Drought, High Temps Damaging New Mexico's Forests and Creating Risk For Catastrophic Wildfires The Weather Channel 2 hrs ago Ron Brackett Replay Video UP NEXT An intensifying drought is putting New Mexico’s forests in danger, and if conditions don't improve, state officials warn, the risk of insect outbreaks and catastrophic wildfires will increase. The number of acres of forest and woodlands with insect, disease, and drought-stress damage on state and private lands increased 9% in 2020 from the year before, according to the state's 2020 Forest Health Conditions Report released last week. “Climate directly influences forest health on multiple levels,” State Forester Laura McCarthy said in a news release. “Lack of rain, warming temperatures, and an increase in carbon dioxide continually alter our forest ecosystems, increasing the risk of insect outbreaks and catastrophic wildfire.”