ABSTRACT
The prevalence of the notion that environmentalism and economic growth can be reconciled does not mean that all conservation efforts involve ambitions of profit making. In Peten, the concession system, which was initiated by the Guatemalan state as a response to the deforestation crisis, presents marginalized forest dwellers with opportunities for economic and social improvement; it provides employment, promotes the sharing of knowledge and enhances social cohesion through joint projects and the inclusion of women as cooperative members. The forest of El Peten is often informally referred to as La Selva Maya, evoking the ancient Mayans who used to inhabit the area and the archaeological remains of their settlements. The ways concession holders make a living in Peten's tropical forests also clash with Western, Edenic narratives about such places. The Guatemalan elites have traditionally not taken much interest in improving the life conditions of the impoverished majority, but have instead exploited them as cheap labour.
