One of the most succesful threatened land deals the Nature Conservancy has worked of late
is the purchase of 370,000 acres of tropical rain forest in the
1.8 million acre Calakmul Biosphere
Reserve in Mexico. The breathtaking beauty of this area only hints at the amazing history and biodiversity. 350
separate bird species and 94 different types of mammals, including one of the largest jaguar populations, call this
place home, as once did a portion of the great Mayan civilization. The reserve is currently considered a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Ownership of the lands, funded in part by the Nature Conservancy, is now in the hands of the Mexican federal
government. The land will be added to acreage already protected.