If we don’t act now, thousands of species could be at risk
Every year, wildfires sweep through Belize. Each year they get worse, with rising global temperatures causing hotter, drier summers.
In spring, the wildfires will come back. And we must be ready.
Experts are warning that these fires could be the worst yet. For the countless species living there – jaguars, spider and howler monkeys, ocelots, tapirs, harpy eagles and more – this would be nothing short of a catastrophe. For the people there, lives and livelihoods are on the line.
But you can help change that.
We need your donations to equip rangers with fire suits, ventilators and water tanks, enabling them to stop the fires before they spread. Every single donation goes directly to the project, and will be more than double-matched by an extremely generous donor – so your donation of £100 would become £330.
We only have a few months to get this vital equipment to the rangers – there is no time to waste. So please, donate today.
© Ya'axché Conservation Trust
Huge areas of rainforest and farmland were completely destroyed.
Your impact
The equipment these rangers need is simple, but critical:
£15
would be multiplied to £50, and would be enough to equip a ranger with a fire suit to protect them when fighting fires.
£30
would be multiplied to £100, and could provide fire beaters for local farmers, giving them a fighting chance to save the forest around their farmland before both are lost to the flames.
£60
would be multiplied to £201, and could provide fuel for vehicles to allow Ya’axché rangers to travel quickly to areas of fire outbreak.
£900
would be multiplied to £3,000, enough to buy an early-warning system that scans satellite images for fire activity.
The worst wildfires in living memory
In 2024, wildfires tore through the Maya Golden Landscape in Belize for six long weeks.
These fires were so destructive, so devastating, that a state of national emergency was declared. Smoke filled the air, schools were shut, and – despite best efforts to control the flames – it wasn’t enough.
By the time the fires finally died out, over 20,000 hectares of rainforest had been turned to wasteland in this small area alone – the equivalent of over 28,000 football pitches. Over a hundred farmers tragically lost their livelihoods. Countless animals perished in the blaze.
And this spring, it’s set to get worse. With future dry seasons predicted to become even drier, experts warn that we’re soon going to face fires that are even more dangerous.
COnservation workers responding to forest fires in Belize. © Ya'axché Conservation Trust
Our conservation partners were quick on the scene to aid authorities in fighting the flames. But it was too little too late - next time we simply must be better prepared.
How you can help
We can’t let destruction on this scale happen again. But, with your support, we don’t have to.
Your donation could be the difference in helping rangers stop the fires before they spread. With the right gear – fire suits, fire swatters, ventilator face masks, helmets and water bladders – they can put out fires before they grow out of control, preventing the catastrophic damage seen this year.
Very little government funding is available to tackle wildfires, so local conservation charities lead the response. This is your chance to protect a vital ecosystem and the animals and communities that rely on it – you really could be their only hope.
Please, donate today. 100% of your gift goes towards the £34,340 most urgently needed.
Thousands of species threatened by wildfires
The Maya Golden Landscape safeguards more than 4,000 plant species, 110 mammals, 400 birds and dozens of rare reptiles and amphibians.
So many of these species are utterly captivating: there’s the adorable margay, a small, spotted jungle cat; the white-lipped peccary, a highly sociable furry pig; the striking Guatemalan black howler monkey; the harpy eagle, the world’s most powerful bird; and the peculiar Baird’s tapir.
But when the flames hit, none of them will be safe. Protecting this irreplaceable region has never been more important – that’s why we need your help.
So many remarkable species are at risk. From top-left: white-lipped peccary, Baird's tapir, margay, Yucatán black howler monkey.
Why is the Maya Golden Landscape so special?
The Maya Golden Landscape is one of Belize’s most extraordinary natural treasures.
Covering over 300,000 acres of stunning habitats, from broadleaf forests to mangrove swamps, this remarkable region is a lifeline for wildlife, acting as a vital connection between the majestic Maya Mountains and the breathtaking Mesoamerican Barrier Reef – the second-largest reef system on the planet.
The health of these forests is crucial, not only for the animals but also for the communities and ecosystems downstream, including the reef itself, which relies on clean water flowing through the landscape.
Nearly half of the land in Belize is legally protected, but this protection is powerless to prevent disasters like wildfires.
© Ya'axché Conservation Trust
Bladen Nature Reserve - the jewel of the Maya Golden Landscape. When the dry season comes, these idyllic tracts of forest are under serious threat.
© Ya'axché Conservation Trust
Majestic - a jaguar spotted by a camera trap set by our conservation partners in Belize.
Why Fauna & Flora?
With over 100 years of experience in protecting endangered species and their habitats, Fauna & Flora has built a network of trusted partners and local experts. We have the teams on the ground ready to act – all they need is the equipment to stop the fires, and we need your support to provide it.
If Fauna & Flora is unsuccessful in raising its target of £34,340 for this appeal, all donations will still go directly towards the restricted need in Belize and be eligible for match funding. Any donations exceeding £34,340, as well as any Gift Aid we claim on donations, will be used to support our wider work, both in Belize and around the world. Any donations exceeding our £34,340 target will be ineligible for match funding.
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