Mexico Promotes Inclusion of the Great Mayan Forest in the International Fund for Forests
A strategic step towards regional environmental protection is inclusion in the International Fund.
Mexico has taken a fundamental step toward the conservation of its natural resources by proposing that the Great Mayan Forest be part of the Tropical Forest Forever Fund (TFFF).
During the recent Latin American and Caribbean Ministerial Meeting on Regional Climate Action, Alicia Bárcena, head of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), highlighted the importance of protecting the 5.7 million hectares recently recognized between Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico under the name of the Great Mayan Forest.
This mosaic of life represents one of the most important ecological lungs of the continent, and its preservation is crucial in the face of the global climate crisis.
At the meeting, which brought together 22 environmental officials from Latin American and Caribbean countries, Bárcena emphasized the urgency of consolidating regional commitments and synergies that contribute to the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, in accordance with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Mexico, like other nations, is in a race against time to deliver its climate commitments before the end of September, with the goal of including them in the regional report leading up to the next Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
A fund that recognizes the role of indigenous peoples
COP30 President-designate André Corrêa do Lago recalled that the Tropical Forests Forever Fund was established under Lula da Silva’s administration in Brazil and launched at the Meeting of the Amazonian Countries.
This financial instrument recognizes the essential role of indigenous communities in the conservation of their environments, placing them as key players in the defense of the planet’s most biodiverse ecosystems.
The Gran Selva Maya: a trinational treasure
The Great Mayan Forest, spread across Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico, has become a symbol of regional environmental cooperation.
Its inclusion in the international fund would channel resources for its protection, restoration, and sustainable management, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy its natural wealth.
Regional synergy in the face of global warming
The gathered authorities agreed that joint work is essential to address climate change and prevent global temperature increases.
Through the coordination of the NDCs and cooperation to access international funds, Latin America and the Caribbean seek to consolidate their leadership as a bloc committed to defending the environment and climate justice.
