Bringing stolen forest back to life

A boat on a lake in the forest in Puerto Arturo, a sector in the heart of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, in Peten Department, Guatemala. Illegal cattle ranching has deforested almost half of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in northern Guatemala to plant pastures to feed livestock in a protected area that communities, NGOs and government barely defend with the vacancy of usurped lands and their subsequent restoration with native forest species. The Maya Biosphere Reserve is the largest protected area in Central America. — AFP

RIPPING up clumps of pasture with the aid of a machete, Leon Acosta is doing his part to reclaim forest area invaded by illegal cattle farmers and others in the heart of Guatemala’s protected Maya Biosphere Reserve.

Hacking away in the blazing sun, Acosta is tired, but hopeful.