Trilateral effort to establish a cross-border cultural and natural preservation region spans Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala
Historic Agreement Establishes Great Maya Forest Biocultural Corridor
Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize have joined forces to create the Great Maya Forest Biocultural Corridor, a groundbreaking trinational agreement aimed at preserving the tropical rainforest and its rich cultural heritage. This critical ecological region, spanning an area of approximately 5.7 million hectares, represents the legacy of the Maya civilization[1][2][5].
The corridor, the second largest tropical rainforest in the Americas (after the Amazon), is key to addressing the climate crisis, regulating the water cycle, and protecting regional biodiversity. It covers approximately 2.4 million hectares in Mexico, 2.7 million in Guatemala, and 600,000 in Belize, with an estimated 2 million people residing within its borders[1][2].
The agreement focuses on protecting over 7,000 species, including 200 endangered and 50 priority species, as well as more than 250 endemic species to Mexico[1][2]. To address environmental threats like illegal logging, pollution, and fires, the three countries have agreed to share information, technology, and training[1].
Beyond ecological concerns, the agreement emphasizes the preservation of cultural heritage and sustainable development for local Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. The agreement includes coordinated efforts for fire prevention, combating illegal logging, and sustainable forest product management[2].
The agreement also includes plans for regional integration, such as extending the Mexican Maya Train to Guatemala and Belize to promote responsible tourism that supports conservation without undermining protected areas. This corridor is being positioned as a global model of environmental and social cooperation transcending political borders[3].
The leaders of the three countries have expressed their pride and commitment to this initiative. Belizean Prime Minister Johnny Briceño views the project as a commitment to biodiversity and a bridge to a future where sustainable development, regenerative tourism, and ancestral wisdom guide their path. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico echoed these sentiments, expressing her pride in the agreement[1].
The agreement was signed at the Gran Mundo Maya Calakmul hotel in Campeche, Mexico, with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo emphasizing that the three countries are working together to respond to common threats[4]. The countries have also agreed to manage the use of timber and non-timber forest resources in an inclusive manner that benefits the communities in the areas[1].
The Great Maya Forest Biocultural Corridor is a landmark trilateral cooperation for conserving biodiversity, honoring cultural heritage, strengthening local livelihoods, and fostering sustainable regional development within the Maya heartland[1][2][3][4][5].
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/mexico-guatemala-belize-sign-agreement-protect-great-maya-forest-2021-05-25/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-57338610 [3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-57321960 [4] https://www.dw.com/en/mexico-guatemala-belize-sign-historic-agreement-to-protect-the-great-maya-forest/a-57473456 [5] https://www.prensa-latina.com/english/world/belize-mexico-and-guatemala-sign-agreement-to-protect-the-great-maya-forest-b863144
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