Belize adds 3,500 acres to connect wildlife habitats in Maya Forest Corridor

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining and the Belize Maya Forest Corridor Trust added more than 3,500 acres of land to a protected conservation area in Belize.

This expansion completes a protected connection between the Labouring Creek Jaguar Corridor Wildlife Sanctuary and the Manatee Forest Reserve. The project involves a long term collaboration between the Government of Belize, local landowners, conservation organizations, and local communities.

These groups worked together to secure the land for conservation purposes rather than for sale. Minister of Natural Resources Cordel Hyde stated that the government is vesting these lands to prevent future administrations from using the land for other purposes. Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando Habet noted that the corridor supports a regional vision shared with Guatemala and Mexico under the Calakmul Biocultural Declaration.

He stated that the initiative allows conservation and sustainable development to advance together while ensuring that local communities participate in the management and governance of the corridor. The Belize Maya Forest Corridor Trust includes several partners such as the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, WCS Belize, the Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, and the Environmental Research Institute of the University of Belize.