Climate change, pests threaten Mexico City's iconic palms
31 Aug 2023, 09:30
Climate change, pests threaten Mexico City's iconic palms
MEXICO CITY, Aug 31, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - 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.
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https://www.bssnews.net/news/144834