Mesoamerica conservation efforts aim to protect 5.7 million hectares

Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize are strengthening trilateral cooperation to protect the Great Maya Forest Biocultural Corridor. This initiative aims to maintain ecological connectivity across approximately 5.7 million hectares of jungle stretching from the Yucatan Peninsula through Guatemala and Belize.

The project focuses on preventing the isolation of wildlife species, such as jaguars, tapirs, and spider monkeys, by linking 50 protected areas: 12 in Mexico, 27 in Guatemala, and 11 in Belize. This connectivity is essential for genetic exchange and survival, as habitat fragmentation caused by deforestation, roads, and agriculture can confine populations to increasingly small territories.