The Enduring Forest Gardens of the Ancient Maya
By Anabel Ford
Maya agroforestry practices have persisted sustainably since the time of prehistoric civilizations.
This Article From Issue
September-October 2024
Volume 112, Number 5
Page 286
In 1972, I took a road trip from California to Belize and Guatemala, where I found myself mesmerized by the hot rains, flamboyant hammocks, brilliant colors of the forest, and fresh fruits from home gardens. During this trip, I was an undergraduate volunteer for an archaeological project in El Petén, Guatemala. At the time, I was just learning about Mesoamerica and the Maya and did not realize this area would become my life’s work.
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- In the 1970s, the author was one of the first archaeologists to study how and where ancient Maya people lived.
- Through her research and her collaborations with local people, Ford has challenged assumptions about the collapse of Maya civilization.
- The Maya cultivated the forest as a garden, as do their descendants today. Implementing their methods can help conservation efforts.
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