Mexico Releases 2026 Rules for Sustainable Forestry Program

Mexico’s National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) has issued the 2026 Rules of Operation for its Sustainable Forestry Development for Wellbeing Program, formally establishing the requirements for access to federal funding. The rules also outline operational and administrative guidelines governing the allocation of public resources  to strengthen sustainable forest development across Mexico.

The program is structured around six support components: community forest management and sustainable value chains; commercial and agroforestry plantations; forest restoration; environmental services; forest protection; and capacity building and local development. Through these components, financial support will be provided to ejidos, Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities, women-led forestry enterprises, and landowners of forested and preferentially forested land.

Eligible projects include sustainable forest management, forest and agroforestry plantations, ecosystem restoration, conservation of environmental services, and protection against wildfires, pests, and diseases. Support also covers training and research activities, with a cross-cutting gender approach designed to strengthen women’s participation—particularly Indigenous and Afro-Mexican women—in decision-making and forestry value chains.

Recognizing that a significant share of Mexico’s forests and jungles are located on Indigenous territories, the program incorporates specific provisions to promote Indigenous and Afro-Mexican participation. CONAFOR said these measures are consistent with Mexico’s Constitution, the General Law for Sustainable Forestry Development, and international human rights instruments.

CONAFOR positions the Sustainable Forestry Development for Wellbeing Program as a key policy instrument for climate change mitigation, supporting improved forest governance and the sustainable use of forest ecosystems. The commission noted that the program contributes to conservation, restoration, and protection activities, while also promoting sustainable forest use and the provision of environmental goods and services.

The 2026 rules align with the National Forestry Program 2025–2030, released in November 2025, which outlines a six-year roadmap to restore degraded ecosystems, improve sustainable forest management, and align national policy with global climate and biodiversity commitments.

At the center of the program is a nationwide target to achieve net-zero deforestation by 2030. CONAFOR reports that forest ecosystems currently cover 70.6% of Mexico’s land (138.7 million hectares), distributed among xeric shrublands (40.5%), temperate forests (25.1%), and tropical forests (21.9%). The program notes that inadequate agricultural practices, limited public awareness, and unsustainable resource use continue to threaten ecosystem resilience.

To track progress, the plan establishes 13 strategic indicators with specific targets for 2025–2030, measuring outcomes in ecological restoration, emissions reduction, community participation, and institutional performance.

According to CONAFOR data, an average of 203,552 hectares of forest has been lost annually between 2001 and 2024. Beyond environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, illegal logging exacerbates drought conditions, affecting water availability for human consumption, industry, and agriculture. The latest National Drought Monitor report indicates that as of July 15, 2025, 17.7% of the national territory was experiencing drought ranging from moderate to exceptional.

Deforestation also causes significant economic losses for the legal timber market. According to the 2022 report Estimation of Economic Losses from Illegal Logging in Mexico, losses amount to MX$97 billion (US$5.2 billion) in potential revenue annually. Data from PROFEPA and UNAM suggests that at least 70% of wood sold in Mexico originates from illegal sources.