Researchers identify 80 plant species in Mexico's Sisal dunes

A study published in Acta Botanica Mexicana has documented 80 plant species within the coastal dunes of Sisal, Yucatán. Researchers from the Colegio de Postgraduados and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) identified 10,862 individuals across 75 genera and 39 families during field studies conducted between August 2023 and August 2024.

Of the identified species, 94 percent are native to the Yucatán Peninsula. Notably, four species are classified as threatened under the NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 standard. The researchers highlighted that these dunes are essential for coastal protection and environmental services, but they face increasing pressure from urbanization and the construction of rigid infrastructure along the coastline.