What is El Pilar?

El Pilar is a Living Museum and Laboratory drawing from Ancient Cultural Practices to create a Conservation Model for the Future of Civilization.

In a region where a civilization once flourished our recent expansion threatens environmental integrity. Local cultural traditions speak to an intimate knowledge of the forest while the ecology of the forest speaks to a systematic cultivation by humans. The last native Maya reveal keen awareness of ecological complexities involving animal, plants, and people, clearly favoring forest growth. The Maya sustainable practices that demonstrate the mutual benefits of culture and nature are unknown to the world. Collaborative research on the culture and nature of the Maya forest promises to open new paths to knowledge and understanding that will create a conservation model for the future of our civilization.

For many centuries, dense forest has been the guardian of the ancient Maya city at El Pilar, on what is now the border of Belize and Guatemala. Imagine. Being able to step back in time and experience life in the jungle as the ancient Maya did. Enter their homes. Stroll their gardens. Encounter the native wildlife. This is the promise of El Pilar – where archeologist Anabel Ford is restoring not just another stone monument, but an entire living environment. An environment that will create a new kind of eco-tourism –– based on the traditional and sustainable practice of forest gardening.

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Project News

Celebrating El Pilar Events Calendar

Greetings,
Exploring Solutions Past ~ The Maya Forest Alliance is participating in the next two 1st Thursday! Events, featuring El Pilar. I hope you’ll be able to stop by and find out about the progress we have made to establish the El Pilar Peace Park. It has been a wonderful year.

1st Thursday, this September 4: Reception for Photo Exhibit on The Maya Forest, the Forest Garden, and El Pilar, featuring the incredible photography of Macduff Everton. At Casa Magazine, 23 E. Canon Perdido, (behind Border’s Books). Exhibit on display until Sept. 27.

1st Thursday, October 2, Reception at Pacific Travelers Supply at 12 W. Anapamu Street, to see our exhibit focusing on traveling to El Pilar – itinerary ideas and what’s new in Belize and Guatemala, as well as the Maya Forest Garden and El Pilar. Exhibit on display through October.