Deforestation and forest degradation are common in the tropical forests of Mexico. Forests in Oaxaca, Chiapas, and the Yucatán Peninsula, as well as coastal forests of Michoacan, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Sinaloa are among those threatened, although the most badly degraded forests are found in Veracruz, Tabasco, and Chiapas. For geographic and social reasons, some forests in Campeche and Quintana Roo have experienced a slower rate of destruction. These forests in southeastern Mexico represent Mexico’s best opportunity for preservation of existing forests and for restoration of degraded tracts because they are part of the largest unbroken forest mass in the northern hemisphere of Latin America. But this forest, along with adjoining areas of Guatemala and Belize, is not a “virgin” forest; it was historically the seat of ancient Maya civilization, and the remains of Maya cities are found throughout the forest. It is from this civilization that the Maya Forest, or Selva Maya, draws both its name and its status as a cultural and biological patrimony of humanity. The great challenge now before us is to preserve this forest and to plan regional development so that the forest is maintained as a permanent resource. However, causes of deforestation and forest degradation in Mexico are multiple, and it is necessary to understand their dynamics in order to plan suitable policies for preservation of these forests.