Deforestation in Mesoamerica threatens migratory bird species

Migratory bird species, including the Cerulean Warbler and Wood Thrush, are facing significant population declines due to habitat loss in their wintering grounds. As fall migration begins, hundreds of species travel thousands of miles to Central America, where illegal clearing for cattle ranching and other forms of deforestation are destroying critical habitats.

Data indicates that three of the five great forests in Mesoamerica have lost more than a quarter of their supporting tree cover in the last 15 years. While the Selva Maya region has seen forest gains outpace losses since 2019 due to community-led tree planting, experts emphasize that effective conservation requires science-guided restoration and community involvement to protect the billions of birds that rely on these dense forests.