Matlalcuéyetl is an inactive volcano in Tlaxcala, Mexico, located in the Nahua and Yuhmu territories. The slope of this volcano harbors a coniferous forest that has been devastated for about 50 years by illegal logging. In addition, the increase in temperature and the imbalance of the ecosystem led to the population growth of a bark beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) that causes the drowning and finally the death of the trees. The Ministry of the Environment identifies 2,600 hectares affected, besides independent organizations report 6,000, 15% of the forest.

The desecration of this ecosystem mirrors a global pattern in rural and indigenous territories, where lands are systematically destroyed by negligence and corruption. In this forest, logging is carried out by some native inhabitants of the surrounding communities, a symptom of the lack of job opportunities in the area. However, those who are allowing the unchecked advance of the pest, causing more loss of trees and greater economic impact with the cutting of these, are officials from different state and national government institutions allied with sawmills. This panorama does not allow us to envision a short-term solution to cease the death of the forest.

For the Nahua culture, the Matlalcuéyetl forest is the setting where many of their myths take place; notions of wisdom, prosperity, beauty, and power are attributed to this volcano. It serves as a ritual spot where offerings were deposited to pray for good harvests. Here, the weather shamans invoke the rain, on its paths there are sacred springs and chapels dedicated to female entities, it also serves as an observation point to place the body closer to the cosmos.

Raízhambre is a photographic series that suggests that with the destruction of this land, not only trees perish, but animals, access to water is scarce, the temperature rises, the rains stop, a culture is deprived of its territory and with it, a philosophical legacy is lost. ‘Raízhambre’ is a word com- posed of root and hunger, alluding to a devoured origin and at the same time echoing “raigambre”, a term in Spanish that designates a set of tightly entangled plant roots.

My perspective originates from San Francisco Tetlanohcan, a Nahua community on the slopes of the volcano where my family is from, the memory of my blood is saved within this forest.