Historical-dendrological analysis of the tree cover of the Bosque de Chapultepec (1st section): 3rd part

Abstract

This contribution continues with an analysis of the changes and events that have taken place in the tree cover of the Bosque de Chapultepec since the second decade of the 20^th century, with the administrations derived from the post-revolutionary governments to the present day. Special emphasis is given to the active but short-lived participation of the Autonomous Department of Forestry, Hunting and Fishing, headed by Miguel A. de Quevedo, which was replaced in 1936 by the Federal District Department, following a verbal instruction by the office of the President of the Republic. Advances in knowledge of the tree population during the 20^th century were still limited, although two floristic studies (in the 1930s and 1980s) stood out, as did two reports by forestry specialists from federal government institutions, published in 1951 and 1984, describing the deplorable sanitary conditions of the tree population (mainly Cupressus spp.). These reports highlighted accurate comments on the factors that influenced the condition of the trees, among which the lack of irrigation was the most significant ―given that the springs had been depleted and the water table had fallen for several decades―, along with the absence of guidelines and technical management for years. Finally, this paper discusses the contributions of the 21^st century, notably the first comprehensive study of the entire tree cover of the forest, and mention is made of the great challenge faced by Bosque de Chapultepec due to the climate change, global warming, and the increase in the urban heat island effect.