Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize have announced the creation of a cross-border nature reserve aimed at protecting the Mayan rainforest, one of the largest remaining tropical forests in the Western Hemisphere. The initiative, revealed after a trilateral meeting in Guatemala City on Friday, will cover more than 14 million acres of jungle across the three nations.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, and Belize Prime Minister Johnny Briceño said the protected area is intended to preserve biodiversity, safeguard water resources, and honor the cultural heritage of the Mayan region. Sheinbaum described the rainforest as “one of Earth’s lungs,” citing its role as a habitat for thousands of species and as a source of ecological balance.
The announcement was cautiously welcomed by environmental organizations, including Mexico-based Selvame. The group praised the concept of a joint reserve but warned that its success will depend on enforcement. In recent years, conservationists have voiced frustration over unchecked development, illegal logging, and tourism-driven construction projects encroaching on fragile ecosystems.
Selvame urged the governments to establish robust monitoring systems to ensure the reserve is more than a symbolic gesture. “We are in a race against time,” the group stated, noting that unchecked real estate projects and deforestation are jeopardizing both the environment and the livelihoods of communities in the region.
While the reserve represents a shared commitment to conservation, it comes alongside ongoing controversy surrounding Mexico’s Maya Train project. The 1,000-mile railway, designed to connect Caribbean resorts with rural archaeological zones and towns in the Yucatán Peninsula, has faced widespread criticism for cutting through jungle areas and damaging sensitive underground cave systems. Mexican authorities have acknowledged that millions of trees were removed during construction.
Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador accelerated the project without completing comprehensive environmental reviews, dismissing court rulings that sought to halt the work. Critics have long argued that the development prioritized economic goals over ecological safeguards.
President Sheinbaum has continued to support the rail line, emphasizing its potential to bring economic opportunities to rural communities. On Friday, she raised the possibility of extending the railway into Guatemala and Belize, framing the proposal as a regional development tool.
President Arévalo of Guatemala has taken a more cautious position. While expressing interest in the economic benefits of linking the line with Guatemala and Belize, he stressed that his government would not permit construction through protected areas in northern Guatemala. Arévalo emphasized that any expansion must include environmental impact studies and avoid repeating the mistakes seen in Mexico.
Both Sheinbaum and Arévalo acknowledged an alternative idea that would redirect the train route to minimize harm, though details of this proposal remain under discussion. It is unclear how the creation of the new reserve will influence planning for the rail extension.
The tri-national reserve highlights the competing pressures facing governments in Central America: the need to protect biodiversity and cultural heritage while also pursuing infrastructure and economic growth. Environmental groups argue that the region cannot afford further ecological loss, while leaders emphasize the promise of development for underserved rural communities.
For now, the new reserve represents a cooperative step among Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, signaling a willingness to work together across borders. Whether that cooperation can extend to reconciling conservation goals with infrastructure ambitions remains an open question.
Green = Mexico
Blue = Guatemala
Orange = Belize
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