What was once a small-scale tradition is now a global phenomenon. International demand has pushed Mexican mezcal production from approximately 1 million liters in 2010 to over 11 million liters in 2024, according to the Mexican Regulatory Council for Mezcal Quality (Comercam). Nearly 75 percent of exports head to the United States, and less than 30 percent of total production … [Read more...] about Thirst for Growth: Mezcal’s Global Appeal Strains Oaxaca’s Land and Water
Nature
Mexico’s Fracking Reversal: Why President Sheinbaum Changed Course
The decision by the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum to permit fracking is not merely a minor policy change. It signals a willingness to prioritize practical economic results over long-held ideological promises, including those of her predecessor and political ally, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. For a country that relies heavily on imported gas and has a state … [Read more...] about Mexico’s Fracking Reversal: Why President Sheinbaum Changed Course
Vaquita Protection Zones Reduced by 86%, Critics Call It Surrender to Cartels
Conservation groups are sounding alarms after Mexico announced plans to slash protection zones for the critically endangered vaquita marina by 86%, opening thousands of square kilometers of the Gulf of California to the same gillnets that have driven the world's smallest porpoise to the brink of extinction. The Mexican government's decision would eliminate most of a 2020 … [Read more...] about Vaquita Protection Zones Reduced by 86%, Critics Call It Surrender to Cartels
Why This Adorable Argentine Parrot is Now Considered a Pest in Mexico
Experts from universities, including UNAM and UADY, are warning about the presence of the Argentine Parrot (Myiopsitta monachus, also known as the monk parakeet) in large swaths of Mexico. While fascinating to observe, this non-native species is highly likely to become a pest, harming crops and damaging regional ecosystems. During a presentation on the results of a … [Read more...] about Why This Adorable Argentine Parrot is Now Considered a Pest in Mexico
