The leaders of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize announced a tri-national nature reserve to protect the Mayan rainforest, covering over 14 million acres across southern Mexico and northern Central America. Revealed on Friday, the reserve will rank as Latin America’s second-largest, after the Amazon, marking a major step to preserve a vital ecosystem and cultural heritage.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described the initiative as “historic,” highlighting its importance in safeguarding thousands of species and a key “Earth’s lung.” She was joined by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo and Belize Prime Minister Johnny Briceño during a summit in Guatemala City, where they pledged to establish the reserve.

The summit also addressed Mexico’s proposal to extend the controversial Maya Train, a 1,000-mile railway looping through the Yucatan, connecting Caribbean resorts to remote Mayan sites. The project, initiated by Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has faced backlash for destroying approximately 7 million trees and damaging a fragile cave system, with minimal environmental studies and defiance of judicial orders to halt construction.

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Sheinbaum advocated extending the train into Guatemala and Belize to spur economic growth in rural areas. However, Arévalo emphasized that Guatemala’s laws prohibit building through protected northern jungles. “We support connecting the Maya Train,” Arévalo stated, “but it cannot cross protected areas.” He called for detailed environmental studies and suggested an alternative route to minimize jungle disruption in Guatemala and Belize.

The relationship between the train’s expansion and the new reserve remains uncertain, posing challenges for balancing development and conservation. The leaders’ commitment to the reserve underscores a regional effort to protect the environment, but the train’s potential impact on the Mayan ecosystem remains a critical concern.

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