Belize, Guatemala and Mexico are joining forces to promote the conservation of the Selva Maya through the “Mesa de Monitoreo Biológico y Manejo de Vida Silvestre para la Selva Maya”, a platform used to share, analyse and discuss the conservation of the second largest forest massif in the Americas.

On the 7 and 8 of June in Flores, Peten, Guatemala, researchers from protected areas, the academia and NGOs from the three countries participated in the meeting to share experiences on wildlife conservation and exchange initiatives to combat illegal trade in the Selva Maya, the largest tropical forest in Mesoamerica.

During the meeting, 37 research results were presented and four discussion sessions were held on the following topics: jaguar research and conservation in the Selva Maya, the “One Health” approach, illegal wildlife trade and the creation of the “Mesa Trinacional de Monitoreo Biológico y Manejo de Vida Silvestre”.

As a result of this exchange, a preliminary document was prepared for the formalisation of this working table as a cooperation mechanism that strengthens alliances between government institutions, academics and non-governmental organisations from Belize, Guatemala and Mexico to create a tri-national work plan to enable the protection and sustainable development of the Selva Maya region.