The dense lush forest, which spans the borders of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, was once home to a thriving Maya civilization. Based on evidence found at the ruins of El Pilar, Ford believes we can learn a lesson from the Maya about sustainable forestry.

"The quest I'm on is to combine current knowledge of agriculture with ancient and more traditional ways to devise a better way to use the Maya Forest," says Ford. "I call it the forest garden, where the Maya Forest is a garden and the garden is the Maya Forest."

"For me it's about the people now and the people then, and how to make a living from the forest."

RUINS OF EL PILAR

Ford discovered El Pilar in 1983. The 100-acre site straddles the contentious border between Belize and Guatemala, and is the largest archaeological site in the Belize River area with more than 25 plazas. Ford convinced the governments of Guatemala and Belize to preserve a 4,000-acre tract of land surrounding El Pilar in 1998.

The Maya occupied the region from 700 BC to 1000 AD. During the peak of its prosperity, from 600 AD to 900 AD, El Pilar supported a much larger population than is currently living in the area. Ford has found evidence that even with many more people to support, the Maya were able to utilize forest products without destroying the ecosystem — unlike today's population.

One of the head gardeners at El Pilar, Heriberto Cocom, trims plants at Masewal forest, his own forest garden.

THE FOREST GARDENS OF EL PILAR

If we can learn and adopt the secrets of Maya agriculture, Ford says, perhaps deforestation can be halted. She has uncovered evidence that the Maya used forest gardens — a small plot in the forest, cleared of dense canopy to allow sunlight to penetrate — to sustainably grow the food, medicinal plants, and trees they needed.

At the site of a house known as Tzunu'un, the researchers have revealed a glimpse of how the Maya lived long ago. Gardeners are maintaining a working forest garden that surrounds the living area.

Clearing the forest by using the slash and burn techniques of today is a terrible use of forest resources, argues Ford.

"Everything you need is right here. The Maya Forest is replete with medicines, construction materials, and ornamentals. The Maya nurtured the land for the things they needed."

The forest garden concept introduced by the Maya is being used by some of the areas traditional farmers.

"The traditional farmers I know mark the forest by where things are located," says Ford. "They mark the forest by its economic quality and maintain those resources."