NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – After decades of dealing with bark beetles and devastating wildfires in 2022, hundreds of thousands of acres of New Mexico forest land is seeing improvement.
2023 gave New Mexico forests a break from years of problems with insects and drought according to the new “forest health” report published by the state. It shows there were improving conditions last year. “Which probably was a result of significant moisture that we had late 2022 and early 2023,” said Forest Health Program Coordinator for New Mexico Forestry Division, Victor Lucero.
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Lucero said when trees get more moisture, they’re able to ward off nutrient-stealing bugs which can cause defoliation and tree death. “Drought-stressed trees are weakened and allow for insects to colonize them easier,” said Lucero.
However, some environmental advocates don’t think the data shows progress just yet. “It has everything to do with how the climate is adapting to the changes of periods of heat,” said Teresa Seamster, a volunteer with the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter.
When it comes to piñon trees, in 2022, data showed 188,000 acres surveyed were killed by the bark beetle. Last year, the same survey showed only 2,000 acres were affected. However, the state is seeing a rise in Western Spruce Budworms in northern New Mexico.
The department said drought conditions in the state worsened late last year, but they are optimistic about 2024. “It can turn off hot and dry in late spring, early summer and then we might have a different situation,” said Lucero.
Even though there were improvements, the data shows there were more than 230,000 acres with defoliation due to bugs last year.
