In an extraordinary win for wildlife and our planet, the governments of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize have signed a landmark agreement to safeguard the Great Mayan Forest, a 5.7-million-hectare stretch of pristine rainforest that spans the countries’ shared borders.
This historic pact, known as the Calakmul Biocultural Corridor Declaration, marks the creation of Latin America’s second largest nature reserve, trailing only the Amazon Rainforest. The protected area now stretches across more than 14 million acres of dense jungle, home to countless endangered species and ancient cultural sites.
This is one of Earth’s lungs,” said the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum. “It’s a living space for thousands of species with an invaluable cultural legacy that we must preserve with our eyes on the future.
Standing alongside Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo and Belize Prime Minister Johnny Briceño near the Calakmul archaeological site, Sheinbaum called the agreement ‘historic,’ marking the first time all three leaders have joined forces to protect the environment and ensure prosperity for their people.
The Great Mayan Forest is vital not only for biodiversity but also for fighting climate change. Rainforests absorb massive amounts of carbon dioxide, regulate water cycles, and stabilize weather patterns. Protecting this ancient ecosystem means protecting humanity’s future.
For over a decade, organizations such as Global Conservation have worked tirelessly to halt poaching and secure protections for national parks throughout this region. Their Global Park Defense program has laid the groundwork for this tri-national success, proving that collaboration leads to powerful results.
Today, the heirs of the great Mayan civilization inherit a living treasure. The world also inherits hope, hope that nations can rise above borders to defend nature, protect endangered species, and secure a thriving planet for generations to come.
