Link to article: https://latinamericanpost.com/americas/mexico-guatemala-and-belize-unite-to-shield-the-maya-forest/
Recently, a new union was formed around The Great Mayan Jungle Biocultural Corridor between Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. This union will create a new nature reserve surrounding the mostly jungle region between these 3 countries. This new reserve will not go without its challenges though, as much of this region is not currently controlled by the three parties and likely to be a hotspot for organized crime. The 3 countries plan to solve this problem by creating allies in the communities that rely on these damaging money makers. They plan to do this by funding local nature restoration projects and the production of more local trees and fruit. The project in total will have a budget of nearly $2 billion dollars. Much of this money will go to funding local community leadership in the region to help fight against laxity towards narco and illegal logging business that is destroying the environment. New business will be found in increased tourism and more environmentally friendly methods of farming. Although each country has slightly different ideas of what this new reserve will look like, the main goal is to focus on the health and well being of the local nature and culture.
I think this is an important topic because it shows countries cooperating to solve a larger issue even with their differences. This all happened because local environmentalists and cultural restoration experts came together to protect a major important region, with the help and funding of the respective governments. This project will greatly improve the lives and stability of the region, while protecting the forest as well. Each actor should keep the current course, no matter the other’s decisions. What will and won’t work remains to be seen, and each actor appears to have positive intentions surrounding this project.
This agreement largely lines up with the ideals of constructivism. This can be seen with each state’s willingness to work together based on shared identity and goals, working together despite differences. And this would also be a great example of constructivism solving a collective goods issue, with each actor investing in this project despite an imbalance in cost for each. Showing that finding a common ground to help the world is possible, and not a fantasy.