NaraNjo-Sa'al - World Monuments Fund

4. Development of an Environmental
Education Program
The develoPMent of an environmental education program is key to the longterm
preservation of Naranjo-Sa’al. Such a program will be targeted to the
communities that live in the surrounding areas of Naranjo-Sa’al. Historically,
their survival has been dependent on the cultivation of extensive maize fields and
the introduction of livestock into the archaeological zone. They have also engaged
in indiscriminate hunting and have taken part in the looting of archaeological sites.
The environmental education program aims to raise awareness among children and
young people in hope that they will become involved with nature conservation and
seek channels tied to ecotourism that will provide an alternative source of income for
their families.
In concert with the education program, the Naranjo-Sa’al project envisions the
launch of several alternative industries that are not harmful to the site such as breadnut
seed processing for the production of flour. Naranjo-Sa’al and its surrounding
forests accommodate large breadnut trees (Ramón), where seeds can be collected and
additional plants can be cultivated in deforested zones.
Plans also call for the training of nature/wilderness guides in preparation of the
sustainable development of Naranjo-Sa’al as an ecotourism destination and the establishment
of craft cooperatives specializing in use of sustainable the forest products,
similar to the project now being carried out at the site of Uaxactún.
5. Drafting of an Interpretation and
Management Plan for the Sustainable Development
of Naranjo-Sa’al as an Ecotourism Destination
This tWo-year Project aims to develop the site’s infrastructure and interpretation.
There are plans to create two entrance booths, a visitor information
center, an exhibition center, and a camping area with eco-friendly bathrooms.
Future work in this area includes:
· Construction of two entrance booths: one at the entrance for visitors coming
from Yaxhá, and a second one at the entrance for visitors coming from Melchor
de Mencos
· Construction of a visitor information center, where there will be specialized
guides on nature and the cultural history of Naranjo-Sa’al
· Construction of an exhibition center that includes a model and informative
panels that outline the history of Naranjo-Sa’al
· Construction of a camping area with modern eco-friendly bathroom facilities
· Construction of a model of Naranjo-Sa’al
· Draft of a scientific script, a museological script, and a museographic script for
guides
· Draft of a specific management plan for Naranjo-Sa’al
· Draft of a guide outlining visitor rules
· Draft of a visitor guide covering the cultural history of Naranjo-Sa’al
In year one, the project envisages the completion of the two entrance booths, the
exhibition center with a model and the informative panels, as well as the camping area
with its associated facilities. In the second year, the information center will be built
and staffed with trained guides. Additionally, the guide on the history of Naranjo-Sa’al
will be drawn up, and the overall signposting process will be carried out.
38