Belize’s Maya Forest Corridor connects the expansive 13.3-million-acre Maya Forest that stretches across northwest Belize, Guatemala and southern Mexico and the Maya Mountains Massif of 1.2 million acres in southern Belize. Together, these refuges form the largest intact tropical forest in the Americas north of the Amazon and protect countless threatened species.

Wildlife habitat in the Maya Forest Corridor is vanishing at four times the national average rate of deforestation. In recent years, Central Belize has been devastated by the spread of monocrop agriculture and real estate development.

Rainforest Trust, in coordination with a group of international and local conservation organizations, including Re:wild and the Maya Forest Corridor Trust, have a time-critical opportunity to purchase 22,935 acres of this all-important corridor bridging these protected areas in Belize.

Secure Habitat for Wide-Roaming Jaguars and Other Threatened Species

Wide-roaming Jaguars as well as Baird’s Tapirs and Spider Monkeys depend on this corridor for their territories and freedom of movement required to survive and thrive. This vital corridor also safeguards rare species like the Critically Endangered Central American River Turtle, Endangered Yucatán Black Howler Monkey and Yellow-headed Amazon, and the Vulnerable White-lipped Peccary and Great Curassow.

Jaguars have been recorded moving between protected areas to the north and south in the Maya Forest Corridor. Unable to cross between southern Belize and Guatemala due to deforestation and development, Jaguars use the Maya Forest Corridor to wander their expansive ranges and have access to prey and water. As the population of these apex predators decreases, the healthy balance of this ecosystem will be negatively impacted.

Strengthen Community Support of this Important Wildlife Corridor

The Afro-descendant communities living near the proposed protected areas support this project and have pledged petitions to the government to protect the Maya Forest Corridor. They regularly take part in reserve planning activities. The Belize Zoo, one of the coalition partners, has worked for decades with local communities in the region to share their knowledge of imperiled species and foster strong conservation values.