ABOUT US
We are guardians, mothers and fathers protecting the lands and waters that nurture and nourish us.
The Sagrada Biorregion Maya (Sacred Maya Bioregion) not only encompasses vast forest systems and a millenary cultural heritage, but also extends into the Caribbean Sea, home to the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest reef system in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Spanning over 1,000 kilometers from the coast of Quintana Roo in Mexico to Honduras, passing through Belize and Guatemala, this marine ecosystem supports extraordinary biodiversity, including over 500 species of fish, corals, sea turtles, and manatees. It also acts as a natural barrier against hurricanes and coastal erosion. Culturally, it is a sacred space for many coastal communities who have developed sustainable fishing practices, ancestral navigation, and ceremonial connections with the sea. Economically, the reef supports key industries such as artisanal fishing and tourism, generating an estimated $6 billion USD annually for the region. Its conservation is essential to ensure ecological resilience and the continuity of marine and coastal livelihoods in the blue heart of the Maya Bioregion.
Caring for Madre Tierra and our children.
We are guardians of the Maya Bioregion. Tending and caring our lands for future generations.
Our families and communities mean the world to us.
We invite you to visit us and join us in our celebrations and ceremonies.
"My family has been farming cacao for over 12 generations and we keep over 70 varieties of cacao trees on our property and treat our plants with reverence and respect. Our cacao is grown organically as it is sacred to us and used for ceremonies with our families and communities."
- Abuelo Efren Hernandez, Guardian of the Cacao, Tabasco
Dr. Lilia Gonzalez Moreno
Founder, Kanche, Conservationist
Dr. Lilia González Moreno was born in Comitán, Chiapas and is the founder and president of Kanché A.C., a non-governmental organization with 20 years of experience in community-led conservation and regenerative development processes in the Maya Forest. She holds doctoral studies in Philosophy for Peace, Conflict, and Development from the UNESCO Chair of Philosophy for Peace. Lilia gained her expertise in intercultural dialogue through her decades working in conservation with indigenous communities. She lives in Cupaima, a field station located in the forest of Solferino, in northern Quintana Roo, which serves as a living hub for the exchange of knowledge, collaboration, and the advancement of community initiatives. She sees herself as a young elder and eternal apprentice to the masters of the land, sharing with them the commitment to weave networks, strengthen community autonomy, and protect the territory as a lifelong calling.
Abuelo Gilberto Quintal Olivar
Elder, Guardian, Leader
Abuelo Gilberto Quintal Olivar is a guardian of the Maya forest, and a profound connoisseur of wildlife. Originally from Rancho San Eusebio in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, Quintana Roo, he is an expert on jaguars and the ecosystems that sustain them. He has collaborated with national institutions such as the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, contributing his deep territorial knowledge and community-based expertise to biodiversity conservation. Today, he leads the community enterprise El Corchal, (The Cork) welcoming visitors to share the wisdom of the forest and through pre-Hispanic dance with children and youth, conveying the sacred nature of the forest and its living beings.
Liliana Garcia Ramirez
Environmental & International Lawyer
Since 2004, Liliana García Ramírez has worked on conservation and regenerative development projects in the Maya forest and other regions of Mexico. Since 2023, she has served as Executive Director of Kanché A.C. An attorney specializing in environmental and international law, with more than 20 years of experience across the public, private, and social sectors, she has led key legal reforms and public policy initiatives in Mexico, managed trust funds for social and environmental causes, and secured funding from national and international organizations. Her work is distinguished by her ability to translate regulatory frameworks into tangible benefits for communities and the territory.
In addition to her role at Kanche, her environmental law work led to cross-sector engagements with Amigos de Sian Ka'an, Banamex, and Mexican Center of Philanthropy where she has negotiated alliances with UN Habitat, GEF, CCAD, UNDP, Wildlife Habitat Council.
