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Home , El Pilar, Guatemalan black howler, Maya Biosphere Reserve, Wildlife conservation

BEST OF THE WILD: conservation society and the Maya Reserve

BEST OF THE WILD: wildlife conservation society and the

photo credits (counter-clockwise from left): cover: julie larsen maher/wcs; inside cover: WCS ; page 3: WCS guatemala; page 4; WCS guatemala; page 5: WCS guatemala (2); cemec/wcs; page 7: WCS guatemala (3); page 9: Rafael Reyna; WCS guatemala (2); page 11: WCS guatemala; julie larsen maher/wcs; WCS guatemala; CEMEC/WCS; page 13: victor hugo ramos, WCS guatemala W C S a n d t h e M a y a B i o s p h ere R eser v e

Viewed from space the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) appears largely pristine, with minimal evidence of human impact. It is one of the last remaining rainforest strongholds in the region, situated at the heart of the Selva Maya, a tri- national spanning Guatemala, and .

The MBR is a stronghold for wide ranging and iconic —, puma, Baird’s tapir, white-lipped peccary, scarlet macaw, and king vulture. Species endemic to the region fill the forest: the raucous Guatemalan black , Morelet’s croco- dile, and the spectacular ocellated turkey. Millions of migratory birds from the US and Canada, more than 80 species, depend on these during the northern winter. At 8,100 square miles (nearly one-sixth the size of New York State), the MBR anchors the largest block of broadleaf forest north of the Amazon. Securing its future is an impor- tant conservation imperative. The forest is a major carbon sink for the planet and a critical catchment for the region. The reserve provides Guatemala with 90% of its petroleum and timber. And the area was the epicenter of the —its 200 archaeological sites are a power- ful international draw for a lucrative and growing tourism industry. Though Guatemala is embracing democracy and is slowly recovering from decades of internal conflict, the MBR still lacks the institutions needed to govern the use of its natural assets. Illegal settlements, unsustainable rural uses, uncontrolled hunting of wildlife and annual burning have severely degraded much of the western third of the reserve, and resulted in a vast loss of economic opportunities for local people. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is partnering with local organizations and government to integrate conservation and development in the MBR. Over the last 20 years we have developed innovative approaches to improve local governance of natural and cultural and resist destructive practices. We have supported the efforts Inside cover: Scarlet macaw nesting of local people to manage their forests, which has reduced the threats of deforestation in the Maya Biosphere and fire, and ensured that the habitat for and scarlet macaws, and a host of other Reserve . Right, from magnificent species, remains intact. top and counterclockwise: WCS has the knowledge, long-standing presence, experience, and a vision for the Eastern MBR aerial view; WCS coming decade: forested parks teeming with wildlife and a managed landscape where area of focus, including human fire is controlled and extraction is legal and sustainable. impacts in the MBR (least With conservation leadership, scientific knowledge and field presence from WCS, human impact = green; we can together conserve this magnificent landscape. greatest impact = red).

2 MEXICO

Mirador - Rio Azul

Dos Lagunas

Laguna Laguna del Zona de Uso Múltiple Reserva del Tigre Tigre-Río de Biosfera Maya Escondido

San Miguel la Palotada Yaxhá Sierra del Zona de Amortiguamiento Reserva de Biosfera Maya Nakúm Lancadon

GUATEMALA

MEXICO BELIZE Site Scale Reference

National park Biotope Buffer zone New York, USA Multiple use zone Cultural monument

0 25 50 100 International boundary (Background represents topography) 0 100 200 400 Kilometers Kilometers

3 Understanding the Challenges and Risks

The western reaches of the MBR, particularly and Sierra del Lacandon National Parks, are under severe threat. Illegal colonization is rapidly moving west to east, resulting in forest clearing, uncontrolled hunting of wildlife and fire. At the industrial scale, roads built to facilitate timber and petroleum extraction provide easy avenues for hunters and new colonists into remote sections of the forest.

