Leiden University Student Repository

Aizpurua Soto, Aitana A (2022)

Domino Effect in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve: Drug Policies, Narcotraffic, and Deforestation

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

US interdiction efforts have negative environmental impacts that often go unacknowledged in drug policy. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the link between drug policies and deforestation in Central America. To do so, this study employs a close reading analysis of both primary and secondary sources, as well as interviews. This study finds that US interdiction policies are pushing drug trafficking organizations into remote protected areas, which is causing forest loss through the clearing of forests that is needed for the continuation of their illicit operations. Deforestation poses a threat to the conservation of these culturally and biologically rich spaces, as well as the region ́s capacity to mitigate climate change. The work presented here has profound implications for future studies concerning the impact of drug policies on deforestation, and may one day help solve the problem of global environmental change.

drug policies, drug trafficking, deforestation, conservation, Guatemala, Maya Biosphere Reserve

Author

Aizpurua Soto, Aitana A

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Latin America

Supervisors

Fernández Rodríguez, R.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en