In conflict with tradition
The majority of those inhabiting the Yucatán Peninsula's dense, tropical rainforests are descendants of the Maya. The modern Mayan way of life is based on many age-old traditions. For instance, the forest continues to be considered sacred - it has sheltered and nourished the population for centuries. But today, Mayans are faced with a pressing dilemma. Barely allowed to hunt animals anymore, they have turned to farming - particularly maize cultivation. But to access more arable land, the forest inhabitants have to destroy their sanctuary - and as that sanctuary disappears, so do the animals that live there. The REDD+ forest protection project aims to provide modern Mayans with alternative solutions. The program is being financed by the International Climate Initiative (ICI) and implemented by local environmental organizations on the ground. The effects of climate change are already being felt in the region, where it's been raining less often and the soil has become less fertile.
A film by Claudia Laszczak
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Information
Length
6:41 Minutes
Date of publication
2015
Project
REDD+ benefits: designing REDD+ benefit-sharing systems that reduce poverty
Global Ideas
Related Publications
Further publications related to the International Climate Initiative and its projects can be found in the publications section of our website.