Fire is the principal agent of forest degra- dation. Colonists clear small patches of forest and use fire to burn off the organic debris and create nutrient rich ash. During El Niño years, the fires spread into the surrounding forest, furthering and widening the destruc- tion. In 2002, the resulting smoke traveled north in such density that the Houston International Airport was closed. Dry years are becoming increasingly common—a pre- diction of scientists—suggesting that fire will become a more severe threat in the future. Conserving the Maya Forest will attain the twin goals of conservation and sustainable economic development. Planned land-use and zoning allow ecotour- ism development, sustainable forest extraction and biodiversity protection to co-exist within the same landscape. Management authority for specific areas is conferred to local communities, national NGOs or government agencies (See Zoning Map, previ- Left, Uncontrolled hunting— ous page). jaguar killed by poacher. In this Yet management authorities lack sufficient skills, experience and financial resources case, the poacher was caught by to effectively govern use of the region’s resources and respond to the growing threats. the community patrol and expelled Concurrently, the Guatemalan Government is limited in its ability to respond to biodi- from the village. Right, from top versity conservation goals due to the overwhelming social needs of the country. and counter-clockwise: Aerial view The eastern MBR is still primarily intact, though is increasingly at risk from threats of fires; wildlife destruction due spreading from the west. It is in the east that WCS is focusing its efforts and is commit- to fire (ocellated turkey nests); ted to ensure that this subtropical forest stronghold remains intact. Illegal settlements in the MBR

4 5 Vision for the Future

WCS has a 10-year vision for the eastern MBR: Forested parks teeming with wildlife, and effectively managed protected areas and forest concessions where fire is controlled and resource extraction is legal and sustainable.

To achieve this vision, we will hold ourselves accountable for: n 90% of the intact eastern MBR protected and managed (more than 3,300 square miles); n The eastern MBR a stronghold for jaguars, with a stable and ecologically functional population across the landscape; n Scarlet macaw breeding areas protected and the population demographically robust. Jaguars and scarlet macaws range widely, rely on different parts of the forest, and are put in jeopardy by the most acute and widespread threats to the region. They are symbols of the forest and their conservation is a measure of our success. By maintaining intact habitat for jaguars and scarlet macaws, we ensure the conservation of thousands of other forest dependent species. To maintain that intact habitat, our focus must be threefold: ensuring that protected areas are effectively managed by government and other stakeholders; providing training and support so that communities are positioned to manage their forest concessions; and tracking the species and landscape trends that indicate success or need for . Our conservation objectives will be met when a key set of management programs and circumstances are in place: n Local management of community forest concessions reduces forest fires and illegal colonization, with 90% of concession areas free of fire, deforestation and illegal colonization; n Protected areas of the eastern MBR are well managed by government and NGO partners, with intact forest cover free of fire and colonization; n Trends in habitat and key landscape species are used by government and na- Right, from top and counter- tional institutions to improve the adaptive management of the eastern MBR clockwise: A vision of the eastern landscape, as measured by abundance of wildlife and government resource MBR (mahogany); studying scarlet allocation in the reserve. macaws; scarlet macaw, Ara macao

6 7 Addressing the Risks

The growing conservation constituency in the eastern MBR is a critical ingredient to well-managed forest concessions, fire control, local NGO engagement and a government able and willing to play its management and enforcement roles in protected areas. WCS is building on that opportunity, and has designed core activities around each of the three areas described above:

To ensure effective local management of community forest concessions, WCS is: n Helping three keystone community management areas (Uaxactún, Car- melita, and Paso Caballos) conserve habitat by improving local capacity and promoting alternative livelihoods; n Leading fire prevention programs in eight community forest concessions; n Providing integrated education programs as strong local incentives for in five keystone communities. To ensure that protected areas of the eastern MBR are well managed by govern- ment and NGO partners, WCS is: n Supporting local partners to protect Laguna del Tigre macaw nesting areas from fire and colonization; n Supporting national government and NGO leadership of the Mirador Rio Azul Roundtable (see Building Consensus box, opposite page) process to develop ecotourism potential of the area; n Strengthening a national NGO, Asociación Balam, to co-administer Mira- dor-Rio Azul National Park effectively; n Leveraging resources to improve Guatemalan National Park Service (CON- AP) capacity. To ensure trends in habitat and key landscape species are used to improve adaptive management of the eastern MBR landscape, WCS is: Right, from top and counter- n Coordinating seasonal over-flights to monitor illegal activities and fire, and clockwise: The causal chain: raise awareness about threats; A causal chain helps prioritize n Monitoring and publicizing annual trends in habitat and fire; conservation actions to address n Monitoring jaguar and macaw trends in collaboration with local partners and threats to MBR’s wildlife; communities; ancient of Tikal; n Increasing scarlet macaw populations through population management working with communities; and research. communities creating a firebreak

8 Training & resources for park staff & NGOs Fire prevention & training patrols Weak management and Lack of awareness law enforcement

Monitor & publicize Fires to Illegal colonization Intact forest habitat incidence of fire clear land

Monitor & publicize illegal colonization Law enforcement & management training

Building Consensus

WCS supports and nurtures a local, consensus- building network (The Mirador-Rio Azul Round- table), comprising more than 30 government, community, NGO and private sector institutions, all working together toward the development and conservation of . This ancient Maya site is poised to become a UNESCO World Heri- tage Site, and the next great archaeological tourist attraction in the region, while providing intact habitat for the region’s wildlife, and opportunities for local income.

