Maya Forest Conservation Efforts Gain Momentum in Mexico
Conserva Aves supports a locally led conservation effort in southern Yucatán, Mexico, protecting key areas within the Maya Forest.
The Junta Intermunicipal Biocultural del Puuc (JIBIOPUUC) has led a locally led conservation effort in southern Yucatán, Mexico, involving five ejidos that together encompass more than 5,000 hectares.
A new achievement in this effort is the certification of the ADVC San Pedro Dzula as the first of these areas to be protected, on July 10, 2026. This milestone marks the first conservation area certified with support from Conserva Aves in Mexico.
The project is led by JIBIOPUUC, an intermunicipal environmental and sustainable development agency that brings together local governments, communities, academia, civil society organizations, and government agencies. Across southern Yucatán, JIBIOPUUC works to advance forest and biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable rural development, and the protection of Maya biocultural heritage.
San Pedro Dzula is strategically located within an ecological corridor connecting two important protected areas. The certification of San Pedro Dzula, together with ongoing conservation efforts across the five participating ejidos, contributes to addressing the pressures facing the Maya Forest by securing habitat, strengthening ecological connectivity, and promoting long-term community stewardship of natural resources.
The ADVC model recognizes the voluntary commitment of landowners and ejidos to protect natural resources while maintaining local governance and decision-making. This approach strengthens local ownership of conservation efforts and creates opportunities to align environmental protection with community priorities and sustainable development.
The project is supported by Conserva Aves, a partnership led by American Bird Conservancy, Audubon, Birds Canada, BirdLife International, and the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC). In Mexico, Conserva Aves works with the support of its national partners, the Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (FMCN) and Pronatura Sur, as well as local organizations and communities.
Communities at the forefront of conservation
The local communities leading conservation in their own territories are at the heart of this initiative. The ADVC model recognizes the voluntary commitment of landowners and ejidos to protect natural resources while maintaining local governance and decision-making.
Conservation that includes everyone
Inclusive conservation is a cross-cutting component of the project, with a focus on:
By integrating these perspectives, the project recognizes that lasting conservation depends not only on protecting ecosystems, but also on strengthening the participation and leadership of the people who live in and care for these territories.
The certification of San Pedro Dzula marks a significant step forward in the conservation of the Maya Forest, a globally significant ecosystem that supports extraordinary biodiversity, stores vast amounts of carbon, and provides essential ecosystem services to communities throughout the region.
