81254459 — Strengthening the Regional Strategic and Operational Cooperation for the Protection of the Selva Maya

The Selva Maya (SM), the largest contiguous tropical forest area of Mesoamerica, spreads over Belize, Guatemala and Southern Mexico. Recognised as a biological hotspot, offers various ecosystem services, providing livelihoods for the mainly impoverished rural population in the region (approx. 600 000 people). Intensive land-use, population growth, illegal logging and fragmentation, are some of the main threats to ecosystem health, combined with a weak governance structures in the region. In 2015, the Strategic Coordination Group of the SM (GEC) was formed by the nature conservation authorities of the three bordering countries in order to tackle regional threats. Cooperation with the Operational Coordination Group of the SM (GOC), which was founded by the authorities of the protected areas in the SM, is in its nascent stages so strengthening requirements are strongly need it. The objective of the regional project is the improvement of regional cooperation between Belize, Guatemala and Mexico in order to protect the SM. In line with projects of other commissioning agencies (BMU, GEF, USAID), an institutional backing in the countries will be sought. The project is structured along three fields of action: 1) strategic coordination is improved, 2) improvement of operational regional cooperation, and 3) implementation of locally developed coordination mechanisms to protect the Selva Maya.