Conservation in Mesoamerica’s largest remaining forest is a delicate balance, but community- based forest management organizations have had great success in managing the forest ecology. In collaboration with the Asociación Forestal Integral San Andres Petén (AFISAP), a community-based cooperative, Kirsty Escalante has been working to support AFISAP in their goals to protect the natural and cultural resources in Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve. She is currently developing workshops about the archaeology of the region to help AFISAP members recognize and document archaeological sites, record looting, and protect archaeological materials in order to bolster AFISAP’s abilities to manage the cultural resources within their territory.
