Mirador Basin

The Petén rainforest’s Mirador Basin is the last tract of virgin rainforest remaining in Central America. It is home to the largest and earliest cities in the Maya world and is the area of many recent and important archaeological investigations. The northern Petén gives Guatemala legitimate claim to the title “The Cradle of Maya Civilisation.” John Paul and his family have visited the site several times and aim to raise money as well as the profile of this hugely important protection programme. Protecting the Petén rainforest not only shelters Guatemala’s historical birthright, it fosters a core element of Guatemala’s economic future.

Support of the Mirador Basin project will combat the growth of slash and burn farming, looting and indiscriminate commercial development which threatens the region. The development of this region as a wilderness archaeological preserve guarantees short, medium and long-term economic benefits for the inhabitants of Guatemala. The economic benefits of tourism far outweigh the economic returns from logging. The Mirador Basin development hopes to include the area as a roadless preserve but with tourist accessibility, community participation, and harvesting of renewable resources (xate, chicle, pimiento) by community organisations.