The Economic Times

In 1990, Guatemala launched an ambitious mahogany restoration program in Petn to combat deforestation. Years later, it produced Central America's largest natural forest and transformed the province into a global conservation model

Guatemala's 1990 mahogany restoration program changed the future of the country's forests. Instead of losing more rainforest, the Maya Biosphere Reserve became Central America's largest tropical forest through sustainable forestry and community management. Today, Guatemala's forest conservation model protects wildlife, supports certified mahogany harvesting, and inspires global climate action. More than 35 years later, the Petn success story remains one of the world's strongest examples of balancing biodiversity, local livelihoods, and long-term forest restoration.