Fitting with the theme of this year’s ATBC conference (Tropical Biology and Conservation for a Sustainable World: Merging Diverse Approaches, Actors and Local Knowledge) our session explores the effects infrastructure projects and public policy on conservation practices and landscape configuration in the Yucatan peninsula. The construction of the Tren Maya has been a great point of contention for scholars and communities in the region. Major points of disagreement are around the effects on the construction on conservation and agricultural land use, moreover the effects on land tenure, and the livelihoods of local communities. Studying the conflicting effects of conservation and development on land systems is not new, however current public policy on land use (e.g. Mexican federal program Sembrando Vida), large capital investment on infrastructure development and the shrinking of conservation practices has resulted in changes in land tenure and increased forest degradation and deforestation.  The papers in this session: 1) investigate the effect of Sembrando Vida and Tren Maya on conservation and landscape ecology; 2) assess the changes in public policy in the region and effects on local communities; and 3) discuss the multiple effects and feedback of public policy, infrastructure development and conservation on how territory is shaped and affect current land tenure systems, land management, livelihoods, and social relationships. If you are interested in participating in this session, please email a tentative talk title to laura.schneider@rutgers.edu