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Foundation for Maya Cultural and Natural Heritage Our mission is to coordinate efforts Foundation for Maya Cultural and provide resources to identify, and Natural Heritage lead, and promote projects that protect and maintain the cultural Fundación Patrimonio Cultural y Natural Maya and natural heritage of Guatemala. 2 # nombre de sección “What is in play is immense” HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco he Maya Biosphere Reserve is located in the heart of the Selva Maya, the Maya Jungle. It is an ecological treasure that covers one fifth of Guatemala’s landmass (21,602 Tsquare kilometers). Much of the area remains intact. It was established to preserve—for present and future generations— one of the most spectacular areas of natural and cultural heritage in the world. The Maya Biosphere Reserve is Guatemala’s last stronghold for large-bodied, wide-ranging endangered species, including the jaguar, puma, tapir, and black howler monkey. It also holds the highest concentration of Maya ruins. Clockwise from bottomleft José Pivaral (President of Pacunam), Prince Albert II of Monaco (sponsor), Mel Gibson (sponsor), Richard Hansen (Director of Mirador The year 2012 marks the emblematic change of an era in the ancient calendar of the Maya. This Archaeological Project) at El Mirador momentous event has sparked global interest in environmental and cultural issues in Guatemala. After decades of hard work by archaeologists, environmentalists, biologists, epigraphers, and other scientists dedicated to understanding the ancient Maya civilization, the eyes of the whole Pacunam Overview and Objectives 2 world are now focused on our country. Maya Biosphere Reserve 4 This provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to share with the world our pressing cause: Why is it important? the Maya Biosphere Reserve is in great danger. Forest fires, drug trafficking, illegal logging, new settlements, wildlife poaching, and archaeological looting present relentless threats to the Search for the Snake Kingdom 18 biosphere’s environmental and cultural richness. Threats to the Maya Biosphere Reserve 22 Pacunam, whose members include leading companies operating in Guatemala, was founded in 2006 to help save and protect Guatemala’s cultural and natural heritage for the benefit of future Strategic Approach 24 Our key archaeological projects generations. We are committed and determined to safeguard our Maya legacy. El Mirador 26 El Perú Waka’ 28 We face many challenges. The most urgent is funding. La Corona Sak Nikte’ 30 Naachtun 32 We invite you to join us in the effort to preserve this extraordinary legacy and, by so doing, to El Zotz Pa’chan 34 invest in the understanding of the Maya’s mystical civilization for the sake of all humanity. Cival 36 Holmul 38 José Pivaral Allies in Conservation 40 President of Pacunam Cover photos: Danta Temple, Christian Ziegler. Waka’ queen, Jennie Guerra # nombre de sección 3 Photo: Giovani Bojorquez Photo: Join us as we climb the awe-inspiring temples of the Maya world, in the heart of one of the last and best preserved rainforests in the Americas. 4 # nombre de sección Pacunam Overview Photo: Christian Ziegler Photo: Top of La Danta Temple, El Mirador Pacunam 5 Our Corporate Partners Pacunam was founded in 2006 to help save and conserve Guatema- la’s cultural and natural heritage for the benefi t of future generations. Leading corporations operating in Guatemala have joined Pacunam in its efforts to preserve the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR). Pacunam builds public-private partnerships with the Guatemalan government and prominent global organizations. In the MBR, Pacunam works to support the development of high-impact projects by collaborating with local communities, archaeologists, non-profi t organizations, and governmental agencies. Our Objectives Photo: FARES Photo: Photo: J. Devine J. Photo: Photo : Roberto Quesada Photo : Archaeologist cleans temple steps at Mirador School children whose parents work with tourists Toucan at Waka’ Maya exhibit at Quai Branly Museum in Paris Provide Develop Support Encourage fi nancial support for the study the Carmelita-Mirador route as a the project Conservation Incentive international cultural exchanges of strategic archaeological sites sustainable tourist circuit to provide Program in local communities, in through events, seminars, within the Maya Biosphere revenue for local communities. order to make biodiversity conser- conferences, workshops, Reserve in order to protect it as an vation a viable choice for users of and exhibits. ecological and cultural system. local resources. 