In the last decades, Mexico has experienced important forest loss and degradation processes in both temperate and tropical forests (Mas et al., 2004; Velázquez et al., 2010). According to FAO (2010), deforestation rates in Mexico were 0.5%(354 000 ha/year) during the period 1990-2000, and 0.2%(155 000 ha/year) in 2005-2010. Wildfires, urbanization, excessive logging, the extension of areas dedicated to agriculture and livestock raising are the main causes of this phenomenon. The most important consequences of the loss of forest cover include the reduction in the environmental assets and services provided by ecosystems, global warming, alteration of biogeochemical and hydrological cycles, soil degradation and habitat loss