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5 news that caught our eye on 2024
Blog FLAAR Mesoamerica

5 news that caught our eye on 2024

A new cycle has just started with this new year and the FLAAR Mesoamerica team put together a list of 5 events to sum up what happened last year in Guatemala, and encourage you to continue to take care of our environment and the country’s both cultural and natural diversity.

Natural savannas in Laguna del Tigre National Park experience man made fires frequently. 
Photography by: Nicholas Hellmuth, FLAAR Mesoamerica, Apr. 2, 2022. Maya Biosphere Reserve, Petén, Guatemala. 

Forest fires doubled in Guatemala

The forest fires in Brazil this year made it to the global news, however, forest fires in Guatemala may have been just as impactful. During 2024, both forest fires and slash-and-burn practices reached alarming levels, with twice the number of these than in previous years (ACCH, 2024). From January to April, more than 12% of the national territory was influenced by these events, a 4% of which experienced the highest severity. These events also had a significant impact in conservation since many of them occurred in national parks and protected areas such as Laguna del Tigre National Park, Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve, and the Protected Biotope for the Conservation of the Resplendent Quetzal (not to mention the severe forest fires in Agua Volcano). 

The current climatic conditions, which were made worse by the El Niño phenomenon, had devastating consequences for the environment and the Guatemalan population, since it fueled the increase of fires around the country. In addition, they contributed significantly to biodiversity loss, the degradation of natural habitats, and lowered air and soil quality (ACCH, 2024). 

It is important to notice how climate change has affected the national territory and will continue to do so, as each year there are either devastating fires due to extreme and prolonged droughts, or severe floods due to big storms and hurricanes. 

Tern tangled with a fishing net. 
Photography by: Víctor Mendoza, FLAAR Mesoamerica, Feb. 13, 2024. Santiago Atitlán, Sololá, Guatemala.

Waste sorting is encouraged by law

One of the most relevant environmental issues in Guatemala right now is waste pollution. Starting from February 11, 2025, it will be mandatory to sort domestic waste into new categories. In addition to sorting organic and inorganic waste, Guatemalans will be asked to sort non-recyclable and recyclable waste as paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, metal and multilayer packaging (CRN, 2024). The main goal of this new measure is to improve waste management and to encourage recycling in order to take better care of the environment, and reduce waste pollution.

Photography by: Haniel López, FLAAR Mesoamerica, Jan. 7, 2021. El Remate, Lake Petén Itzá, Petén, Guatemala. 

A new law protects Lake Petén Itzá

On November 12, 2024, the Guatemalan Congress approved a new law (Decree 28-2024) to protect the Lake Petén Itzá basin. This law not only recognizes this lake as a part of the country’s natural and cultural heritage, but also establishes new measures for its conservation (Coromac, 2024). Among these, is the creation of a new Office that will look out for the sustainable development of the lake’s basin, in addition to coordinating efforts to reduce the environmental impact on the lake, which is one of the most important natural habitats near to the Maya Biosphere Reserve.

The archaeological sites in the Maya Biosphere Reserve are part of the great cultural heritage of the Maya civilization. 
Photography by: Nicholas Hellmuth, FLAAR Mesoamerica, Jan. 19, 2019. Yaxhá, Petén, Guatemala.

2024 Archaeology Congress

The annual Archaeology Congress was held in the Jade Maya Museum, and was titled “The cultural and natural legacy of the Maya during 3,000 years of history.” The event happened on December 14, and reunited both national and international speakers. Among the topics that were discussed were the conservation of archaeological sites in Guatemala City, the conservation of the Maya Biosphere Reserve as one of the most important natural remnants of the country, and the commemoration of half a century since the Spaniards came to América through different reflections on its impact and implications. In addition, different findings were presented on rituals that took place in Tak’alik Ab’aj, and Maya iconography that represented elements of the universe and the sky. 

In 2024, FLAAR Mesoamérica got the opportunity to donate more than 600 books for children in rural schools in Guatemala. Photo by Vivian Hurtado.

Numerous organizations look after nature

Both at a global and national scale, there are several organizations that encourage conservation efforts. For instance, the United Nations Biodiversity Conference that occurred this year gathered more than 20,000 people in representation of many of them in Cali, Colombia. In Guatemala, FLAAR Mesoamérica alone collaborated with more than 20 different organizations that look after the environment or do environmental education during 2024. In addition, our team is currently undertaking new projects to develop new alliances in 2025 and continue to promote the conservation of Guatemala’s cultural and natural diversity through visual media documentation, and the creation of educational materials. 

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Written by Pamela Jerez and Sergio D’angelo Jerez

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