In Michoacán there are more than 100
hectares of the main agricultural export product, generating an output of one
million tons annually. 80% of the orchards are located in rain-fed
land.
Juan Elvira was concerned about illegal changes in land use because "this phenomenon continues", and
said he believed that "the number 1 enemy of avocado in the Michoacán area
has been precisely the climate change".
He explained that "there has
been more frost than expected and heat waves in March, April and
May have caused the abortion of most of the flowering of avocado. This is an
indicator of the natural limits of the avocado planting".
From January 1st to May 15th,
the Michoacan delegation of the Federal Environmental Protection Attorney (Profepa),
has started in the Meseta P'urhépecha alone 7 cases by changing of land use. The
outcome of these procedures is to turn them to the General Attorney of the
Republic.
Juan Elvira said that about 7,700 producers in the entity are paying the consequences of environmental consequences of land
use change from forest to avocado.
He noted that producers "have
been having problems for 2 consecutive years in the production of avocado both
from heat waves or extreme cold. It is a very clear indicator to put an end to
this phenomenon (the change of land use)".
He stressed that "we must
remember that the stripping of forest and woodlands are precisely the ones that most
mitigate the effects of climate change".
Source: Cambiodemichoacan
Publication date: 6/28/2011