Illegal logging by organized crime has depleted 15% of the country (Mexico)
Corruption and insufficient number of inspections give criminals free reign; 122 areas are severely deforested
Published on Monday, October 18, 2021
More than 300,000 square kilometers of forested land – about 15% of Mexico’s territory – have been depleted due to illegal logging carried out by criminal groups, according to the environmental protection agency Profepa.
In a document cited by the newspaper El Universal, Profepa said there are 122 areas of forested land where severe deforestation has occurred due to “the high incidence of illegal logging related to organized crime groups.”
Those areas cover 313,500 square kilometers. Mexico’s total land area is approximately 1.97 million square kilometers.
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The reason why it is so widespread, he said, is because felling trees illegally is cheaper since loggers avoiding paying taxes and wood export permits. Cruz also acknowledged that logging is “another business” for crime groups, which have diversified beyond activities like drug trafficking and extortion.
More:
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/illegal-logging-by-organized-crime-has-depleted-15-of-the-country/