Mexico ranks seventh in the world in terms of tropical forest area. It also has pine
forests in the central and northern parts of the country. Mexico is losing its forests at 1.3
percent per annum by some estimates (Reed, 1992, p 87). Mexico is also rich in biodiversity.
It has more endemic plants and vertebrates than the United States. Ownership of most
Mexican forests is legally vested either in the state or ejidos, although after land and forestry
law reform, private ownership of forests is possible. However, effective control is difficult
(see Dewalt and Rees).