Is the Mayan Milpa Disappearing? Drivers of Swidden Agriculture Land Cover in the Yucatan Peninsula

In the dense, green forests of the Yucatan Peninsula, a farming method has survived for over a thousand years, weaving together agriculture, culture, and the natural world. This system, known as the Mayan milpa, is not a permanent field of crops but a rotating cycle of life. Farmers clear a small patch of forest, let the vegetation dry, and burn it to fertilize the soil. They then plant a traditional trio of crops—maize, beans, and squash—together in the same plot. After a few years of harvesting, the plot is left to rest and regenerate into a forest for about a dozen years, while the farmers move to a new patch. This cycle, often called slash-and-burn, is more than just a way to grow food; it is a cornerstone of food security, a guardian of diverse plant and animal life, and a living library of ancient knowledge passed down through generations. For the Maya people, this practice is a way of being, deeply tied to their identity and their relationship with the land. However, like many ancient traditions, it faces modern pressures that threaten to erase it from the landscape.

A recent study set out to understand what is happening to this ancient system today. Researchers wanted to know if the milpa is disappearing, and if so, what forces are pushing it away or helping it stay. To find the answers, they looked at two specific regions in the Yucatan Peninsula: the Zona Maya in the state of Quintana Roo and the area around Peto and Chikindzonot in the state of Yucatán. These areas are home to thousands of people who still practice this form of farming. The team combined high-tech satellite imagery with on-the-ground interviews to get a clear picture of the situation. They used satellite sensors that can see through clouds to count how many new milpa plots were created each year between 2018 and 2025. At the same time, they spoke with nearly two hundred farmers to learn about their lives, their challenges, and the choices they make.

The results paint a clear and concerning picture: the area covered by the Mayan milpa is shrinking. In the Zona Maya, the number of new plots dropped by nearly nine percent every year, and the total land area used for these farms fell by eleven percent annually. In the Peto and Chikindzonot region, the decline was slower but still steady, with a loss of about four percent in both the number of plots and the total area each year. The data showed a jagged pattern over the years. There was a spike in new farming plots in 2019, likely because of a new government program that encouraged tree planting. Another peak appeared in 2023, possibly linked to the distribution of free fertilizer. But between these peaks, and especially in 2022 and 2025, the numbers dropped sharply. By 2025, the total number of new plots had fallen to a fraction of what it was just a few years prior.

Why is this happening? The researchers found that several specific factors are driving farmers away from the traditional milpa. One major force is a federal government program called Sembrando Vida, which pays farmers to plant fruit and timber trees on their land. While this program provides income, it often replaces the traditional milpa cycle. Farmers who join the program tend to stop clearing new forest patches for maize and beans, or they replace the traditional crops with the trees required by the program. Similarly, the availability of free chemical fertilizers has changed farming habits. Instead of moving to a new patch of land every few years to let the soil recover naturally, some farmers are staying in one place and using chemicals to keep the soil productive. This shift reduces the need for the rotating system that defines the milpa.

Other forces are also at play. Severe weather, particularly tropical cyclones, destroys crops and discourages farmers from planting new plots. The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic also played a role; when tourism jobs vanished, many people returned to their villages to farm, causing a temporary spike in activity, but as the economy recovered, many left again. High levels of poverty and the distance from cities also influence these decisions. In areas where people are more marginalized or live far from towns, the milpa is more likely to decline. The study also noted that the aging population of farmers is a factor, as younger generations are moving to cities for education and service jobs, leaving fewer hands to work the land.

However, the study also identified what helps the milpa survive. In communities where people keep bees, the traditional farming system is more likely to persist. Beekeeping works well with the milpa because the bees need the diverse flowers found in the regenerating forest, and beekeepers avoid using the harsh chemicals that would kill the bees. Similarly, in families that eat a lot of maize, the tradition is stronger; the deep cultural connection to the crop keeps people farming it. Finally, communities with a larger number of land-owning members tend to maintain the system better, suggesting that strong community organization helps protect the practice.

The findings suggest that the Mayan milpa is not vanishing because of a lack of skill or interest, but because of a complex mix of government policies, economic shifts, and environmental changes. The study highlights that while some government programs aim to help farmers, they can unintentionally undermine the very systems that have sustained these communities for centuries. The researchers emphasize that to save this ancient way of life, policies need to support the specific needs of these farmers, recognizing that the milpa is not just a method of growing food, but a vital part of the region's cultural and ecological health. Without targeted support that respects the traditional cycle of planting and resting, this millennial practice may continue to fade from the Yucatan landscape.