Una visión para el futuro, una agenda para hoy - Eco-Index

Plan Ecorregional de las Selvas Maya, Zoque y OlmecaLocalización de la Unidad de PlaneaciónMAYA, ZOQUE AND OLMEC FORESTS ECOREGIONAL PLANLocation of the Planning UnitINTRODUCTIONPlan for theConservation of theMaya, Zoque andOlmec ForestThe 190 thousand square kilometers offorests, savannas and wetlands of theMaya, Zoque and Olmec region 1constitute the largest remnant ofnatural vegetation in Mesoamerica.They hold a great diversity ofecosystems and species, much of themunique to this zone. It is also a regionof cultural diversity, harboring a largelyindigenous population whose traditionsremain vitally alive, along withimpressive archeological vestiges ofcultures that are thousands of yearsold.Biodiversity is now being lost so rapidlyin the Maya Forest that localconservation efforts are insufficient. Weneed to substantially improve theeffectiveness of our efforts, and seekout forms of farming and livestockproduction, tourism and energydevelopment, and infrastructureexpansion that are more sustainableand friendly.The national governments havelaunched development policies andinitiatives that transcend their borders(free trade treaties, Puebla PanamaPlan, and Mundo Maya, for example.)Multi- and bilateral developmentagencies, banks and other financingentities are focusing on theconservation of large regions ratherthan sites and small countries.Mesoamerica must generate a widervision and broader conservationagenda for adequate insertion in the new world ofglobalization and mega-initiatives.To do this, the governments of Mexico, Guatemalaand Belize, nine civil society organizations andresearch centers have joined forces to develop theMaya, Zoque and Olmec Forests Ecoregional Plan,which constitutes an agenda for conservation. Itfocuses on a network of areas, making it possible toconserve the ecosystems, natural communities,ecological processes and species that best representand ensure the viability of biodiversity in this region.The Network of Areas was selected through arigorous analysis of biodiversity information obtainedfrom documents, databases, maps and experts’knowledge. The plan’s strategies for achieving theirconservation take into consideration thesocioeconomic and cultural situation, opportunities,human threats, and institutional capacities.With this plan we now have an excellent tool forfuture work on behalf of conservation and sustainabledevelopment in one of the loveliest and mostimportant legacies of the ancient past found inAmerica.Products of theECOREGIONAL PLANMAIN PRODUCTS• Network of ConservationAreas• Ecoregional strategies• Institutional alliance forconservation1From here on “Maya Forest” refers to the planning area, which also includes the Zoque Forest andwhat was once Olmec territory.ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS• Cartographic compendium ofthe planning unit• Databases• Capacities built• Common agreement about ashared conservation agenda3