Oil in Protected Areas
The opening of a new process to explore and produce oil close to the National Park Sierra del Lacandon in Peten is causing problems between environmentalist and representatives of the Ministy of Energy and Mines. Jorge Garcia, has confirmed the intention of the Guatemalan government to contract two areas for 25 years for the production of oil. One of this zones is located in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, which is a jungle rich zone with several archeological sites. One of the byproducts of this contracts, is that the oil companies pay little attention to the environment and a lot of attention to profits which are above of the environment and the Cultural Patrimony of a place. Another probable consequence of oil extraction is the loss of jungle and the risk of oil spills.
