We must begin to learn from the mistakes of the past – When the ancient Maya abandoned their forest conservation practices, it was to the detriment of their entire culture.

Ancient Mayans practiced forest conservation 3,000 years ago

Washington, July 27 (ANI): In a new study, scientists from the University of Cincinnati (UC) have determined that the ancient Mayans practiced forest conservation about 3,000 years ago.

Paleoethnobotanist David Lentz from the University of Cincinnati has concluded that not only did the Maya people practice forest management, but when they abandoned their forest conservation practices, it was to the detriment of the entire Maya culture.

“From our research we have learned that the Maya were deliberately conserving forest resources,” said David Lentz, a professor of biological sciences at the UC and executive director of the Cincinnati Center for Field Studies.

“Their deliberate conservation practices can be observed in the wood they used for construction and this observation is reinforced by the pollen record,” he added.

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