This year, the Arizona-Mexico border saw a record increase in the number of bodies found in the desert, according to the Coalación de Derechos Humanos.

In the fiscal year, starting Oct. 1, 2006 and ending Sept. 31 of this year, 237 bodies were recovered in the region bordering Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.

This year’s number is significantly higher than last year’s 205 bodies found.

Weather and exposure to the elements are often blamed for the deaths.

Derechos Humanos collects data kept by the medical examiner’s offices in Pima, Cochise and Yuma counties.

While the medical examiner counts the number of bodies recovered, Kat Rodriquez, coordinator of Derechos Humanos, said that number does not reflect the actual number of deaths in the desert.

“We can only count the bodies that are actually found,” Rodriguez said. “Bodies decompose and there have been reports that animals chew on bones for calcium, so we don’t know for sure how many people have actually died.”

While the entire region recovered 237 bodies, Pima County also saw record breaking recoveries with 206 bodies found this year.

Isabel Garcia, co-director of Derechos Humanos, described the state of the border as a “crisis,” and said the non-profit organization collects the data to educate the public about the injustices that are happening at the border.

The group publishes the name, age, date, sex and cause of death on its Web site in order to honor and recognize those who have died, Rodriguez said.