Thanks to the support of members like you, we have successfully protected more land in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.

On August 10th, 2006 FOC negotiated an agreement that will add 57,000 acres to the land that is now permanently protected from logging and other development pressures in Calakmul. This parcel is an addition to the 200,000 acres of land FOC has already secured for conservation and a big step towards our goal of protecting 350,000 acres.

The agreement represents the next phase of FOC’s work to consolidate the buffer zone of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, which has been identified as critically important for the survival of jaguars in this region but also remains threatened.

Although the area has already been designated as a reserve, only the government-owned core portion of the 1.8 million acres is strictly protected (indicated in dark green on map). The remaining 1.2 million acres of rainforest in the "buffer zone" of the reserve remains open to logging and other development pressures (indicated in light green on map).

FOC offers local landowners a better alternative than logging companies would and is beginning to work with communities around Calakmul to develop more environmentally-friendly employment opportunities.

The Global Conservation Fund (GCF) at Conservation International provided funding to Friends of Calakmul last year to undertake this agreement, which is the first of three we plan to sign this year. The GCF, established in 2001, was initially capitalized with a $100-million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and has already succeeded in helping protect nearly 43 million hectares of the world's most biologically important regions.

The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve is home to second largest population of jaguars north of the Amazon or half of the 6,000 jaguars found in all of North and Central America. Protecting the habitat of jaguars in Calakmul directly protects the 60,000 other species found in this region, including 350 species of birds that either inhabit or migrate through Calakmul.

For more information about FOC's work click on the link below:

Friends of Calakmul

Last month, The Michael Lee Environmental Foundation granted FOC $40,000 to work with indigenous landowners in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve to develop income generating conservation activities and to continue our environmental education work in the region.

The Foundation's Executive Director, Ralph W. Schardt, stated that the Board of the Michael Lee Environmental Foundation is committed to assisting in projects that provide environmental stewardship through conservation programs like FOC. "We are excited to be a part of this process and look forward to assisting the efforts of FOC now and in the future."

The grant is critical to FOC’s long-term success because it allows us to gain even greater support from the communities with whom FOC works. With this grant, we will undertake a 2-week pilot project through which we can gain an understanding of the viability of different income-generating conservation activities. Activities we are considering include developing a fire prevention program in Calakmul, marketing of non-timber forest products, and ecotourism.

We will also expand upon the environmental education efforts that we have already been doing by working with elementary school children in Calakmul to produce artwork, creative writings and a short video. The video will highlight what the children have learned about endangered species and habitats and what they are doing to protect the environment. Having children involved with the project and supportive of our work helps to ensure our success for generations to come.

FOC will be implementing this grant in partnership with the Planet Art Program of the Natural World Museum, a cultural institution that presents art through innovative programs to inspire and engage the public with environmental awareness and action. The video products, along with artwork and writings from all of the participating classes, will be shared with elementary school children in the San Francisco Bay Area and presented at the next Zeum museum art exhibit in San Francisco, during the 2006-2007 school year.

Whether you are already a donor to FOC or a new member, your contributions are greatly needed so that we can continue achieving these incredible results. Please click on the link below to make a contribution TODAY.

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