A popular destination for students, couples, and spring breakers, Mexico's Yucatan peninsula is famous for its gorgeous white sandy beaches and clear ocean waters. Scratch beneath the surface and you'll find stunning archeological sites, diverse plants and animals, and a vibrant – and living – Mayan culture.
The Yucatan peninsula is home to five UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Sian Ka’an, a biosphere reserve that includes tropical forest, salt-water marshes and a barrier reef. The site is also nesting territory for a variety of endangered sea-turtle species.
Protection of the Mayan heritage and communities in Sian Ka’an is just as important as protecting local endangered animal species. Friends of World Heritage provided relief to the Sian Ka’an area after category 5 Hurricane Dean hit hard in September of 2007. Now that rebuilding is underway, the Friends of World Heritage Fund has selected the Academy of Mayan Language and Culture in Quintana Roo as its newest grant recipient. Our hope is to not only support sustainable economic projects, but also to promote and safeguard living Mayan traditions and history.
Watch the video below to get a glimpse of how Friends of World Heritage is building communities around the Sian Ka’an World Heritage site.
Read an interview with the Academy of Mayan Language and Culture.
RESOURCES
- Return to the Helping Build Communities Campaign home page
- Read about the Belize community grants
- Contribute to the Friends of World Heritage Fund
