Legal logging and soaring saplings: the 'green islands' bucking the deforestation trend in central America

Guatemala's Maya biosphere reserve, a 2.1-million-hectare forest in Petén, is increasing forest cover through 12 community forestry concessions operating under strict 4-year harvest rotations, allowing local people to earn sustainable livelihoods while expanding natural forest in Central America's largest remaining rainforest.

Challenges are emerging: growing saiga-like population increases have caused crop damage and pastureland competition in some regions, requiring ongoing management strategies alongside conservation goals.