This led me down some research papers. Thanks! It looks like you are more right. Without environmental moisture to capture, the trees are effectively straws de

This led me down some research papers. Thanks! It looks like you are more right. Without environmental moisture to capture, the trees are effectively straws depleting ground water and losing it to evaporation. The Yucatan has enough moisture blowing in that trees aid in capturing moisture and increasing rainfall. Without an outside source of moisture, the false desert forests are likely making things worse water wise.