Leonardo DiCaprio Instagram – The Five Great Forests of Mesoamerica span an area 3x the size of Switzerland and are home to more than 7.5% of the planet’s biodiversity. These forests, and the #KeyBiodiversityAreas within, are critical to the overall health of the planet and the persistence of biodiversity on Earth.   Yet Mesoamerica’s largest protected area, Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve, faces a potential perfect storm. During the upcoming dry season, the confluence of land invasion, illegal cattle ranching, and intense climate-induced droughts could ignite an unprecedented wave of fires. And this will occur exactly as a new government takes power.   The upcoming dry season beckons a critical choice: to continue past practices or to pivot toward a ‘More trees, fewer cows’ future where vibrant economies coexist with thriving ecosystems. My organization, @rewild is a proud member of the Five Great Forests Alliance, which is rewilding, restoring and improving the protection of vital forests throughout Mesoamerica.   Photo: @wcs_mesoamerica