Conserving threatened timber species in Belize

Overview

Fauna & Flora works with longstanding partner, Ya’axché Conservation Trust (Ya’axché) to sustainably manage key timber species in Belize’s Maya Golden Landscape.

Our work in Belize

We work with Ya’axché to ensure that priority areas for threatened trees within the Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve are regularly monitored and protected from the threat of illegal logging. Building capacity in tree identification, survey techniques and tree propagation has enabled Ya’axché’s community ranger team to conduct comprehensive surveys of eight target species. These surveys are helping Ya’axché identify special management zones for threatened trees and the most suitable sites within the reserve for reinforcement planting. Since 2021, more than 580 threatened tree seedlings have been planted in degraded areas adjacent to established populations. We also work with the Belize Forestry Department to ensure the sustainable management of key species and enable communities to support rosewood conservation.