Restoration of Forest Landscapes in the Maya Biosphere Reserve
A collaborative approach to the ecological recovery of degraded areas
In 2019, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Guatemala Program, in collaboration with the National Council for Protected Areas (CONAP) and local communities, began an intensified restoration pilot project in 2021. The goal is to restore ecosystems to their natural state, create biological corridors, reduce fragmentation, and provide sustainable livelihoods through a collaborative approach.
Currently, we have more than 14 sites undergroing restoration processes, including 5 with communities in the Multiple Use Zone of the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) and one site within the Laguna del Tigre National Park. What began as a dream to recover these highly damaged sectors is now bearing fruit. These pilot tests are about to become areas with forest cover again, emphasizing the importance of community collaboration for the success of restoration and the creation of new economic opportunities.