About Rainforest2Reef
   Who are the founders of Rainforest2Reef?
   Who else plays a fundamental role in Rainforest2Reef?

About Our Work
   Is the Rainforest2Reef rainforest conservation model new and different?
   If we want to preserve the land, can’t we just buy it?
   How does Rainforest2Reef encourage long-term, sustainable preservation?
   Who is involved in the Rainforest2Reef agreement specifically?
   How are the local ejiditarios involved in the process?
   How is the conservation monitored?
   What other conservation activities are local people engaged in?
   Why are employment opportunities so important to the local community?

About the Selva Maya Rainforest…

Q: Where is the Selva Maya Rainforest?

A: The Selva Maya links the Mexican jungles of Campeche and Quintana Roo with the Peten jungle in Guatemala and is part of the Mirador Basin, an important biological corridor connecting the Calakmul ruins with its Mayan sister city Tikal. Part of the Selva Maya is the expanse of land stretching from the Calakmul Biopshere Reserve to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve to the Mesoamerican Reef. The Selva Maya rainforest totals 6,000,000 acres and is the second largest rainforest in the Americas after the Amazon.

Q: How big is the area that Rainforest2Reef is trying to protect, and how much wildlife is there?

A: The biological corridor that Rainforest2Reef is working to protect extends from the 1.8 million acre Calakmul Biosphere Reserve to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve to the Mesoamerican Reef. This corridor is part of the Mesoamerican “hotspot” as defined by Conservation International. Mexico contains 10% of all known forms of life. Only Brazil and Indonesia host more biodiversity.

Q: What about jaguars?

A: The need for viable jaguar habitat was one of the primary reasons for the creation of Rainforest2Reef. Jaguars are only found in the Western Hemisphere, and have lost 2/3 of their habitat in Mexico and Central America. According to Rainforest2Reef founder, Dr. Gerardo Ceballos, only an estimated 15,000 jaguars remain in the wild and these numbers are going down as their rainforest habitat dwindles.

Q: How much habitat do jaguars need to live?

A: 650,000 acres of undisturbed habitat are needed in order for a viable jaguar population to exist.

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Q: How many jaguars are in the area? Is anyone studying them?

A: Approximately 600 jaguars currently roam the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and 3,000 roam the Selva Maya rainforest. As an award-winning conservation biologist and university professor, Rainforest2Reef founder Dr. Gerardo Ceballos is leading a project to study this population. He and his team tag, collar, track and study the habits of this elusive animal.

Q: What other endangered species live in the area?

A: Nearly 160 endangered species live in the rainforest habitat of the biological corridor, including the Black Howler Monkey, Central American Spider Monkey, Ocelot, Margay, Baird’s Tapir, White-lipped Peccary, King vulture, Ornate Hawk Eagle, Black and White Hawk-eagle, and Morelett´s Crocodile.  This area is also extremely important migratory bird habitat.  Over 350 bird species have been identified in the reserve area with 60% being migratory.  Many of these birds spend their summers in the US.

Q: Are there any significant archeological sites in the Selva Maya?

A: Yes. The Selva Maya rainforest is located in an area that is considered the cradle of classical Mayan civilization.  Together with Guatemala’s Tikal, the city of Calakmul is one of the greatest Mayan sites ever discovered and includes more than 4000 structures.  It was recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Q: Can I visit the Selva Maya?

A: Yes. Most of the rainforest within the Selva Maya’s Calakmul Biosphere Reserve is federal land, which means anybody can visit it. Besides its variety of plant and animal species, the area’s other attraction is an array of impressive Mayan archaeological sites. While all archeological sites in Mexico belong to the Mexican Government, surrounding land is under the Rainforest2Reef land trust. We highly recommend you visit the area and climb the pyramids. Once up there, take in the breathtaking view: undisturbed rainforest canopy as far as your eyes can see, thanks in part to your contributions. Click here to learn more about eco-tourism opportunities in the Selva Maya. (Link to “Eco-tourism” page in “Donate” section)

Q: Can I do birding in this area?

A: Yes! There are hundreds of exotic species flying in the area. It's one of the best and last places in North America where birds can be watched in an undisturbed habitat.

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About our work…

Q: Is the Rainforest2Reef rainforest conservation model new and different?

