Mexico, Belize and Guatemala to Protect the Mayan Forest

Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize agreed to establish a new Biocultural Corridor of the Greater Maya Forest (CBGSM). This initiative aims to promote the conservation of plant and animal species while also benefiting the indigenous peoples of the region.

The agreement, signed by President Claudia Sheinbaum; Bernardo Arévalo, President of Guatemala; and John Antonio, President of Belize, seeks to preserve 5.7Mha of forest. It strengthens environmental cooperation in conservation and ecological integrity, benefiting around 7,000 species, including 200 at-risk species, 50 priority species, and 250 species endemic to Mexico.

The large trinational reserve encompasses 11 Protected Areas in Belize, 27 in Guatemala, and 12 in Mexico. It will ensure the ecological continuity of Mesoamerican ecosystems, including lowland, mid-elevation, and highland tropical forests, petenes, and mangroves. As the second largest tropical rainforest in the Americas after the Amazon, its preservation is strategic for addressing the climate crisis, regulating the water cycle, and conserving regional biodiversity, the leaders emphasized.

Protecting the forest ecosystem will also help safeguard water resources. Patricia Orantes, Guatemala’s Minister of Environment, explained that the Maya Forest contains a major freshwater system connected through a network of caves and underground channels. Prioritizing the conservation of vegetation cover will allow water to infiltrate the soil and recharge aquifers, benefiting approximately 2 million people who rely on this vast freshwater system.

From a social perspective, President Sheinbaum highlighted that the project will promote the development of the indigenous peoples living in the area. The agreement recognizes Mayan and Afro-descendant communities as caretakers of nature, whose involvement is essential to preserve ecosystems and counter threats such as illegal logging, environmental pollution, and wildfires.

“We are not only protecting an ecosystem, but also honoring the legacy of the civilization that once flourished in these territories. Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize demonstrate once again that our political borders do not divide us, but unite our efforts to preserve one of the planet’s last lungs and the living heritage of the Maya peoples,” emphasized President Briceño.

Additionally, the agreement will foster collaboration between academic and private sectors. Cooperative actions include sharing information, technology, and training in integrated fire management, combating illegal logging, and preventing deforestation. The initiative will also manage the sustainable use of both timber and non-timber forest products in a way that benefits local communities.

Finally, President Sheinbaum announced that the Mexican government has decided to extend the second phase of the “Sembrando Vida” program to regions in Guatemala and Belize. This initiative represents concrete cooperation to promote rural development, protect ecosystems, and improve the living conditions of local residents. The program will focus on regenerating agricultural soils, restoring degraded forest cover, promoting food self-sufficiency, and, above all, enhancing community well-being.