One forest, Three nations: the biological and cultural diversity of Belize National significance with a regional impact Sharon Matola and Celso Poot Even though over 70 percent of Central America has been deforested within the past 40 years, there still exists a grand expanse of tropical forest in Northern Central America. This is the largest block of tropical forest north of the Amazon Basin and covers an area of 25,000 km . Stretching into the countries of Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, it is often referred to as the "Selva Maya" or Maya Forest (Primack et al. 1998). This rich land is home to a legacy of natural and cultural resources, unique to the region. For more than 1,000 years, this forest was home to one of the most developed civilizations of its time, that of the ancient Maya. Today, the remains of this rich legacy are found throughout the forest, reflecting a culture which practised mathematics, astronomy and a sophisticated writing system, as well as a calendar system measuring time more accurately than the modern Gregorian calendar (Nations et al. 1998). The natural resources found within this forest are another expression of its unique profile. Standing at the foot of an ancient Maya temple, one could catch a glimpse of a rare Ocellated Turkey passing by, or see the tracks of the endangered Central American Tapir. The roar of the Black Howler Monkey is often the vocal jungle backdrop. Other animals which share this tri-national forest, include the largest cat of the American tropics, the Jaguar, as well as one of the world's most endangered parrots, the Northern Central American Scarlet Macaw. | |
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