How a Village Protects 20,000 Hectares of Rainforest and Jaguars

At first glance, the village of Miguel Colorado in Campeche, Mexico, does not seem particularly remarkable. With around 1,000 inhabitants, it is similar in size to many other ejidos found along Highway 186, which crosses the Yucatán Peninsula. But the people of Miguel Colorado live in close harmony with nature.

From Rubber to Deforestation

In the past, the people of Miguel Colorado made their living from rubber, a natural resource used, among other things, in the production of chewing gum. Even today, you can still see the characteristic cuts on trees in the Moku protected area, where latex was once extracted.
However, with the rise of synthetic rubber, demand declined. The community had to find new ways to make a living. As a result, they began logging the forested area under communal ownership and selling the timber.

Why the People of Miguel Colorado Protect Their Forest

Over time, they realized that this practice was not sustainable: deforestation would ultimately destroy the community’s long-term livelihood. Wanting to leave a healthy environment for their children, they decided to permanently protect the 20,000-hectare Moku forest.
In 2018, the community officially designated Moku as a Voluntary Conservation Area (ADVC – Área Destinada Voluntariamente a la Conservación). Since then, the area has been actively protected through firebreaks and ranger patrols that help prevent illegal logging and hunting.

Sustainable Ecotourism Creates New Opportunities

The community is supported in this effort by our partner Pronatura Península de Yucatán. Together, they have developed alternative income sources to ensure the forest can be preserved.

The cenotes and the large lagoon located within the protected area provide ideal conditions for sustainable ecotourism. Visitors can go birdwatching, canoeing, hiking, or explore ancient Maya ruins – all in harmony with nature.

Ecotourism provides income for local families while also strengthening forest protection efforts.

Moku as Part of the Jaguar Corridor

Moku is home to a wide range of wildlife, including tapirs, ocelots, peccaries, monkeys, and several jaguars. Using camera traps, the community and Pronatura document local biodiversity, helping them better understand the value of the ecosystem they are protecting.

Most importantly, the protected area is part of the Jaguar Corridor – an ambitious conservation initiative that connects jaguar habitats across around six million square kilometers, from Mexico to Argentina.
Protecting Moku therefore contributes not only locally, but also globally to the conservation of endangered species and vital forest ecosystems.

How You Can Help

With every purchase of the Change Snack Bar, you support the work of Pronatura Península de Yucatán – and with it the people of Miguel Colorado, the protection of the Moku conservation area in Mexico, and the preservation of critical habitats for jaguars and many other species.

Read more about the other project supported by the Change Snack Bar, silvopastroal systems. The Change Snack Bar is availabla at dm Drogeriemarkt in Germany.

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