The visit highlighted progress made through a UK project which supports sustainable development and environmental conservation in southern Petén.
UK Ambassador to Guatemala, Juliana Correa, visited the community of San Miguel in Poptún on 13 August, where the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF) is investing approximately £16,000 to support local initiatives.
The project has provided piped water access to 38 families (benefiting around 210 people), supported environmental protection systems for 21 families, and helped 14 families revive traditional bean cultivation practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and wildfire risks.
During the visit, the ambassador learned about community conservation efforts, including more than 50 environmental monitoring tours, maintaining firebreaks across an area of 551 hectares, and strengthening local governance in collaboration with Guatemala's National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP).
San Miguel has been a benchmark in the region, promoting cooperation agreements that have inspired other communities to follow similar processes. The United Kingdom reaffirms its commitment to working alongside Guatemala to address the effects of climate change, protect biodiversity, and combat poverty.
