Rubí Alegría is making history as the first female forest regent in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala. In her role with WCS Guatemala, she supports the Asociación de Productores Agropecuarios y Forestales Selva Maya (ASOSELVA) in implementing a sustainable forest management model in La Corona–El Morgan Management Unit.
This unit, located in the western part of the Multiple Use Zone of the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR), spans over 36,772 hectares of tropical forest. It is part of the community forestry concessions system, where management plans regulate the sustainable use of timber species like mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and cedar (Cedrela odorata), as well as non-timber forest products—all under strict technical and environmental standards.
Photos by Rubí Alegría and WCS Guatemala
As a forest regent, Rubí holds key technical responsibilities: she supervises forest management plans, coordinates timber harvesting based on legal and technical criteria, ensures timber traceability, promotes best practices in the field, and takes part in environmental monitoring, fire prevention, and restoration activities. Her work ensures that forest use does not compromise biodiversity or long-term sustainability.
Her role marks a new chapter in a region where forest operations were, for a long time, exclusively male-led. Today, three women lead this work in the Reserve, while more young women are choosing to study forestry, environmental science, and conservation.
“The way we manage forests reflects how we treat ourselves. Respectful, sustainable use of the forest’s resources is an extraordinary task. Being a woman in this work isn’t a limitation—it’s my motivation,” says Rubí Alegría.
This progress highlights the positive impact of well-implemented community forestry management, where conservation, local development, and equity go hand in hand.
The future of the forest is being built with knowledge, commitment, and the leadership of women who are paving the way.
These activities are supported by WCS Guatemala, ASOSELVA MAYA, the Association of Forest Communities of Petén (ACOFOP), the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF), the Liz Claiborne & Art Ortenberg Foundation (LCAOF), Harvey Bookman, Oregon State University (OSU), HAME/RSPO, Fundación Naturaleza para la Vida (NPV), and the La Corona Regional Archaeological Project (PRALC).