Mayan Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala It faces constant pressure from livestock farming and is at the same time threatened by drought, which will cause an unprecedented wave of fires. Meanwhile, a change in government may leave environmental agencies without sufficient funds and resources to maintain natural spaces.

“We are never sure that things will develop the way we think they will,” said Victor Hugo Ramos, adviser to the Mesoamerica program at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). “But the factors we observe lead us to I recommend preparing for a bad or very bad year“he added.

The reserve extends over 21,602 square kilometers across northern Guatemala and is divided into various parks, concessions and biological corridors, some of which have been affected by deforestation. In the west, the Laguna del Tigre and Sierra del Lacandon national parks have been hit by illegal livestock farming and the expansion of informal settlements. sometimes with links to organized crime.

Officials have installed a “shield” of firebreaks and patrol roads inside pristine habitats to prevent colonization and deforestation in the east. But in June patrol discovered camps and demarcation lines of appropriations land. Even more troubling, the roads led to the Mexican border, suggesting that criminal gangs may be working with rural communities to advance to new lands, the site said. Mongabay.

“This was alarming because a week ago there were no traces there. This section did not existsaid Luis Romero, WCS Environmental Director.

One of the camps had clothing and equipment that was more sophisticated and expensive than what most of the rural population in the area uses, Romero said. The authorities also They saw drones flying over the area..

“We are afraid that they will organize large groups of farmers and that suddenly are going to occupy the territoryRomero said. “It will be difficult to counteract this.”

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Most communities on the reserve do not have legal title to the area, but are able to settle due to the high legal standards required to carry out evictions. If they manage to penetrate other parts of the reserve, they will likely set the vegetation on fire before spreading grass seed for livestock, Romero said. This is a common form of money laundering by criminal gangs. who are involved in drug smuggling across the border with Mexico. Livestock farming can also serve as a camouflage for clandestine landing strips for drug planes arriving from Colombia and Venezuela.

The newly discovered area is already showing signs of deforestation, as shown by satellite data from Global Forest Watch this year. strong logging extension in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, in the north between Laguna del Tigre and the border with Mexico, as well as throughout its southern part.

The National Council of Protected Areas (Conap) and other government agencies are working with conservation groups to keep the fires under control. But next year it may become more difficult El Niño, a global climate phenomenon in which the ocean surface warms, leads to higher temperatures and longer periods without precipitation.

El Niño occurs every two to seven years, but this year is expected to be particularly strong as some highest temperatures since 1950This was reported by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“People who enter the area without permission cause fires,” he said. Mongabay official Konap, who He wished to remain anonymous for fear of losing his job.. “Almost every year we have this problem. But next year there will be a long dry season.”