Producción maderable en México frente al reto del manejo forestal sustentable

Mexico has a valuable forest resource that, although historically exploited, currently faces significant challenges in timber production internationally. This review focuses on the evolution of timber production from 2010 to 2022. Based on a detailed analysis of official sources and databases, production ranged between 5.6 and 8.8 million cubic meters of roll, with an annual average of 6.97 million pesos. During 2009–2018, the states of Durango, Chihuahua, Michoacán, and Oaxaca stood out as leaders in conifer production, accounting for 62.6% of the national volume. Within production, timber represented the largest proportion, at 72.3%, followed by other wood-derived products. The sector has shown sustained growth of nearly 7.5% annually, suggesting constant progress linked to sustainable management practices. In 2022, this growth peaked, with an increase of 8.74%. Between 2012 and 2023, the forest-based Gross Domestic Product was primarily distributed between the wood industry (55.04%) and pulp, paper, and cardboard manufacturing (44%). However, the increase in production has not had a proportional impact on GDP, reflecting structural problems beyond the economic context or the exchange rate. Regarding jobs in the forestry sector, the states with the highest number of jobs in 2023 were Michoacán (26,906), Chihuahua (24,406), Durango (20,228), Mexico City (18,275), and Puebla (17,712). The lack of competitiveness of the forestry subsector in Mexico is largely due to internal factors that still require attention and resolution.