Organización de Manejo y Conservación (OMYC, Uaxactún, Management and Conservation Organization)
Uaxactún is an ancient archaeological site in the heart of the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, popular with tourists for its ancient ruins. Its 140 mestizo and indigenous families primarily subsist on non-timber forest products such as edible fruits, gum resin and palm leaves; their sustainable management of forest resources over the past eighty years has complemented conservation efforts, and has led to a productive partnership between the community and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Local residents are represented by the Organización de Manejo y Conservación (OMYC, Uaxactún, Management and Conservation Organization),which manages resource extraction within an 84,000-hectare forest concession. Concession rents are supported by WCS, which also provides support on the harvesting and marketing of non-timber forest products, ecotourism ventures, minimal impact timber use, and the conservation of game species.
Key Facts
Equator Prize Winner: 2002
Founded: 1998
Location: Petén region, Guatemala
Beneficiaries: 140 mestizo and indigenous families
Biodiversity: 840 sq. km. community forest concession
Case Study
Find other Winners' Case Studies in our E-Library
Related Multimedia Resources
Organización de Manejo y Conservación (OMYC), Guatemala - Equator Prize 2002 Winner
Visit our Multimedia Center to explore our video gallery.
Equator Prize 2002
Latin America And The Caribbean
Biodiversity Conservation
Sustainable Forestry
Contact Information
Roan Balas McNab- WCS Guatemala, Benedin Garcia -OMYC President
Comunidad de Uaxactun
y/o Avenida 15 de marzo casa #3 Ciudad
Flores, Peten
Guatemala
Tel: + 502 861 2559
Email: rmcnab@wcs.org
Share this page: