Paper short abstract:

The Lacandón Rainforest is the largest rainforest in North America. My research reveals how tourism and governmental bureaucratic policies calibrated an image of the Lacandónes which identified, authenticated and commodified an indigenous community and control biodiversity.

Paper long abstract:

The Lacandón Rainforest (La Selva Lacandóna), an autotrophic system, is the largest Neotropic rainforest in North America. Located in the Southern State of Chiapas, México, it is the home of the Lacandón Maya community, and other indigenous and nonindigenous residents. My research in a Lacandón community reveals how tourism and governmental bureaucratic policies calibrated an "eco-tribal" image of the Lacandónes being "Guardias de la Selva (Guardians of the Rainforest)," a term specifically used to identify, authenticate and commodify an indigenous community. This identity expression has been used by the federal government for the purpose of promoting tourism and geopolitical stability in the State of Chiapas while masking their political role as architects of the socioeconomic inequalities and disparities existing in the region. Needless to say, to understand the Lacandón Maya self-identity conundrum involves familiarity with evolving biodiversity indicators governing the regional rainforest conversion and landscape change, and the Lacandón historical social-economic origins in the State of Chiapas, México.