On March 13th, 2023, the twenty-first virtual working meeting of the Strategic Coordination Group (GEC), GEC environmental governance platform for the protection of the Selva Maya was held. With the participation of the representative members of the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD) and the government entities responsible for the management and administration of the protected areas of the Selva Maya region that share Mexico (National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, CONANP), Guatemala (National Council of Protected Areas, CONAP) and Belize (Forest Department).

This trinational governance platform focuses its efforts on elaborating and coordinating a regional work agenda for the protection of natural resources in the three countries, based on the implementation of the 2030 Comprehensive Selva Maya Strategy for the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the Selva Maya (Belize-Guatemala-Mexico).

Based on its internal regulations, the objectives of this meeting were to formalize the change of Presidency Pro – tempore PPT from Belize to Mexico (effective until March 2024) and to review the trinational regional agenda of cooperation in the Selva Maya for this year.

Additionally, during this meeting, the activities and results achieved to date by the project:  “Strengthening Regional Strategic and Operational Cooperation for the Protection of the Selva Maya” were discussed, which have been reflected in the strengthening of cooperation and the empowerment of the operational capacities of the managers of the protected natural areas of the Selva Maya.