9 WCS: Positioned to Deliver

With 20 years of experience in the region, a permanent field office and strong partnerships, WCS is positioned to deliver its conservation objectives. WCS engagement in the eastern MBR began with support for the first MBR wildlife surveys in 1988.

Studies of prey species in Tikal National Park and the Uaxactún community forests followed, along with assessments of the impacts of non-timber forest product harvest- ers on MBR wildlife. This research informed design and focus of initial conservation interventions, including an initiative to strengthen public use of Tikal National Park and a community-based conservation program in the village of Uaxactún. In 1999, WCS and Lighthawk began to assess illegal activities through aerial over- flights, and to bring these activities to the attention of authorities positioned to respond. WCS then supported the formation of Asociación Balam, a national NGO conceived to co-administer Mirador-Rio Azul National Park. This support affirmed the WCS commitment to build the necessary local capacity and institutions for the long-term viability and health of the Maya Forest. Since that time, WCS engagement has evolved into long-term biological monitoring, support for community concessions to ensure equitable and sustainable management of forest resources, fire monitoring and management to secure the western border of the eastern MBR, and facilitation of government, community and private-sector stakeholder dialogues to promote best practice, equity and sustainability in the landscape. These efforts have resulted in a number of conservation achievements. WCS has helped the Uaxactún community to develop non-destructive business practices for harvesting and sale of non-timber forest products. Today, local forest loss is negligible despite significant population increase and economic development. Since 2004, burn- ing around the Paso Caballos community management unit has decreased significantly, due to support provided by WCS to arrest the forest fires that threaten this scarlet macaw habitat. The forest is reestablishing its functionality as habitat for wildlife. More broadly, WCS has helped the Guatemalan Government and local communities to stop Right, from top and counter- the march of seasonal fires from west to east—first by monitoring the fires using satellite clockwise: Biologist at work imagery, then in 2003 by establishing and patrolling a narrow but effective 40-mile fire in the field; jaguar,Panthera break. Annual burn areas have been reduced by more than 90% close to this corridor, onca; fires in the western MBR with little or no burning to the east. and inset satellite image

10 11 W C S is g r a tef u l to the followi n g fo r le a de r shi p s u p p o r t of our work in the Maya Biosphere Reserve Landscape:

Anonymous Moriah Fund British Broadcasting Corporation Edward John Noble Foundation Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund Panthera Foundation Conservation International Family Foundation Department for International Prospect Hill Foundation Development (DFID) Governance and Transparency Fund US Agency for International Global Heritage Fund Development (USAID) Edith S. McBean US Department of Interior

W C S’ s S u c c ess i n the L a n ds c a p e c a n be a tt r ib u ted i n p a r t to our strong local partnerships:

Asociación Balam Guatemalan National Association of Forest Communities Park Service (CONAP) of Petén (ACOFOP) Guatemalan Archaeological Institute (IDAEH) Asociación de Amigos del Patrimonio Cultural Guatemalan Ministry of y Natural de Guatemala (APANAC) the Environment (MARN) Centro para Estudios de Conservación (CECON) Archaeological Project Centro de Monitoreo y Evaluación Mesa Multisectorial de CONAP (CEMEC) (i.e. Mirador-Rio Azul Roundtable) Cooperativa Carmelita (Carmelita Village) Organización Manejo y Conservación El Peru-Wa’ka Archaeological Project (OMYC, Uaxactún Village) Foundation for Archaeological Research Paso Caballos Village and Environmental Science (FARES) Tikal National Park Gibor, S.A. Trópico Verde Guatemalan Fire Prevention Service (SIPECIF) Universidad de San Carlos-Guatemala

february 2009

For further information please contact:

Wildlife Conservation Society Latin America & the Caribbean Program 2300 Southern Boulevard Bronx, NY 10460-1099 (718) 220-7158