2021-22 Progress Report: Greater Belize Maya Forest
Programme for Belize (PfB) received a $150,000 grant from Global Conservation to support the protection of the Greater Belize Maya Forest, which includes the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area (RBCMA), owned and Managed by PfB, and the Belize Maya Forest, managed by the Belize Maya Forest Trust (BMFT). Altogether, the Greater Belize Maya Forest totals almost 10% of Belize’s total land area.
The grant from Global Conservation supports five rangers, who will patrol the Greater Belize Maya Forest in order to prevent and reduce illegal activities that threaten the biodiversity and environmental services of this region. The grant also provides transportation (a patrol vehicle and fuel for the patrols), housing and meals, and gear and equipment for the the rangers.
Rangers with the truck funded by Global Conservation's grant.
About the Greater Belize Maya Forest
The Selva Maya lies at the intersection of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. Its 15-million-hectare expanse is one of the largest and best-protected forests in the world. Keeping this forest intact and maintaining corridors between its pieces is of crucial importance for the future of its wildlife and for fighting global climate change. (Global Conservation is also working in another part of the Selva Maya: Mirador National Park in Guatemala).
This reserve provides landscape protection across 521,392 acres (211,000 hectares) of savanna, wetlands, and tropical rainforest.
Its biodiversity is astonishing: the forest hosts 200 species of trees, 390 species of birds, and 80 species of mammals, including one of the world’s healthiest populations of jaguars and endangered wildlife like the Yucatán black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra).
The principal threats to the Greater Belize Maya Forest include illegal logging, illegal hunting and fishing, wildfires, and contamination of aquatic systems by pesticides, agricultural inputs, and runoff.
BMFT sees the assistance and collaboration with PfB and GC as a great opportunity to learn and exchange ideas, especially given the long-time experience of PfB as their neighbor protecting the RBCMA.
The Greater Belize Maya Forest contains one of the world's healthiest populations of jaguars.
Key Achievements to Date
From November 2021 to February 2022, a total of 203 patrols were conducted throughout the Greater Belize Maya Forest, covering a total distance of 30,567km over 1,114.6 hours. Thirty-five of the patrols were joint PfB and BMFT patrols, and included aerial surveillance and patrols by vehicle, foot, and boat.
Additionally, given the number of rangers, more than one team can be dispatched on patrol on any given day and each team can do more than one patrol in a day, depending on the area and purpose of the patrol. The Belize Defence Force (BDF) and the police provide support in joint patrols which has helped to reduce the level of threats.
With the funds received from Global Conservation, Programme for Belize purchased a 2022 4WD Toyota Hilux, retrofitted with a winch, winch bumper, tow hitch, and an increased height to be more suitable to the areas where the rangers must patrol. This vehicle has provided reliable transportation for the patrols and increases the efficiency of the rangers.
The new truck's winch system.
Evidence of illegal activities was detected in a total of 65 patrols. Signs of hunting were observed in twelve of the patrols while signs of illegal logging were observed in six patrols. Signs of camping were also observed in nine of the patrols.
During those 65 patrols, there were a total of 148 observations of illegal actitivities, including 29 observations of hunting (feathers, bones, cartridge, etc.), 32 observations of illegal logging (stumps, logs, or flitches), and 18 observations of camping. There were also a total of 40 observations of human tracks (foot tracks, motorcycle, horse tracks, etc.).
During two patrols, the rangers confiscated sawn lumber. No one was arrested as the illegal perpetrators were not seen.
In the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area (RBCMA), the San Felipe Savanna/Duck Ridge Savanna currently experiences the most pressure. Due to the openness of the pine savanna, this ecosystem provides easier access to the illegal perpetrators and therefore requires more patrols.
The remains of an illegal campsite.
In the Belize Maya Forest, the southern boundary of the property is the area with the highest observation of illegal activities. For the BMF the hotspots are mostly beyond the southern boundary of the property with hunting being the most important illegal activity.
Conclusion
The assistance received from Global Conservation through the Greater Belize Maya Protection Project has enhanced the capacity of the Programme for Belize’s protection program and enabled the rangers to extend patrol coverage to the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area as well as the Belize Maya Forest.
The vehicle and equipment has enabled the rangers to cover more area on the patrols. The increase in the number of rangers by five has enabled Programme for Belize to maintain constant patrols and to dispatch multiple patrols at once. This has enabled Programme for Belize to reduce illegal activities within the reserve.
Cellular trail cameras purchased with the help of Global Conservation.
During the next three to four months, the main threats will be wildfires and the poaching of the endangered yellow-headed parrots. Of course, illegal logging and hunting, along with other unauthorized activities, still remain a threat. Therefore, Programme for Belize will need to maintain an active and constant patrol to ensure the integrity of the two reserves within the Greater Belize Maya Forest. Thanks to Global Conservation's contribution, these patrols will continue to be possible.