OUR WORK: Research - Community - Conservation - Restoration
Margay & jaguarundi
We are doing long-term trail camera monitoring encompassing all 5 of Belize's native cat species with a focus on two of the lesser-studied felids.
Community Engagement
We work with communities, schools and local partners to build awareness, encourage coexistence and inspire conservation across Belize.
Restored Habitats & Connectivity
Restored Habitats & Connectivity
We are working with private landowners and businesses to identify and restore degraded areas of their properties that create small vital passages between forested landscapes. We then monitor and document how wild cats and prey species move through these recovering landscapes to determine when different wildlife species begin utilizing restored habitat.
Reforesting
Restored Habitats & Connectivity
We are restoring native forest corridors designed to improve connectivity between forested ridgelines. We then monitor and document how wild cats and prey species move through these recovering landscapes to determine when different wildlife species begin utilizing reforested habitat.
Strength through Collaboration
Strength through Collaboration
In partnering with the hospitality and tourism industries, we are turning tourism into a conservation infrastructure. These industries rely on the vital flora and fauna around them, by joining forces we are more powerful in protecting Belize's wildlife and strive to immerse tourists in a meaningful conservation experience while visiting the country.
Stats
Strength through Collaboration
22 Trail Camera Survey Field Sites
5 Wild Cat Species documented
7 Communities Reached
100s of Children Educated
600+ Trees Grown for Planting
4 Restored/Reforested Sites
11 Years of Continuous Conservation Work
MARGAY FIELD RESEARCH
What don't we know?
We still know relatively little about how margays use fragmented, disturbed and recovering forests in Belize. We are the only organization that has focused a long-term study (10+ years) on this species and we are still learning.
What is BWC trying to learn?
How margays move through changing landscapes, what type of restoration vegetation is needed, and when margay begin to use newly restored habitat as forest cover.
How are we studying it?
We reforest and restore land suitable for margay. During this process, through trail camera research, we document what species of wildlife start to utilize a restored area and at what stage of the restoration process. By analyzing the data we are able to determine how much restoration is needed before margay will start using the area to hunt in.
Why does it matter?
Understanding what margay need can help us restore habitat that actually works for this highly arboreal, forest-dependent cat.
JAGUARUNDI FIELD RESEARCH
What don't we know?
Jaguarundi remain one of Belize's least understood wild cat, particularly their habitat use and movement through altered landscapes.
What is BWC trying to learn?
How jaguarundis use fragmented and recovering habitat and whether restored vegetation can provide cover and connectivity that they will utilize.
How are we studying it?
We reforest and restore land suitable for jaguarundi. During this process, through trail camera research, we document what species of wildlife start to utilize a restored area and at what stage of the restoration process. By analyzing the data we are able to determine how much restoration is needed before this terrestrial diurnal feline will start using the area to hunt in.
Why does it matter?
Knowing how jaguarundi respond to habitat restoration can help us design landscapes that reconnect habitat for this overlooked small cat.
