The Struggle to Govern the Commons 125and other uses. Figure 5.3 shows examples of several governance strategies and
outcomes within MBR,^134 but we concentrate here on two protected areas that
have interesting institutional differences.
Tikal National Park is one of few protected areas in Guatemala to receive the
full support of the government. The revenue from entry fees paid by tourists covers
the entire budget for the park plus a surplus that goes to the Ministry of Culture
and Sports. Directors of the park are held accountable by high-level officials for the
successful protection of this source of government revenue. The park has perma-
nent administrative and support staff, paid guards and local residents hired to
prevent forest fires. Although Tikal National Park is in better shape than many
other parks,^135 it faces multiple threats, especially from bordering communities in
the form of forest fires ignited to transform the land for agricultural and livestock
purposes and illegal extraction of forest products.^136 The dark grey colour of the
park in Figure 5.3 shows the areas of stable forest.
Source: Composite constructed by Glen Green, Edwin Castellanos and Victor Hugo Ramos.
Figure 5.3 This figure shows land-cover change and the numerous zones of the Maya
Biosphere Reserve in northern Guatemala. The composite shows a uniform, dark grey
colour within Tikal, indicative of stable forest cover. El Mirador-Rio Azul National
Park and Naachtun-Dos Laguna Biotope are also stable, due to inaccessibility. The
other four potected areas have experienced extensive inroads of deforestation shown in
light grey and white. Official designation as a protected area is not sufficient unless
substantial investments are made in maintaining and enforcing boundaries