Guatemala has taken a powerful and unusual step to protect one of Central America’s most threatened rainforests. The country has decided to shut down its main oil production site and transform the area into a base for conservation and law enforcement. This move places forest protection above fossil fuel extraction and marks a major shift in how the nation treats its natural resources.
The decision centers on an oil field located deep inside a protected rainforest. For years, this site produced most of Guatemala’s domestic crude oil. Now, instead of drilling and pumping, the land will support patrols, monitoring, and enforcement aimed at stopping crimes that are destroying the forest. The goal is clear: protect the rainforest before it is lost forever.
Guatemala shifts from oil extraction to rainforest protection
The oil field sits inside Laguna del Tigre National Park, one of the largest protected areas in Guatemala. This park covers more than 800,000 acres and forms a key part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve. The reserve stretches across northern Guatemala and connects with forests in Belize and southern Mexico, creating one of the most important wildlife corridors in the region.
For decades, the oil operation functioned inside this protected area under a government contract. The company running the site extracted crude oil that supplied much of the country’s needs. However, the contract ended in August, and officials chose not to renew it. Instead, they decided the land could serve a greater purpose as a base to defend the forest.
Oil extraction brought serious environmental problems. The process used large amounts of water in a region where water is already under pressure. It also carried pollution risks that threatened soil, waterways, and wildlife. After reviewing these impacts, the government concluded that the long-term environmental costs outweighed the economic benefits.
As a result, drilling activities stopped. No new oil wells will be developed in the park. The existing pipeline that carries oil out of the area will remain active until 2044, but it will only transport oil from other sources. This change allows the land around the oil field to move toward rewilding and protection rather than further industrial use.
A rainforest under pressure from crime
Laguna del Tigre National Park has become a hotspot for illegal activity. Despite its protected status, the forest has been disappearing at a rapid pace. Criminal groups have taken advantage of the remote location, flat terrain, and weak enforcement to carry out a range of illegal operations.
One of the biggest threats comes from illegal cattle ranching. Large areas of forest are cleared to create pastureland. These cattle ranches often act as fronts for drug trafficking networks. The open land allows small planes to land, making it easier to move drugs from South America through Central America.
Illegal logging is another major problem. Valuable hardwood trees are cut down and transported out of the forest. This timber often ends up in international markets, including Asia and North America. Each year, thousands of acres of forest vanish, reducing wildlife habitat and releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere.
The spread of illegal cattle has also caused a serious health issue. As cattle move through protected areas without inspections, they help spread the screwworm, a dangerous parasitic fly. This pest burrows into the flesh of animals and can cause severe infections. Over the past two years, the screwworm has spread across Central America and has now appeared in southern Mexico.
To respond to these threats, the government plans to turn the former oil site into a permanent enforcement base. Military units and national police officers will operate from this location. They will conduct regular patrols across the park and nearby areas. The aim is to disrupt criminal networks and prevent further forest clearing.
Mixed reactions and regional cooperation
The announcement has triggered mixed reactions. On one hand, several environmental groups welcome the move and see it as a chance to strengthen forest protection. They believe a permanent enforcement base could improve monitoring and open the door for community-led restoration and sustainable livelihoods.
At the same time, the government has pledged to boost funding for protected areas. A new multimillion-dollar environmental fund will support conservation work in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, including forest monitoring, restoration efforts, and local programs that reduce pressure on the land.
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However, skepticism remains. Critics argue that security forces already operate in the reserve, yet illegal logging, ranching, and trafficking continue. Long-standing corruption and weak oversight raise doubts about whether the new base will bring real change.
Concerns also focus on border control. Criminal groups still move easily across the Mexican border, where monitoring remains limited. As a result, some conservationists fear the plan may prove more symbolic than effective.
Meanwhile, authorities have begun targeting illegal settlements and land clearing for agriculture and cattle ranching inside protected areas. In parallel, Guatemala is strengthening cooperation with Mexico and Belize to improve cross-border enforcement.
International funding is also shifting toward direct forest protection instead of research. Officials emphasize that safeguarding the Maya Forest protects critical carbon stores and irreplaceable wildlife, reinforcing a national shift toward valuing conservation over oil extraction.
