Who we are and what we do.

About

Maya Biosphere Watch is a community-based website with the mission to share information on the on-the-ground realities of conservation, community, cultural heritage, and tourism in the Maya Biosphere Reserve of Petén, Guatemala.

We support the people of Petén, Guatemala and their rights to work in sustainable forestry and eco-tourism in ways that both protect/respect the biosphere and help to build strong communities.

We hope that giving a voice to native residents and local stakeholders will strengthen community and conservation effort.

Mission

Our goal is to support the current community-based model for conservation of natural and cultural resources in the Maya Biosphere Reserve of Guatemala.

Conserving the Maya Biosphere Reserve of Guatemala

The Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) in Petén, Guatemala is a nature reserve that was created in 1990 by the Guatemalan government with the aim to protect one of the largest remaining tropical forest north of the Amazon. The MBR covers an area of 21,602 km2 and is managed by Guatemala’s National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) with several other governmental and non-governmental institutions. Parts of the MBR have been designated as wildlife conservation areas. Other areas are designated as Multi-Uses Zones, in which forest product extraction is allowed. Several local community cooperatives have been granted permits for sustainable extraction of certain timber and non-timber products, like Mahogany wood and ornamental plants in the Multiple-Uses Zones. These practices are routinely certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), according to the world’s most rigorous standards for sustainable forestry practices and at considerable cost to the local cooperatives. The FSC certification requires the local cooperatives to protect and preserve the forest within their permit areas.

This forest is home to a diverse number of species of flora and fauna, including many that are endangered. It is also home to an incredible number of Mayan archaeological sites from the pre-Classic and Classic eras. Recent LIDAR studies reveal more than 60,000 mostly unexcavated structures throughout the region, a wealth of history lies hidden beneath the jungle canopy. Several sites are currently being excavated and investigated and are providing a fascinating look at the Mayan civilization that rose to a population of between 7 and 11 million people at its height.

The MBR has suffered from deforestation and other threats. However, recent studies are proving that the forest has begun to recover. The current sustainability model has improved the health and size of the MBR, with the eastern MBR showing a net gain in forest—all while empowering local community. This is thanks to Forestry Concessions, who have received national awards and international prizes from the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Environmental Program.

Donations

This effort is the work of volunteers dedicated to this cause and supported by donations. Please contact us to find out how you can help.