Long Distance Trails (LDT) are an emerging territorial planning approach that integrates environmental conservation, land management, and sustainable development, particularly in ecologically fragile regions. International experience shows that these trails can connect natural areas, support local governance, and promote low-impact tourism. In Mexico, LDTs represent an opportunity for the protection of priority ecosystems such as the karst systems of the Yucatan Peninsula, which are characterized by high hydrological complexity, biodiversity, and cultural value.

The Yucatecan karst is defined by highly permeable soils, the absence of surface water, and an extensive network of caves, cenotes, and underground rivers that constitute the main source of freshwater for the region. These characteristics make the system especially vulnerable to contamination, deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and land-use change associated with agricultural, urban, and tourism activities. As a result, conservation strategies must consider landscape-scale processes, ecological connectivity, and the active participation of local communities.

Voluntarily Destined Areas for Conservation (VDAC) are a Mexican environmental policy instrument that allows private landowners, ejidos, and communities to voluntarily conserve their lands under agreed management schemes with legal recognition. These areas contribute to biodiversity protection, ecosystem services conservation, and hydrological regulation, while strengthening shared responsibility for environmental stewardship. Their effectiveness can be enhanced when they are articulated with broader territorial initiatives such as LDTs, which increase connectivity and visibility of local conservation efforts. El Camino del Mayab is a long-distance trail located in the state of Yucatan that crosses karst landscapes and Mayan communities, linking conserved forests, community lands, and areas under voluntary conservation schemes. Through its planning and management, the trail supports vegetation cover conservation, indirect protection of underground hydrological systems, and the regulation of human activities in environmentally sensitive areas.

The integration of LDTs and VDACs along El Camino del Mayab highlights their potential as complementary tools for karst protection, territorial governance, environmental education, and the strengthening of biocultural heritage. Additionally, community-based ecotourism associated with the trail represents an economic alternative compatible with conservation, reducing pressure on natural resources and promoting sustainable practices.