Climate change and global warming remain critical challenges today, significantly impacting both the planet and humanity. In response to this pressing issue, numerous organizations and societal groups have initiated efforts aimed at mitigating the detrimental effects of climate change. While the irreversible nature of some changes is acknowledged, there is still potential to prevent conditions from deteriorating further. Interestingly, the impact of climate change is not a contemporary phenomenon; the ancient Maya also faced its consequences, highlighting a historical perspective on this ongoing crisis. In this article we learn that if the Maya can, we can too!
Local Maya family living in a house with palm-thatch roof, one of the many sustainable materials that are available and could be used in modern societies. Village in San Andrés; October 2, 2015. Photography by Nicholas Hellmuth.
During the time of the Maya, particularly in the Late Preclassic period (100 B.C. – 400 A.D.), several environmental challenges arose, including climate change. Just like today, the Maya societies in the Yalahau region of Quintana Roo responded with actions to confront the environmental challenges of their time, such as the constant climate fluctuations between high and low temperatures. Some of these responses included the construction of dikes and dams to manage water resources and increase agricultural productivity during periods of drought and high heat. This type of intensive wetland management allowed them to take advantage of natural cycles of flooding and drought, mitigating the impact of changing climatic conditions on food production. By controlling sediments and water flow, they were able to cultivate domesticated plants and manage essential aquatic resources, adapting to an environment prone to extreme climatic variations.
Although many of the dams and dikes that were made by the Maya in Quintana Roo cannot be found in Petén, it is rather common to find both natural and artificial aguadas (water reservoires). This was a dry aguada in Laguna del Tigre National Park. April 1, 2022. Photo by Nicholas Hellmuth.
This historical example of adaptation to climate change is relevant today, as climate change continues to alter rainfall patterns and affect water resources worldwide. The Maya demonstrated how agricultural innovations and water management could sustain large populations in a hostile environment. However, when climatic conditions became unsustainable and deforestation accelerated soil degradation, some Maya regions collapsed. This parallel with the current climate crisis highlights the importance of sustainable resource management practices, as the impacts of human activity and climate change can lead to ecosystem depletion and increased vulnerability of human societies.
Credits of the title cover photo: The water reservoir known as Aguada Maya in Yaxhá, Nakum, and Naranjo National Park was artificially made by the Maya. Yaxhá, Maya Biosphere Reserve; November 15, 2021. Drone photo by Haniel López.
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Written by Biologist Alejandra Valenzuela & Biologist Mariana Rivas Gálvez.
Edited by Sergio D’angelo Jerez