Across the vast natural landscapes of Mesoamerica — from tropical rainforests to coastal mangroves — rangers travel long distances to safeguard the territory, prevent wildfires, monitor species, and collaborate with local communities. They often do so under difficult conditions, with limited resources and facing numerous threats. Without them, many of these areas would be left unprotected.
This July 31, we share the voices of the women and men who care for key biodiversity areas: the Maya Forest and Southern Coast of Guatemala, the Maya Forest Corridor in Belize, La Moskitia in Honduras, and the Darién region of Panama. Through their stories, we gain a deeper understanding of their daily challenges, personal dedication, and the vital role they play.
The Maya Forest is the largest continuous tropical forest in Mesoamerica, covering more than five million hectares across parts of Guatemala, Belize, and southeastern Mexico. In Guatemala alone, it spans over 2.1 million hectares. It is home to jaguars, tapirs, scarlet macaws, and spider monkeys, but faces serious threats such as wildfires, wildlife trafficking, deforestation, and illegal cattle ranching. Further south along the Pacific coast, key marine-coastal ecosystems are protected, including mangroves, estuaries, and sea turtle nesting beaches.
Genner Godofredo Cunil Tzin, a ranger with CONAP in the Machaquilá-Xutilhá Refuge and Montañas Mayas-Chiquibul Biosphere Reserve, patrols the forest, fights wildfires, and supports ecological restoration. He recalls with emotion rescuing turtles during a fire: “I saw life in danger and was able to save it. That experience stays with me. I used to think cutting down a tree had no consequences. Now I know that every tree means life, water, and oxygen.”
Juan Francisco López Cáceres, also a CONAP ranger in Machaquilá-Xutilhá, has lived with his family inside the protected area for over 20 years: “As a child, I dreamed of protecting forests. That big fire in 1998 marked me deeply: I knew I wanted to prevent something like that from happening again. Today, we are the eyes of this forest.”
Deonicio Segura Hernández, ranger in Mirador-Río Azul National Park and Naachtun-Dos Lagunas Biotope, patrols remote zones, checks camera traps, fights wildfires, and tackles threats such as poaching and land invasions: “I want my children to know the forest the way I have seen it. Being a ranger changed the way I see the world. Once I recorded a jaguar up close—I felt awe and respect. That moment confirmed our work is worthwhile.”
Lady Sulena Blanco Cruz, CONAP ranger in Sipacate-Naranjo National Park, carries out land and water patrols, monitors wildlife, supports environmental law enforcement, and works on community education: “I grew up inside a protected area. I learned that living with nature requires sustainability. Today, as a woman in this role, I feel empowered and proud to be part of the change.”
This corridor connects two major forest blocks in Belize — the Río Bravo Management Area and the Chiquibul Mountains, including the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary — and is critical for species mobility. It is also home to communities actively engaged in its conservation.
Ronnie Delroy Martínez, ranger in the Maya Forest Corridor, was inspired by his uncles, who protected the forest. Today, he patrols the area, fights fires, studies the Central American river turtle (hicatee), and promotes environmental education: “I grew up watching them protect the forest, and I knew I wanted to do the same. This forest is a living system that requires respect and constant vigilance.”
Derry Alden Harris, also a ranger in the Maya Forest Corridor, patrols daily to prevent poaching, illegal fishing, and unauthorized extraction of forest products: “Seeing wildlife and habitats recover gives meaning to what we do. Being a ranger has changed my life. I’ve seen the impact of our work and know we are protecting this place for future generations. During a boat patrol, I once saw a jaguar swimming in the Belize River. It was a gift from nature—a reminder of why this effort is worth it.”
La Moskitia is one of the most biodiverse landscapes in Central America, with forests, rivers, savannas, and wetlands inhabited by Indigenous peoples. It is also the most threatened forest in the region, severely impacted by illegal cattle ranching, land trafficking, drug trafficking, and, more recently, the spread of the screwworm affecting livestock.
Kenia Yamileth Argeñal Martínez, ranger in the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, conducts patrols, reforestation, and monitoring of flora and fauna. Her commitment began as a child witnessing nature’s destruction: “This job has made me more aware and responsible. I remember a multi-day trek in Krausirpi, when I almost got bitten by a fer-de-lance. It was tough, but worth it for what we learned and protected.”
The Darién is one of the last major tropical forest blocks in Central America and a vital refuge for species like the harpy eagle. It is also ancestral territory of the Guna people, whose relationship with nature has been crucial to preserving its biodiversity. However, the region faces growing pressures: illegal cattle ranching by settlers, logging and fishing, wildlife trafficking, and extractive activities that threaten both ecosystems and territorial rights.
In this context, new surveillance cabins have been established at key locations in the Guna Yala Comarca, specifically at kilometers 12 and 17 on the road to San Blas. These facilities strengthen the presence and response capacity of traditional authorities, improving the management and protection of the territory against multiple threats.
These efforts across the featured landscapes are carried out with support from the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF), the European Union, and the Great Forests of Mesoamerica, in collaboration with governments and key partners:
In Guatemala: the National Council for Protected Areas (CONAP), WCS Guatemala, FUNDAECO, and Asociación Balam.
In Belize: the Forest Department of Belize and WCS Belize.
In Honduras: the Forest Conservation Institute (ICF) and WCS Honduras.
In Panama: the Guna General Congress, the Kuna Yala Research and Development Institute (IIDKY), and the Territorial Defense Secretariat of the Guna Yala Comarca.
Text by Claudia Novelo Alpuche (WCS Mesoamerica and the Caribbean), with support from Miriam Castillo (WCS Guatemala), Deseree Arzu (WCS Belize), Bianca Padilla (WCS Honduras), Andrea Soza (FUNDAECO), and Darío Melgar Choc (Asociación BALAM).