Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize have joined forces to create the Great Mayan Jungle Biocultural Corridor, a 14-million-acre reserve that will become the second-largest protected area in the Americas. This initiative underscores the importance of safeguarding biodiversity while addressing complex social and security challenges.

Local communities are central to the plan’s success. By offering economic alternatives and fostering civil society partnerships, governments aim to turn residents into active allies of conservation, ensuring sustainable management of the forest.

This collaborative, culturally aware approach sets a strong example for conservation in the region.