Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Guatemala has more than 90 protected areas encompassing about 28 percent of the coun-
try's total land area. Among the different types of protected areas are biosphere reserves,
national parks, biotopes, natural monuments, wildlife refuges, and private nature reserves.
Several of these are encompassed within larger areas, as is the case with the national parks
and biotopes making up the larger Maya Biosphere Reserve. Most of Guatemala's protec-
ted areas, including the biosphere reserves, have been created since 1990. All of Guatem-
ala's volcanoes are protected areas. There are also laws in effect to protect endangered
wildlife species; among these are Guatemala's big cats and parrots.
