Fauna & Flora works with longstanding partner, Ya’axché Conservation Trust (Ya’axché), to sustainably manage key timber species in Belize’s Maya Golden Landscape.
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’axche 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.
Credit: Ya’axché Conservation Trust
We aim to develop and implement sustainable management of key timber species in the reserve, based on the species’ ecology and accurate population data, and to promote this to the Belizean government as a model for the management of timber species in other forest landscapes in Belize.
Project status:
Active
Project area:
169 km²
Location:
Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve
Project lead:
Alicky Davey, Programme Manager, Plant Conservation
Ya’axché collected viable seed and germinated seedlings from the critically endangered Honduran rosewood, Dalbergia stevensonii.
No logging of Honduran rosewood occurs within the Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve for the seventh year running.
Ya'axché becomes co-manager of the Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve
Honduran rosewood is listed on CITIES Appendix II, which limits trade in a species if it is deemed to be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.
A national moratorium on rosewood extraction is declared.
Plant diversity is fundamental to all life on this planet. Please help us to protect the Honduran rosewood and the rest of the world’s threatened trees. Photo: Maximiliano Caa
This project is delivered in partnership with Ya’axché Conservation Trust.
We are grateful for the financial support from Fondation Franklinia
The Central American country of Belize packs a big punch for its size. Despite being less than 23,000 km2, it holds a globally significant diversity of plants and animals.
FFI has played a pivotal role in safeguarding the future of an incredible variety of species all across the world. Learn more about our approach and why we have been so successful.
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