The Lacandon jungle in Chiapas

The essay must be about the topic and location. This paper must address all the conflicts and challenges with solutions. With appropriate sources and citations.

TOPIC: The Lacandon jungle in Chiapas.

Location: La Selva Lacandona is located in the eastern mountains of Chiapas, between the municipalities of Las Margaritas, Altamirano, Ocosingo and Palenque, and the recently formed municipalities of Maravillas, Tenejapa, Marqués de Comillas and Zamora Pico de Oro.

Conflict: Represents 0.4% of the country’s territory. It is home to 24.8% of Mexico’s mammalian species, 33% of birds, 40% of diurnal butterflies, and 15-20% of vascular plants.
• Its 1.8 million hectares of forest have been reduced to a quarter in the last four decades
• Faces fragmentation of ecosystems due to extensive agricultural practices
• Aquatic environments are deteriorated by hydraulic works and the loss of water quality due to the use of agrochemicals, pesticides and invasive species
• A large part of the ecosystems conserved are in Protected Areas: Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve (BR), RB Lacantún, the Natural Monuments of Yaxchilán and Bonampak and community reserves

Challenges:
• Forest fires
• Land use change, deforestation and habitat fragmentation
• Contamination of rivers
• Illegal extraction of plants and animals in Protected Natural Areas (ANP)
• Invasive species
• Irregular settlements
• Lack of adaptation strategies to climate change
• Lack of sustainable development alternatives for communities
Those affected: the people (the majority indigenous) and the animals that inhabit this territory. Deforestation and hunting have caused a decrease in the habitat of populations of scarlet macaw, harpy eagle, white turtle, moreleti crocodile, tapir, jaguar, spider monkey and saraguato monkey, among others.

Some solutions:
• Investigation and surveillance to ensure that protected areas are respected.
• Recognition of the species that are in danger of extinction, which are six. Technological monitoring of these species.
• Monitoring of flora to avoid pests.
• Support and training for local people –indigenous- with employment in protection areas.
• Development of ecotourism and training for locals to attend to tourists and marketing their handicrafts.
• Control of invasive species.

Organizations that collaborate:

• Carlos Slim Foundation, AC
• Natura y Ecosistemas Mexicanos, AC
• WWF-Mexico