The ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, one of the main tourist attractions in Guatemala, require urgent conservation efforts, say experts. Critics charge that the government is failing to keep up with the so-called master plan for restructuring the tourism complex. The plan is in effect until 2008.

They denounce the neglect of most of the monuments, which are covered by vegetation, the authorization of public events, such as rock concerts, and the lack of appropriate management of the flow of tourists.

In the Tikal area are 252 species of birds, of which 60 are considered rare. The park, declared a national heritage site in 1955, is also home to 105 reptile, 100 mammal and 535 butterfly species.