were consumed by forest fires in the last five years across the country.
Between 2019 and 2023, data from the National Forestry Commission (Conafor) recorded 34,990 forest fires, of which 31 per cent, almost one in three, were caused intentionally and 22 per cent by agricultural activities.

Researcher Lilia de Lourdes Manzo Delgado, from the Geospatial Analysis Laboratory of the UNAM's Institute of Geography, said that if the meteorological conditions of extreme drought, low rainfall and high temperatures continue, the number of forest fires is likely to increase compared to 2023.

In 2023, one million 47,493 hectares were consumed, after seven thousand 611 fires were recorded. This year, up to 10 May, according to the National Forest Fire Concentrate, 3,778 fires have been recorded, which have consumed 228,920 hectares.

With images in association with Meixner Quest.

This footage illustrates various fires in Patzcuaro.