SELVA MAYA

A FOREST AND ITS PEOPLE

Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Germany 2016

Campaign Documentary I 20 min.

Language Versions: English I German I Spanish

synopsis

The Selva Maya is a tropical forest that extends across southern Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. It is named after the Mayan civilization that once inhabited this area. Studies show that deforestation was a root causes for the collapse of the Mayans.

Today, the Selva Maya is once again threatened by human activities. The forest disappears, sugar cane plantations and cattle farms take over. Are we repeating the same mistake of the Mayans or do we find a way to make use of the forest without destroying it?