The states of Campeche and Quintana Roo on the Yucatan peninsula are home to dense forests with valuable species for the timber industry. Although extensive environmental protection measures have been implemented due to the importance and fragility of the ecosystem, logging faces imminent challenges (see 3.2) that could accentuate deforestation in favour of intensive agriculture and cattle ranching. Despite this, forestry plays an important role in maintaining traditional populations, provided that the natural and social balance is preserved, as it has historically been in these states.

In both states, in addition to the aforementioned protective measures, lines of assistance are being promoted to produce products with greater added value from wood. This aims to consolidate a forest production network that is not very organised and which currently sells most of its production in the form of logs, with little added value. The ejido structure, typical of Mexico's rural areas and a legacy of the Mexican revolution, facilitates the implementation of planned actions and multiplies their social and economic impact. At the same time, European timber companies are showing increasing interest in Latin American and Caribbean resources, provided that they are managed sustainably, generally backed by international certification.

Finally, the implementation of EU regulation 2023/1115 is a challenge for European importing companies, but also an opportunity to modernise the local productive fabric and to stop the degradation of a valuable and sustainable natural and social ecosystem. The application of the new regulation also needs to be put into practice in order to clarify implementation issues, especially in the case of wood. This will be facilitated by dialogue between the participants and between them and the authorities.

In this context, an action is proposed to strengthen the economic and social fabric of timber holdings, adapting it to legislative requirements and promoting products with higher added value. To ensure the success of the project, local authorities and an international organisation with in-depth knowledge of the producing communities and their socio-economic characteristics will facilitate access to producers and provide the necessary credibility. In addition, the European organisation will provide knowledge on the appropriate formats for export and the implementation of the new European zero deforestation regulation, including access to digital tools. The design based on LEAN methodologies will allow finding compromise solutions between local conditions and importers' technical and legislative specifications. The main challenges to be addressed will be the governance of ejidos, their capacity to change and invest in technologies, and pressures from other land uses. The focus will therefore be on capacity building to address these constraints and address the expansion of agriculture and livestock farming.

Implementing consortium:

Coordinating entity:

Partner entities:

Beneficiaries: 

• MSMEs and ejido timber producers in the states of Campeche and Quintana Roo.
• European timber import companies.

In a nutshell:

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