Cecilia Tumale Pagkalinawan
Entrepreneur, Artist, Conservationist
Cecilia Tumale Pagkalinawan is an entrepreneur and artist who is committed to using her skills to call attention to the fragility of our earth’s ecosystems. After 20+ years working for multi-national corporations and tech startups in executive and management roles in marketing and e-commerce, she pivoted her focus to solely work on projects that are good for the planet and humanity. In 2020 she moved to Tulum, Quintana Roo and lived off the grid on Mayan land surrounded by mangrove trees and cenotes. There she met Mapuche and Mayan elders who were uniting tribes to lobby for indigenous rights at COP26 in Glasgow which started her advocacy work for indigenous tribes and protection of indigenous lands. In Tulum she worked for Care with Me Foundation and promoted beach cleanups and innovative solutions that converted plastic waste to gas. She associate produced TEDxTulum’s “Congruencia” which focused on change makers whose talks rallied support for climate action and environmental protection. She founded Earthlings to focus on work that support and amplify the actions of those who are guardians of our planet earth. She creates art that conveys the fragility of our ecosystems and her work has been exhibited in New York and Burning Man. She considers herself a bridge builder connecting continents and cultures to collaborate for peace, unity, and love of Madre Tierra. A NAUI-certified scuba diver for 25 years, Cecilia has tracked the erosion of coral reefs and marine biodiversity from the Pacific Ocean in the Philippines to the Mediterranean Sea in Italy to the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. She works closely Kanche on projects in Quintana Roo.
Abuela Floridelma Chi Poot
Elder and Guardian
Abuela Floridelma Chi Poot is a Mayan elder and guardian of the Cruz Parlante (Talking Cross), a sacred symbol of deep spiritual significance for the Mayan people. For over two decades, she has dedicated her life to preserving and sharing the Maya worldview as a path to healing, balance, and community regeneration. As an Ajq’ij (keeper of the sacred calendar) and Maya pax dancer, she leads ceremonies and learning processes that transmit the sacred calendar, traditional medicine, an art as living expressions of memory and continuity. She is the founder of Raices Sanadoras, a project that integrates ceremonies, workshops, and educational processes to strengthen cultural identity and the connection with nature. She is a guardian in Felipe Carillo Puerto— the heart of the Maya zone in Quintana Roo, safeguarding the protected natural area of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Abuelo Gilberto Quintal Olivar
Elder, Guardian, Leader
Abuelo Gilberto Quintal Olivar is a guardian of the Maya forest, and a profound connoisseur of wildlife. Originally from Rancho San Eusebio in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, Quintana Roo, he is an expert on jaguars and the ecosystems that sustain them. He has collaborated with national institutions such as the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, contributing his deep territorial knowledge and community-based expertise to biodiversity conservation. Today, he leads the community enterprise El Corchal, (The Cork) welcoming visitors to share the wisdom of the forest and through pre-Hispanic dance with children and youth, conveying the sacred nature of the forest and its living beings.
Abuelo Jose Maria "Pepe" Quintal Olivar
Elder, Agrarian Authority Leader
José María “Pepe” Quintal Olivar is a respected elder and agrarian authority, he is a historic leader in the conservation of the Maya Forest and a community reference in territorial defense.
His vision and work have contributed to the designation of protected areas and the strengthening of the Mayan lands’ internal regulations, recognizing traditional medicine and the use of sacred plants as part of cultural identity. A pioneer in syntropic regenerative agroforestry which mimics natural forest succession to create productive and sustainable food systems. He is a pioneer in combining the production of healthy food integrated with the creation of new habitats and microclimates, mirroring the processes of the forest.
His town of Solferino is surrounded by a lush jungle. The north of the town is composed of aquatic and sub-aquatic vegetation and wetlands including brackish lagoons and coastal marshes with plenty of red mangroves and seagrass.
Drawing from his experience as a farmer, artisan, fisherman, and guide, he inspires his community to care for the land and water, leaving a legacy of commitment and respect for nature.
Katie Finn
Sustainable Development Leader
Katie Finn is an experienced leader in sustainable development who has managed multiple community-based natural resource management projects across Southern Africa. She is the founder of a U.S.-based nonprofit that has provided humanitarian aid to thousands of refugees, working on the frontlines of crisis response. She now resides in the Yucatan and is dedicated to supporting Mayan elder Abuelo Antonio in preserving his sacred land as a place of healing, learning, and nurturing for future generations.
