Mérida, Yucatán — Yucatán will serve as the launchpad for the Critical Forest Biomes of Mesoamerica Program, an international initiative aimed at protecting the Maya Forest and improving the well-being of communities that depend on it.
On Wednesday, May 27, environmental authorities, specialists, and international organizations will gather in Mérida for the kickoff workshops of the project titled “Securing Benefits for the Well-being of Local Communities and Ecosystems of the Maya Forest in Mexico.” The event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the auditorium of the National Forestry Commission’s (Conafor) state office in the San José Tecoh Sur neighborhood.
The initiative comes at a critical time for Mesoamerica’s forest ecosystems, which are among the most biodiverse on the planet but also among the most threatened by urban growth, agricultural expansion, and climate change.
Experts warn that the Maya Forest, shared by Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, faces increasing pressure from human activities that endanger natural habitats, water sources, and the survival of numerous species.
In Yucatán, forest conservation also directly affects economic and cultural activities such as beekeeping, meliponiculture (stingless bee farming), traditional agriculture, and sustainable resource use.
The state’s Sustainable Development Secretariat (SDS) said the program is being developed in coordination with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Conafor, state governments, and various environmental organizations. Key objectives include ecological restoration, territorial protection, and strengthening community capacities to halt forest loss and protect pollinator species such as native bees.
