This new report from ParksWatch shows that there is an extremely high risk that Lacantún Biosphere Reserve in Mexico will fail to protect and maintain biological diversity in the immediate future.
Guatemala City, January 26, 2004-This new report by ParksWatch is based on a field evaluation conducted in September 2003 in Lacantún in Mexico and a previous field evaluation in Sierra del Lacandón in Guatemala. The report compares and contrasts threats in Lacantún with those in Sierra del Lacandón in Guatemala. The report provides information and advice needed to effectively elaborate future management plans in Lacantún.
Sierra del Lacandón, created in 1990, is already failing to achieve its conservation objections. Based on Sierra del Lacandón\’s experience, it is most likely that Lacantún Biosphere Reserve, created in 1992, will also fail to achieve its conservation goals in the near future. The emergence of threats in the Lacantún, Mexico is very similar to what happened in Sierra del Lacandón, Guatemala over the last 13 years. These threats have been very difficult for Sierra del Lacandón in Guatemala and should be carefully analyzed by the Mexican government so that Lacantún can avoid the mistakes made in Guatemala and ultimately achieve its conservation objectives.
Both Lacantún Biosphere Reserve and Sierra del Lacandón National Park are extremely important to the Mayan Jungle. Because these reserves are essential links between the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala and Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, they should be top conservation priorities for both countries.
For more information, please see the full report.