A: Yes. Rainforest2Reef is one of very few conservation organizations using this state of the art approach to preserving endangered wildlife and critical rainforest land. Unlike many traditional approaches to land conservation which exclude the participation of local and indigenous peoples, Rainforest2Reef’s approach is so effective because it’s builds a vibrant alliance between all the stakeholders in the rainforest including scientists, indigenous people, conservationists and everyday nature lovers in the US and Mexico.

Q: If we want to preserve the land, can’t we just buy it?

A: No, not really. Money is definitely part of the equation, but the people living in the Selva Maya need to be included on a long-term basis. One-time lump sum payments for lands have a positive effect at first, but are frequently unsuccessful in the long term. When land is privately purchased or taken over by the government, local people are displaced. Since these people no longer have a stake in the land and governments lack money for adequate conservation monitoring and oversight, squatting and poaching becomes an increasing threat to the rainforest and the wildlife populations.

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Q: How does Rainforest2Reef encourage long-term, sustainable preservation?

A: Rainforest2Reef has set up a long-term lease rather than a one-time payment, which gives the indigenous communities an ongoing economic incentive to protect their rainforest by offering them a stewardship role in preserving the area and all its natural wonders.

Q: Who is involved in the Rainforest2Reef agreements specifically?

A: Much of the unprotected land within the Selva Maya rainforest is owned by communities known as ejidos. Ejidos are local indigenous communities who communally own parcels of land within the rainforest. Rainforest2Reef works in partnership with these ejidos to conserve and protect the rainforest.

Rainforest2Reef is also supported by a number of nature conservation groups including the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, D&R Greenway Land Trust and Conservation International’s Global Conservation Fund. Global Heritage Fund, the archeological preservation organization, is also involved in protecting the Mayan ruins which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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Q: How are the local ejiditarios involved in the process?

A: Ejiditarios vote to enter binding agreements with Rainforest2Reef.  These agreements allow them to stay on their ancestral lands and offer compensation equivalent to what they would get paid from a logging company plus an additional payment premium – after receiving training and education – for engaging in pro-active land conservation such as forest fire prevention.  So far, all lease agreements signed to-date have been reached through unanimous vote. Many more ejiditario communities are expected to reach agreements with Rainforest2Reef in the coming years.

Q: How is the conservation monitored?

A: Annual surveys of the protected areas are performed by the Rainforest2Reef vigilance committee, ensuring that the ejiditarios are keeping their side of the conservation obligation. Their obligation includes agreeing to protect and conserve the land, and agreeing to give up all rights to destructive timber and mineral extraction.  After the yearly inspection, ejiditarios receive their annual lease payment.

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Q: What other conservation activities are local people engaged in?

A: Indigenous communities are also trained in pro-active conservation activities to reduce threats to the Selva Maya rainforest such as forest fires.

Q: Why are employment opportunities so important to the local community?

A: The indigenous community in this region of Mexico has historically been dependent upon the land for subsistence farming.  One of the few economic alternatives has been selling their land to timber companies who destructively log the precious habitat.  If they sell their land outright or the government expropriates it, they are forced to migrate and often end up squatting or illegally immigrating. With this in mind, Rainforest2Reef is also helping ejiditarios develop more opportunities for eco-friendly employment, including eco-tourism and beekeeping.

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About Rainforest2Reef…

Q: Who are the founders of Rainforest2Reef?

A: Dr. Gerardo Ceballos is an award-winning scientist, internationally recognized conservationist and founder of Rainforest2Reef. His career includes work in population and community ecology, biogeography, macro ecology and management, and conservation of vertebrates.  He has written more than a dozen books and authored numerous scientific papers. In addition to his work with Rainforest2Reef Dr. Ceballos is also a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico

Dr. Sandra Kahn and David Leventhal are also co-founders of Rainforest2Reef.  They provided funding to initiate the project and continue to support the long-term viability of the Rainforest2Reef land trust.  Out of a deep connection with Mexico and a love of the natural world, they decided they had to do something to help protect the unique Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and its wildlife for future generations to enjoy. Dr. Kahn is an orthodontist with practices in Pacifica and Redwood City, California. David works in the high-tech industry in Silicon Valley. They have two children.   

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