Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize Unite to Protect Maya Forest

Three nations joined forces Friday to establish what will become the second-largest nature reserve in Latin America. Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize announced the creation of a massive tri-national protected area spanning 14 million acres (5.7 million hectares) across the heart of the ancient Maya forest.

The announcement came during a summit in Calakmul, where Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stood alongside Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo and Belize Prime Minister Johnny Briceño to reveal plans for the Biocultural Corridor of the Great Mayan Forest.

“This is one of Earth’s lungs, a living space for thousands of species with an invaluable cultural legacy that we should preserve with our eyes on the future,” Sheinbaum said during the joint press conference. She called the move “historic.”

The new reserve will encompass 50 existing protected areas across the three countries. Guatemala contributes 27 protected zones, while Belize adds 11, and Mexico includes 12. The corridor will stretch from southern Mexico through northern Guatemala and into Belize, covering portions of the Yucatán Peninsula that have remained largely intact since ancient Maya times.

Scientists estimate that the forest ecosystem houses approximately 7,000 species. About 200 of these, including jaguars, spider monkeys, Baird’s tapirs, and quetzals, face extinction risks. The area supports one of the healthiest jaguar populations in Central America.

The Maya forest represents the largest remaining tropical rainforest in the Americas after the Amazon. Unlike the vast Brazilian rainforest, which covers 2.3 million square miles (6 million square kilometers), the Maya forest covers a more compact but equally biodiverse 35 million acres across three nations.

Key protected areas within the new corridor include Mexico’s Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala’s Mirador-Río Azul National Park, and multiple reserves in Belize. The Calakmul reserve has served as a model for combining archaeological preservation with wildlife conservation since 1989.

The agreement comes amid ongoing tensions over Mexico’s controversial Maya Train project. During the same meeting, leaders discussed the potential expansion of the thousand-mile railway from Mexico into Guatemala and Belize. The train has faced criticism for cutting through sensitive jungle habitat and destroying approximately 7 million trees during four years of construction.

Arévalo emphasized that Guatemala would not compromise environmental protection for economic development. “Connecting the Maya Train with Guatemala and eventually with Belize is a vision we share,” he said. “But I’ve made it very clear at all times that the Maya Train will not pass through any protected area.”

The Guatemalan president insisted that any train extension would require comprehensive environmental studies. Leaders discussed alternative routing options that would loop around rather than cut directly through protected forests.

Environmental groups have long advocated for greater protection of the Maya forest. The Nature Conservancy has worked extensively in the region, promoting sustainable forest management that supports both conservation and local economic development.

Indigenous communities throughout the forest have practiced traditional land management for centuries. The tri-national agreement specifically recognizes these communities as “guardians of nature” and commits to incorporating traditional knowledge into conservation planning.

The three governments pledged to share information, technology, and training for fire management, anti-logging efforts, and sustainable forestry practices. They also agreed to coordinate law enforcement against illegal activities that threaten the ecosystem.

The reserve faces multiple challenges beyond deforestation. Climate change has reduced rainfall across the region over the past decade. Illegal logging, particularly along the Mexico-Guatemala border, remains a persistent problem. Agricultural expansion and infrastructure development continue to fragment remaining forest areas.

Belize Prime Minister Briceño highlighted the cultural significance of the conservation effort. “We are not only protecting an ecosystem, but also honoring the legacy of the civilization that once flourished in these territories,” he said.

The announcement builds on decades of individual conservation efforts by each nation. Mexico designated Calakmul as a biosphere reserve in 1989. Guatemala established multiple protected areas in the Petén region. Belize has protected significant portions of its Maya forest through various conservation programs.

Tourism represents a growing economic opportunity for the region. The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve attracts approximately 25,000 visitors annually, a number that has grown steadily since UNESCO designated the area as a World Heritage Site in 2006.

The tri-national corridor will connect existing biological corridors that allow wildlife movement across borders. Jaguars, in particular, require large territories that often span multiple countries. The coordinated protection effort aims to maintain habitat connectivity essential for species survival.

For comparison, the Amazon rainforest covers approximately 2.3 million square miles across nine South American countries. Brazil alone contains nearly 60 percent of the Amazon. The new Maya forest reserve, while much smaller geographically, supports comparable biodiversity levels within its 14 million acres.

The agreement represents a rare example of successful international environmental cooperation in a region often marked by political tensions. All three nations face pressure to balance economic development with environmental protection.

Implementation details remain to be finalized. The countries plan to establish joint management protocols and funding mechanisms for the corridor. They also intend to develop standardized monitoring systems to track conservation progress across borders.

In recent years, the Maya forest has attracted international conservation funding. Organizations like the Wyss Foundation and Rainforest Trust have supported land acquisition and protection efforts throughout the region.

Local communities will play crucial roles in the corridor’s success. Many forest residents depend on sustainable timber harvesting, honey production, and ecotourism for their livelihoods. The agreement emphasizes developing economic opportunities that complement rather than conflict with conservation goals.

The initiative comes as global leaders seek ways to address climate change and biodiversity loss. Tropical forests like the Maya ecosystem play essential roles in carbon storage and climate regulation. Protecting remaining forest areas has become a priority for international conservation efforts.

This developing story will be updated as more details become available about the implementation of the tri-national conservation corridor.