Belize, Mexico and Guatemala Sign Landmark Maya Forest Protection Pact

As we have been reporting last week, there was a major diplomatic gathering, Prime Minister John Briceño met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo in Calakmul, Mexico.  Friday’s high-level trilateral meeting produced a landmark agreement on environmental conservation and laid the groundwork for enhanced regional cooperation on critical issues like energy, infrastructure, and trade.  The definitive outcome of the meeting was the signing of a Biosphere Tri-National Park agreement, which will establish a formal framework for protecting the vast Maya Forest. This forest is one of the largest continuous tropical forests north of the Amazon and extends across all three nations.  In a joint press conference following the talks, each leader highlighted the importance of the agreement and the future of regional collaboration.  Prime Minister John Briceño emphasized the significance of the new environmental pact for Belize, stating, “This biosphere park between Belize, Mexico and Guatemala I think that is probably one of the most important things that we can accomplish today.” 

John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Today, with the signing of this trilateral memorandum of understanding for the great Mayan jungle biocultural corridor, we are not only protecting your priceless ecosystem but also honoring the legacy of the civilization that once flourished in these territories. Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize demonstrate once again that our political borders do not divide, but rather unite efforts to preserve  one of the last lungs of the planet and the living heritage of the Mayan peoples.  This corridor is not just a commitment to biodiversity but a bridge to a future where sustainable development, regenerative tourism, and ancestral wisdom guide our path.  May this agreement be the seed of permanent cooperation, where nature and culture are the pillars of prosperity for generations to come. We invite the world to join this vision where environmental protection and cultural respect are universal.”

President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, a recognized climate change specialist, spoke on the broader agenda of regional integration. She noted that her administration is committed to working with its southern neighbors on a host of “very interesting issues,” hinting at the potential expansion of the Tren Maya rail project and other strategic initiatives that will be announced in the future.  

Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico: “Today, a beautiful objective brings us together. Perhaps a global example. We, the three countries Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, unite to jointly declare the great Mayan jungle biocultural corridor, Belize, Guatemala,  and Mexico. A moment ago in the trilateral meeting the prime minister of Belize told us  that this had been a dream because he was his country’s secretary of the environment a few decades ago.  25 years. A dream, of course, also of the president of Guatemala and a common dream of those of us who are part of the government of Mexico. We are talking about  6 million hectares in the case of Belize and 2.4 million hectares in Mexico. This constitutes the second most important natural reserve on our continent after the Amazon. It is something extraordinary and it is also celebrated in a historic meeting because the three heads of state had never met before. It is the first time that we, the three heads of state, meet to work for the environment and also for the shared prosperity of our peoples.”

President Bernardo Arévalo of Guatemala reiterated the sentiment of unity, stating that “the unity among our countries is the best way to face the challenges of the region.” He pointed to the collaboration on the Biosphere Park as a prime example of how the three nations can work together to address shared challenges and build a more prosperous future.

Bernardo Arévalo, President of Guatemala: “Today we are surrounded by the lush mantle of the jungle. The ancient trees that make it up have sheltered the impressive development of the Mayan civilization and have protected one of the richest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet. beneath them we also have murals. We have vessels. We have texts written in stone that account for the richness and complexity of the relationships that the Mesoamerican peoples  established among themselves during the centuries that span the ancient history we share. There are abundant testimonies of people who traveled long distances. From the shores of the Caribbean Sea, like Prime Minister Briceño.  From the center of Mexico,  like President Scheinbaum.  Or from the Guatemalan highlands, like the one speaking to you. To meet in these lands. To hold council. To share their ideas. And to better face together the challenges that life and time present to them. Caracol, Calacmo, and Tikal are some of the many Mayan cities that today are located in different parts of our three countries, but which in history we know were united by political and family ties, united by ancient roads built with science and ingenuity. These cities united by a vision of the world and of life. The peoples of Mesoamerica come from the same root and we imagine a shared future. We are also located in the heart of one of the world’s natural lungs. The Great Mayan Jungle is living history of the cultural heritage of all humanity and of the natural heritage of humanity. This territory is an invaluable and infinitely diverse source of life. Our shared future depends on the responsibility to recover, preserve, and enhance the sustainable use of this natural and cultural heritage. For this reason, we are adopting the Declaration of the Great Mayan Jungle in Calakmul as a framework for collaboration between the governments of Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize to promote a sustainable development model that will generate well-being for the communities of the three countries, respecting their culture and learning from their ancestral practices.”

In addition to the environmental pact, discussions also included the possibility of a two-way energy trade between Belize and Mexico and the continued exploration of extending the Tren Maya railway into Belize. The meeting signals a renewed commitment from all three nations to deepen regional integration and promote sustainable development for the shared well-being of their people.