6 # nombre de sección Photo : Christian Ziegler Photo : The Maya Biosphere Reserve Why is it important? Global significance due to its size, biodiversity, and cultural treasures # nombre de sección 7 MAYA REGION IN MESOAMERICA North America Area populated by the Ancient Maya Atlantic 2000 BCE – 1000 CE Ocean Selva Maya Pacifi c South Ocean America Mexico Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) Major Maya cities Minor Maya cities International borders Caribbean Sea Selva Maya BCE = Before Common Era (BC) CE = Common Era (AD) Selva Maya The largest intact rainforest north of the Amazon basin Comprises 31,000 km2 Belize Located in Guatemala, Mexico and Belize N Guatemala S Honduras Pacific Ocean Sources: VH Ramos / WCS Guatemala and Carlos Morales Aguilar El Salvador 8 The Maya Biosphere reserve. why is it important? The Maya Biosphere Reserve, located in the heart Maya Biosphere Reserve of the “Selva Maya” is an ecological treasure that covers one fifth of Guatemala’s landmass. National Park Large areas containing priority ecosystems With much of the area remaining intact, it covers and iconic landscapes a total area of 21,602 square kilometers. Peten Biotope Areas of smaller size that protect natural The reserve was established on February features of interest, with potential for education, 5th, 1990 by the Congress of Guatemala, recreation, and low impact tourism to guarantee, for present and future Guatemala generations, the existence of one of Mexico the most spectacular areas of natural and cultural heritage in the world. Naachtun El Mirador Dos Lagunas El Mirador Río Azul Río Azul Photo: Roberto Quesada Photo: Río Laguna del Tigre Escondido San Miguel La Palotada Tikal El Zotz Belize Yaxha-Nakum- Sierra del Buffer zone Naranjo Lacandón N Flores Peten S Source: CONAP Spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) Photo : Juan Carlos Menéndez Photo : Photo : Christian Ziegler Photo : 10 The Maya Biosphere reserve. why is it important? Guatemala’s last stronghold for large- bodied, wide-ranging endangered species: Jean Carneiro Photo: jaguar, puma, white-lipped peccary, tapir and Guatemalanblack howler monkey Photo: Christian Ziegler Photo: Baird´s Tapir (Tapirus bairdii) IUCN* Conservation Status Guatemalan Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra) IUCN* Conservation Status Baird’s tapirs are found in isolated populations from Mexico to EX Extint This howler monkey is endemic to the largest tropical rain EX Extint Colombia. They inhabit in marsh-swamp areas and wet tropical forest region of Mesoamerica, the Selva Maya. It is one of the rainforests; food and water availability are important factors CR Critically Endangered largest monkeys in the Americas. They live in groups of 4 to 11 CR Critically Endangered in habitat selection. They are the largest native terrestrial individuals and the sex ratio is almost equal. Groups consist of mammals in the Neotropics. Due to their large body size they EN Endangered one dominant alpha male, a few females, their offspring, and EN Endangered have difficulty dissipating heat; nocturnal behavior is thought VU Vulnerable occasionally extra males. VU Vulnerable to be an adaptation to avoid the hottest times of the day. They are important for the role they play in seed dispersal; They are largely solitary animals and are normally found at NT Near Threatened NT Near Threatened their frugivorous diet helps disperse the seeds of many low densities. Tapirs are important seed dispersers and are Least Concern rainforest plants. Humans have been known to illegally capture Least Concern also used as an indicator species of the tropical forest health. LC LC individuals for pets and occasionally for food. They have been Their major predators are humans. The species is listed as an listed by the IUCN as an endangered species since 2003. endangered by the IUCN. * The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red List Categories and Criteria are intended to be an easily and widely understood system for classifying species at high risk of global extinction. The system divides threatened species into three categories: 1. Critically Endangered (CR), 2. Endangered (E), 3. Vulnerable (VU). It also lists Documented Extinctions (EX), and lower risk taxa divided into two sucategories: Near Threatened (NT) and Least Concern (LC). The Maya Biosphere reserve. why is it important? 11 Photos: La Ruta Maya Foundation Photos: Jaguar (Panthera onca) IUCN* Conservation Status Animals were an important part of The jaguar is the largest cat that inhabits the Americas. Jaguars are Maya iconography and often represented EX Extint top predators and are considered a keystone species because of their gods, the underworld, or supernatural powers. impact on the populations of other animals in the ecosystem. CR Critically Endangered Zoomorphic depictions such as jaguars, Humans are the primary predators of jaguars, victims of illegal monkeys, and frogs dominate polychrome EN Endangered poaching for their pelts, paws, and teeth. The species is currently ceramic
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