Climate change and a deadly disease spread by insects have forced authorities in Mexico City to chop down palm trees beloved by residents as an emblem of the capital.
The Canary Island date palms, which are endemic to the Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa, can sometimes live for more than 200 years.
But the ones providing shade and a splash of green in Mexico City are suffering from lethal yellowing, which experts say is caused by the red palm weevil, a type of beetle.
The pest is native to tropical Asia but has spread around the world, causing irreversible damage to palm trees in various countries.
Climate change is making the trees more vulnerable to such insects, according to Reyna Rojas, an expert in plant disease.
"The increase in temperatures causes much more stress for a plant," she told AFP.
"As a result, they attract insects," she added.
Tree surgeons have been cutting down wilting palms in the central Narvarte neighborhood, ripping out part of Mexico City's history.
"It's taking away the essence of the neighborhood," said 55-year-old resident Ivan Felipe.
"Narvarte will no longer be Narvarte without the palm trees," he added.
Irma Gutierrez, 68, mourned the loss of the trees she has known since childhood.
"As long as I have been here, the palm trees have been there," she said.
Announcing the removal of 155 palm trees in July, the Mexico City government said that the species "has proven to be susceptible to climate change currently occurring worldwide."
At the time, temperatures in the city were above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) -- higher than normal in the Mexican capital.
Although it is located in the tropics, the city has relatively mild summers due to its altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level.
One of the capital's most iconic palm trees, located on a roundabout on its main avenue Paseo de la Reforma, was removed in April 2022 after it was attacked by fungus.
A native cypress tree was planted in its place, but wilted and withered just weeks later and had to be removed.
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
General Industry Analyst:
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Analyst Summary
:
This article discusses the increasing vulnerability of palm trees in Mexico City to the red palm weevil, a type of beetle native to tropical Asia. Experts attribute this to climate change, which is causing higher temperatures and more stress for the trees, making them more susceptible to the insect infestation. As a result, the Mexico City government is cutting down 155 palm trees in the Narvarte neighborhood, a decision that has been met with sadness by locals who have been accustomed to the presence of the trees since childhood.
This event is reflective of the effects of climate change that have been observed in the space and defense industry over the past 25 years, such as rising temperatures, a higher frequency of extreme weather events, and changes in the natural environment. These events have drastically impacted the industry, from increased difficulty in securing resources to an increased need for technological innovation.
Investigative
Question:
- 1. What strategies have the Mexico City government implemented to mitigate the spread of the red palm weevil?
- 2. What other species in Mexico City are vulnerable to the effects of climate change?
- 3.
What technologies have been developed to address the impacts of climate change in the space and defense industry?4. How have increased temperatures impacted the availability of resources in the space and defense industry?
5. What are the long-term impacts of the removal of palm trees in Mexico City?
This AI report is generated by a sophisticated prompt to a ChatGPT API. Our editors clean text for presentation, but preserve AI thought for our collective observation. Please comment and ask questions about AI use by Spacedaily. We appreciate your support and contribution to better trade news.
