Belize
Belize is a country about the size of Massachusetts and is located in Central America along the caribbean coast. It is an English speaking country and is fairly safe to travel in. The human population is mainly in three cities and along the coast, leaving the mountainous interior somewhat untouched and wild. This untouched area serves as a wildlife corridor for animals to travel between southern Mexico and Central America.
Like other developing countries Belize is feeling the stress of population increase which in turn destroys the wild habitat range. The main source of income for most Belizeans is farming. To make more money to support their families they are slashing and burning more jungles. This is where the issue lies......and that is why we are gathering credible data and working with the local government and communities to practice mutually beneficial conservation plans to help ensure Belize's wildlife remains wild with plenty of habitat to live in and expand on.
Bladen River surrounded by lush jungle
threat mitigation
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
In Belize there are easy to get to lively communities and there are very quiet remote communities. Each community has its own type of conflict with wildlife. We listen to what their needs are, explain the importance of keeping wild cats around and we give them the tools they need to help them co-exist with wild cats.
Margay listening to prey up in the trees.
EDUCATION
Teaching people about the importance of the wildlife that surrounds them is key to getting them to respect and live with wildlife. We educate children in schools, we hand out educational materials for teachers to use in the schools we can't get to, we install informational road signs and we do public events to raise awareness.
Classroom presentation
FIELD RESEARCH
In order to provide current information in the above categories we need to continue 24/7 field research. This data is used to update educational material, help us understand what areas of the country need help and what areas are doing good, and the data is used to analyze wild cat behavior so we can improve on conservation efforts throughout the country.
Doing trail camera research in the jungle
REFORESTATION
REFORESTATION
Together with The Belize Collection we are restoring wildlife corridors to connect two vital ridgelines in the Maya Mountains, helping nature thrive once again. This will allow wildlife access into areas that had been previously cut off due to a citrus plantation, strengthening bloodlines and opening up new territories for wildlife.
Wildlife Corridor Initiative
