Forest Landscape Restoration

Forest landscape restoration is essential for recovering the ecological integrity of degraded areas and strengthening ecosystem resilience in the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR). In 2019, WCS, in collaboration with the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), and local communities, launched a pilot restoration project that expanded in 2021. This effort aims not only to restore ecosystems to their natural state but also to create biological corridors, reduce habitat fragmentation, and provide sustainable livelihoods for local communities through a collaborative approach.

Currently, the project covers more than 14 restoration sites, including 5 communities within the Multiple Use Zone and one site in Laguna del Tigre National Park (LTNP). What began as a dream to restore these severely damaged areas is becoming a tangible reality. These pilot projects are on track to return forest cover to these areas, highlighting the importance of community collaboration for restoration success and the creation of new economic opportunities.

Restoration approaches

Passive Restoration:
This approach prioritizes the protection and natural regeneration of secondary or degraded forests, with actions focused on restoring ecological integrity. Measures include fire prevention through the creation of firebreaks, monitoring hotspots, and conducting regular patrols. In some cases, forests are enriched with species of high commercial and ecological value. The areas chosen for this approach are those that, despite being degraded or fire-damaged, still have some forest cover. After completing a forest inventory, the conditions of the forest are assessed, and decisions about enrichment are made based on data from the surrounding areas.

Key species used in this approach include Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), which has high potential for sustainable use by communities. Breadnut (Brosimum alicastrum) is also used, whose fruit holds great commercial and nutritional value, benefiting communities in a relatively short period of 5 to 6 years. This species is also essential for local biodiversity, providing food for various wildlife species.

Active Restoration:

This approach involves direct interventions in fully degraded areas, often occupied by exotic grasses and lacking forest cover. Actions include implementing agroforestry systems, forest enrichment, assisted natural regeneration, and planting species with high commercial and ecological value. Additionally, careful management of planted species and natural regeneration is carried out to ensure their growth and survival.

Many of the species used in this approach are bird-friendly, facilitating natural recolonization and promoting greater diversity of forest species. The restoration strategies in the MBR, implemented in collaboration with communities and the Government of Guatemala, aim not only at the ecological recovery of degraded ecosystems but also at creating sustainable economic opportunities for local communities. By involving families and providing them with tangible benefits, greater commitment to environmental conservation is fostered, encouraging them to undertake the necessary activities for the restoration and preservation of natural resources.

Biodiversity monitoring in La Colorada, Guatemala. Video by WCS Guatemala