The 25th Legislature of the Baja California State Congress has approved a reform mandating the use of native species in all reforestation efforts. The amendment to Article 42 of the Sustainable Forest Development Law, proposed by Morena party congressman Ramón Vázquez Valadez, aims to create a more robust legal framework for forest health.
The reform, detailed in Ruling 6 from the Commission on Environment and Sustainable Development, requires all three levels of government to promote afforestation and reforestation using species endemic to the region. The primary goal is to guarantee the conservation of local ecosystems and prevent the introduction of invasive exotic plants, which often disrupt the natural balance.
Legislators emphasized the critical importance of this initiative for Baja California, which is home to approximately 1.9 million hectares of forestland. These areas provide essential ecological functions and sustain the economic and cultural activities of numerous local communities.
However, these vital ecosystems are under increasing pressure from pests, diseases, and wildfires, highlighting the urgent need for a clearer and more effective legal framework to guide their recovery.
“The use of endemic species avoids the risks associated with introducing exotic plants,” the congressman explained. “In many cases, these foreign species become invasive, displacing local vegetation and negatively altering the dynamics of the entire ecosystem.”
The newly approved legislation also establishes clear procedures for situations where vegetation must be removed for forest health reasons, such as to control a pest outbreak. In such cases, a comprehensive program for reforestation, restoration, and soil conservation must be implemented. The reform holds landowners and usufructuaries accountable, legally obligating them to complete the restoration process within a maximum period of two years.
“With this important step, we ensure that the recovery of our ecosystems is carried out with species naturally adapted to our climate and territory,” Vázquez Valadez concluded. “This approach avoids harmful environmental impacts and guarantees the conservation of our state’s rich forest heritage for the future.”
