Maya Biosphere Reserve Established

“These practices represent the state of the art for conservation ... It’s a model for the world.” —Bryan Finegan, a forest ecologist at Catie, Costa Rica In 1990 the Guatemalan government and UNESCO established the Maya Biosphere Reserve, "a rainforest stronghold for jaguars, pumas, scarlet macaws, and howler monkeys. During the Northern Hemisphere winter, millions of migratory birds also take shelter here. The reserve is situated at the heart of the Selva Maya, a forested area that spans neighboring portions of Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico. It serves as a critical watershed for the surrounding communities and as a major carbon sink for the entire planet." The reserve, situated in the northern Petén region, is the site of successful practices in community-led conservation where the local people manage the forest.