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THE SELVA MAYA
The Maya Biosphere Reserve
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Farmers learn of sustainable farming practices
in the Buffer Zone of the Maya Biosphere Reserve.
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The Biosphere Reserve concept, a UNESCO program, is an
important ingredient of global conservation strategy. Unlike
national parks, which typically allow no human occupation or
extractive uses, biosphere reserves usually allow some such
uses. In this fashion, the biosphere reserve model provides a
viable alternative to strict protected areas, which may be
politically difficult to designate, especially in nations where
there is a great un-met development need among the human
populace.
Typically, biosphere reserves include one or more inviolate core
areas that receive strict protection: only scientific
research and perhaps ecotourism are permitted there, but no
extractive activities. Surrounding this, like the white of a
fried egg (the core area being the yolk), is typically a multiple
use zone, within which certain economic activities are
permitted, managed in a manner consistent with protecting the
ecological values of the reserve. Finally, the outer perimeter
consists of a buffer zone where yet more human uses may
take place; in this area, efforts are made to promote
sustainable land use practices.
 Designated by Guatemalan law in 1990, the Maya Biosphere
Reserve comprises the entire northern tip of Guatemala's
Department of Petén. Including the buffer zone, the reserve is
21,000 km2 in area, encompassing 19% of the nation
of Guatemala. Unlike many biosphere reserves, the Maya Biosphere
Reserve (MBR) has several core areas rather than just one. This
arrangement stems from various factors, including the existence
of important mayan ruins scattered throughout the reserve, which
merit protection.
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Old Logging Road
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While much of the reserve has witnessed mahogany logging in
the past, in most cases the forest is indistinguishable from
virgin forest, apart from a paucity of large mahoganies and the
presence of occasional stumps and old logging roads.
To our knowledge, no species has disappeared from the Maya
Biosphere Reserve, although the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
population is much reduced from its original size, and in
serious need of protection from nest-robbing possibly for the pet trade.
The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja), though still present,
is probably also locally reduced in range and population.
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Scarlet Macaw
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Challenges facing conservation in this region are many, and
may be viewed as a microcosm of problems faced in larger regions
such as the Amazon Basin.
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