The protection of the natural and cultural heritage within Guatemala’s protected areas is a priority for WCS Guatemala. Our Environmental Protection Program focuses on two key areas: Control and Surveillance, and Forest Fire Prevention and Control. For more than two decades, we have worked closely with the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP by its Spanish acronym), strengthening its role as the central authority in biodiversity and ecosystem conservation within the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) and other protected areas across the country.
Control and Surveillance
As part of our control and surveillance strategy, we carry out comprehensive field operations in the "El Escudo" region, an area of high ecological and cultural value within the MBR. We work in coordination with governmental institutions such as CONAP and the Security Forces, as well as with community organizations and environmental partners. This region includes critical sectors like the eastern part of Laguna del Tigre National Park (PNLT) and the Corona-Morgan management unit, where we ensure an intersectoral physical presence throughout the year.
Our activities in "El Escudo" include awareness campaigns to educate communities about legal regulations and procedures related to the sustainable management of natural resources. These campaigns also emphasize the importance of forest fire prevention and the value of the environmental services provided by protected areas. Additionally, we conduct control and surveillance patrols, which help detect and mitigate environmental threats such as land encroachment, illegal hunting, wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, and forest fires. These efforts also protect significant archaeological sites, ensuring the preservation of vital ecosystems for species like the Jaguar and the Scarlet Macaw.
Forest Fire Prevention and Control
Forest fire prevention and control are essential for the conservation of "El Escudo." Alongside CONAP and other partners, we implement a risk reduction system that includes the Early Warning System for Forest Fires (SATIF by its Spanish acronym) in key communities such as Paso Caballos. We also carry out the opening, maintenance, and clearing of firebreaks in strategic areas with high susceptibility to fires, covering over 200 linear kilometers in this region alone. These measures are crucial to protecting the last nesting refuge of the Scarlet Macaw and the habitat of other key species such as the Tapir and the Puma.
WCS’s commitment to protecting these landscapes and species is unwavering, and our actions in "El Escudo" represent a comprehensive effort to ensure the conservation of one of the last bastions of biodiversity in Guatemala.