When Reforestation Backfires: The Case of Mexico's Volcano Rabbit

Conservation is rarely as simple as just planting more trees. A fascinating study in the central mountains of Mexico utilised citizen science to monitor three species of Leporidae—the rabbit and hare family—revealing unexpected consequences of human intervention. Focusing on southern Mexico City, researchers analysed faecal pellets and habitat characteristics along 1 km transects across roughly 8,000 square kilometres.

The results highlighted a stark contrast in resilience. While the eastern and Mexican cottontails were detected in 8.09% and 12.37% of sampling points respectively, the rare volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) appeared in just 3.25%. Crucially, the analysis revealed that the density of mature trees actively harmed the presence of the volcano rabbit. Intensive planting has converted vital alpine grasslands into densely forested areas, effectively depriving this specialist species of its home.

Furthermore, vegetation indices over the past 20 years indicate an increase in dryness, despite these reforestation attempts. The findings demonstrate that citizen science is a powerful tool for monitoring elusive species in vast areas. However, the clear message for future conservation strategies is that we must prioritise the preservation of open alpine grasslands rather than assuming all forest growth is beneficial for biodiversity.