Illustrated News
Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize Launch Tri-National Nature Reserve to Protect the Maya Rainforest
September 6, 2025
Quick Facts
- Covers 14 million acres (5.7 million hectares) of Maya rainforest
- Second-largest nature reserve in Latin America, after the Amazon
- Led by presidents of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize
Why It Matters
This historic agreement safeguards critical biodiversity and indigenous cultural heritage across borders.
In a landmark environmental agreement, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, Guatemala’s President Bernardo Arévalo, and Belize’s Prime Minister Johnny Briceño announced the creation of a vast tri-national nature reserve covering over 14 million acres (5.7 million hectares) of the Maya rainforest.
President Sheinbaum called the initiative “historic,” citing its significance in safeguarding the region’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, it now ranks as the second-largest nature reserve in Latin America, trailing only the Amazon.
Source: AP