Connecting the Maya Forest: San Pedro Dzula becomes the first Conserva Aves-supported protected area declared in Mexico

Conservation success usually begins on the native stage, however its impression can attain far past group boundaries. In southern Yucatán, a brand new achievement is demonstrating precisely that.

Within the municipality of Tekax, Conserva Aves is supporting a regionally led conservation effort involving 5 ejidos that collectively embody greater than 5,000 hectares (12,355 acres). By way of the undertaking, these communities are advancing the voluntary safety and long-term stewardship of key areas inside the Maya Forest.

On July 10, 2026, ADVC San Pedro Dzula turned the primary of those areas to be licensed, defending 500 hectares (1235 acres) as an Área Destinada Voluntariamente a la Conservación (Voluntarily Designated Space for Conservation).

This milestone marks the first conservation space licensed with assist from Conserva Aves in Mexico. Past defending vital habitat for birds and different wildlife, it strengthens ecological connectivity inside the Maya Forest, the most important tropical forest ecosystem in Mesoamerica.

The undertaking is led regionally by the Junta Intermunicipal Biocultural del Puuc (JIBIOPUUC), an intermunicipal environmental and sustainable improvement company that brings collectively native governments, communities, academia, civil society organizations, and authorities businesses. Throughout southern Yucatán, JIBIOPUUC works to advance forest and biodiversity conservation, local weather resilience, sustainable rural improvement, and the safety of Maya biocultural heritage.

San Pedro Dzula is strategically situated inside an ecological hall connecting two essential protected areas:

The Puuc Biocultural State Reserve, established in 2011 and protecting 135,848 hectares (335,687 acres) throughout the municipalities of Muna, Oxkutzcab, Santa Elena, Tekax, and Ticul.

The Bala’an Ok’aax Flora and Fauna Safety Space, spanning 128,000 hectares (316,294 acres) throughout Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo.

Collectively, these protected areas and conservation efforts assist strengthen panorama connectivity throughout the broader Maya Forest, a globally vital ecosystem that helps extraordinary biodiversity, shops huge quantities of carbon, and supplies important ecosystem providers to communities all through the area.

Addressing the threats going through the Maya Forest

Throughout the Maya Forest, ecosystems are more and more threatened by deforestation, land-use change, habitat fragmentation, and land degradation. As forests turn out to be fragmented, wildlife populations can turn out to be remoted, ecological processes are disrupted, and the resilience of each ecosystems and communities is weakened.

The certification of San Pedro Dzula, along with ongoing conservation efforts throughout the 5 taking part ejidos, contributes to addressing these pressures by securing habitat, strengthening ecological connectivity, and selling long-term group stewardship of pure sources.

By defending key forest areas between main reserves, the undertaking helps keep motion corridors for birds and different wildlife, together with the jaguar, whereas preserving vital ecosystem features resembling carbon storage, water infiltration, and local weather regulation.

Communities on the forefront of conservation

On the coronary heart of this initiative are the native communities main conservation in their very own territories.

The ADVC mannequin acknowledges the voluntary dedication of landowners and ejidos to guard pure sources whereas sustaining native governance and decision-making. This strategy strengthens native possession of conservation efforts and creates alternatives to align environmental safety with group priorities and sustainable improvement.

By way of Conserva Aves, taking part communities are serving to shield habitat for birds and biodiversity whereas constructing a extra resilient panorama for future generations.

Conservation that features everybody

Inclusive conservation is a cross-cutting element of the undertaking, with a deal with:

Gender equality, selling equitable participation in conservation processes.

Constructive masculinities, encouraging shared duty and broader participation in environmental stewardship.

Youth and kids, fostering their involvement in defending the pure and cultural heritage of the Puuc area.

By integrating these views, the undertaking acknowledges that lasting conservation relies upon not solely on defending ecosystems, but additionally on strengthening the participation and management of the individuals who stay in and look after these territories.

Conserva Aves is led by American Hen Conservancy, Audubon, Birds Canada, BirdLife Worldwide, and the Latin American and Caribbean Community of Environmental Funds (RedLAC). Collectively, these organizations deliver scientific experience, conservation expertise, monetary sources, and coverage engagement to advance regionally led conservation and shield territories of life throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In Mexico, Conserva Aves works with the assist of its nationwide companions, the Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (FMCN) and Pronatura Sur, in addition to native organizations and communities.

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